No one has dumber unwritten rules than Major League Baseball.
Being able to intentionally throw a 100-mph fastball at another human being's head to "protect your teammate" and not get arrested on criminal charges is the perfect example. The latest attestation comes in the NL MVP debate between Bryce Harper and Yoenis Cespedes.
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Cespedes has been great as a Met but played 102 games for Tigers. Idea he is MVP of NL or even the team is absurd. https://t.co/rvbobf7RzS
— Robin Lundberg (@robinlundberg) September 10, 2015
Harper has played in 132 games with the Nationals this season, batting .336 with 36 HRs and 85 RBI. His 1.124 OPS is tops in the league. Cespedes, by comparison, is batting .304 with 14 HRs and 36 RBI since joining from the Tigers on July 31.
For some, it’s a no brainer. Harper has proven to be the NL’s top player for the entirety of the 2015 season; however, he’s only had to be compared to Cespedes since Aug. 1.
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Since then, it’s not as clear-cut as you think.
Bryce Harper might be the favorite for NL MVP. But since Aug. 1, Yoenis Céspedes has had MVP-like stats. pic.twitter.com/NQme8EGmJs
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 10, 2015
Before Cespedes’ arrival, the Nationals held a one-game lead in the NL East. The team was destined to reach the postseason and challenge for a World Series title. Since then, the Mets are 26-11 and now lead the Nationals by 7.5 games in the division.
Admittedly, some of that form has to do with the team's stellar pitching. But games are being won 8-5 and 8-7, not 1-0.
The Mets and Nationals met five times during that 37-game stretch. New York walked away victorious each time.
What “value” did Harper provide in the MVP race then?
The runaway candidate -- for some -- provided just two RBI and batted .250 in New York’s latest sweep.
The clock is ticking on Harper’s season. Only 23 games remain, and both the NL East and Wild Card appear out of reach.
Who will be more valuable then: the guy with the highest OPS watching the MLB playoffs from home, or the one who ensured his team played in them?
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