Could Rizzo be this seasons MVP? If the Cubs keep winning, he has a good chance.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/61959/thursdays-top-5-anthony-rizzo-mvp-candidate

1. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs. OK, there were some great pitching performances on this night, but I wanted to talk about Rizzo because it's time we talk about Rizzo. The Cubs first baseman belted a three-run home run in the third inning to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead on their way to a 7-1 victory over Braves. He's now hitting .291/.402/.538, with 24 home runs and 73 RBIs. Considering his numbers, his importance to the Chicago lineup, his designation as team leader, and the Cubs' place in the playoff race, he's become a strong MVP contender.

Rizzo turned on a first-pitch, 97.7 mph heater from Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, hooking it just inside the right-field foul pole. Rizzo stands right on top of the plate, daring pitchers to throw inside fastballs past him. That leads to a lot of HBPs -- he's been hit 24 times, a Cubs record -- but gives him outstanding plate coverage.


ESPN Stats and Information
By standing close to the plate, Rizzo can still yank those outside pitches with authority -- only one of his 24 home runs has gone left of center field. When it comes to his power, he's a dead-pull hitter. Overall, he ranks ninth in the majors in wOBA on pitches in the outer third of the strike zone (or outside).

Rizzo is a rarity these days: a power hitter who averages fewer than one strikeout per game. Among the 58 hitters with at least 15 home runs, the only ones with a lower strikeout rate are Buster Posey, Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. Only six of Rizzo's two home runs have come with two strikes, as he does his damage early in the count. In fact, what's interesting is that Rizzo isn't a great two-strike hitter, ranking just 47th among qualified hitters in two-strike wOBA; but with one strike or no strikes, he's hitting .387 and ranks seventh in wOBA. So you can try and get ahead of Rizzo with a fastball, but you better spot it in the right place: He has the sixth-best wOBA in the majors against fastballs.

As for the MVP race, here are the position-player WAR leaders entering Thursday:

Bryce Harper, 7.3

Paul Goldschmidt, 6.9

Brandon Crawford, 6.0

Posey, 5.6

Rizzo, 5.5

A.J. Pollock, 5.5

Joey Votto, 5.1

Only one of those guys is on a team currently in a playoff position, and that's why Rizzo's stock is rising. While some of us believe the MVP Award should simply go to the best player, that's not really how the award is voted on; it's a mixture of numbers, making the playoffs, headlines and big hits, and narrative. Rizzo's narrative is building: His team wasn't supposed to be here, he's been the one constant in a lineup that struggled to score runs at time, he has one of the signature moments of the season with his catch in the stands, and he has a great personal story, beating cancer as a minor leaguer. And did I mention he plays for the Cubs? Heck, he even declared before the season that the Cubs would win the NL Central.

That probably won't happen with the season the Cardinals are having, but making the playoffs is looking like a strong possibility. And that puts Rizzo in the thick of the MVP discussion.

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More interesting is whether Arrieta can win Cy Young amid the incredible competition for that award this year.

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if he gets it great, but I agree he is ahead of Bryce. Dont even care what Bryces totals are, because 2nd half he has been below average at best. Goldschmidt has been awesome.....

I wish I could find the proposed trade I put of Paulie for Goldschmidt, in Paulie's 2nd to last year...and pretty much all of Sox naion said NO>

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Bruce dropping wisdom now on Rizzo being much more valuable to this Cubs team than Harper....

Of course Trout is going to have historical career numbers, but right now...I am watching Harper and Trout LEAD their respective teams into NOSE dives....and Rizzo is being the leader, best player, clutch player of a team that needs that player .....which is exactly what I said at the beginning of the year. The players value to a team...and right now Rizzo's is higher than anyone.

Bryant, is a great example. The kid is going to be a great player as he is already a good player druing his first full season, but I am the first one to say, he isnt a leader, he isnt the guy who wants to fire everyone up, he doesnt do stuff to keep others in the game, he is the guy who is following...and needs someone to follow.

If you want to tell me #14 was a good captain and so good at it, that they kept him around to be Harold Baines living statue replacement, you cant deny the work and influence that Rizzo has had to date.

Starting Tuesday....puts the metal to the test. @SF and then @LAD......

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Bryant had a good first half. Same can't be said to his 2nd half this far.

Slow your roll.

You do know he has hit .318 in August with a 12 game hitting streak, OBP of .420, ....

July was .168 and .270....

Have you watched a game in August?

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Wow, August!

Like I said, slow your roll. A season and a quarter and Bryant is already a sure fire can't miss!

Oh brother.

5 hr and 13 RBI in second half for Harper, more K's than walks, 1 SB.....Harper can finish with the best WAR in the league, right now, not on MVP path at all. The WAR is a reflection of how amazing his first months were. Give me a consistant player anyday.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

This.

LEADER

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Uhhh....okay? What player on that list doesn't have more K's than walks. Buster Posey is the closest to dead even.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

The Cubs have the Cy Young winner, ROY, Manager of the year, & maybe the MVP.

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CSFMB 2014 Nascar Pick 'em Champion

We don’t have a trillion-dollar debt because we haven’t taxed enough; we have a trillion-dollar debt because we spend too much. — Ronald Reagan

pit stains

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Wait a minute, the pajama party thing was a real thing?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Arrietta looks like Grandma from Rounders

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

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Kenny Williams fell for the banana in the tailpipe

Stats starting to fall from great to good

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

They probably could have finished third without him.

It's not a knock on Rizzo, per se, he's a fine player. The award itself has the stupid "most valuable" stipulation/argument literally baked into it's name.

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