Major League Baseball

Even John McCain knows: McCutchen robbed Goldschmidt of NL MVP

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:51 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Update: Even Sen. John McCain is jumping on the "Goldy got robbed" wagon:

Well, the BBWAA got it wrong.

As was very clearly laid out for them in our Editor's Choice Awards, Paul Goldschmidt was the right choice for NL MVP. NOT Andrew McCutchen.

This is a Sam Bowie-esque catastrophe, and I aim to rebut the decision of the BBWAA' (that's Baseball Writers' Association of America, you'll soon see baseball loves acronyms). And hopefully, before we're done here, y'all be wearing gold-plated diapers . . .

Let's revisit the facts. Goldschmidt led the NL in slugging percentage (.551), OPS (.952), total bases (332), home runs (36), RBI (125), extra-base hits (75), intentional walks (19) and other important stats that some mathematic genius invented like: RE24, WPA, WPA/LI, REW. I think those acronyms speak for themselves, but I will elaborate further as I imagine you are not a statistician and are thinking that Goldy's deficiencies appear on the defensive side. 

Guess again.

Goldschmidt led the NL in putouts and was second by one one-thousandth of a percent (.001) in fielding percentage amongst first basemen.

So, you are wrong there.

What's that? He's not a clutch hitter?

Wrong again. He's so clutch that your wife carries her things around in him.

The first baseman led all of baseball in go-ahead RBI (37), go-ahead home runs (20), walk-off homers (3), game-winning RBI (19) and RBI with runners in scoring position (84).

And in the seventh inning or later, Goldschmidt led the NL in home runs (13), RBI (41) and hits (60).

"But not a single BBWAA voter cast a ballot with Goldschmidt as their winner," you'll say. 

Well, more egregious mistakes have been made (see Best Picture winner/78th Academy Awards).

Maybe it's not so terrible though.

After all, McCutchen is a fine baseball player and posted pretty good numbers: 97 R, 21 HR, 84 RBI, 27 SB, and a .317 avg — even though he regressed in most statistical categories this season compared to last. Sure, he led the NL in offensive WAR, but that is no match for Goldy's acronymic dominance.

"But McCutchen led his team to the playoffs for the first time since 1992," you'll bark.

Well let me drop some knowledge on you — the Diamondbacks didn't even exist in '92, so that's a category Goldschmidt doesn't even qualify for and should be thrown out the window altogether.

Though, if the D-backs did exist in '92, there is no doubt in my mind that a 5-year-old Goldschmidt would cream at least 25 homers and 70 RBI. But I suppose the BBWAA wouldn't even give the MVP to a 5-year-old — and therein lies my point.

I do suppose congratulations are in order for the old buccaneer as McCutchen tried and failed last year — finishing third in the MVP vote behind winner Buster Posey and the currently suspended Ryan Braun.

So, congratulations Mr. McCutchen. 

But just to set the record straight . . .

Everyone knows that the Hank Aaron award is the new MVP — and Goldschmidt won that.

So . . .

Goldschmidt for President!

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball