Awards Season 2021

[Frayed Knot]

I've been in a sort of sports media blackout lately meaning that this week's MLB awards have almost totally slipped my attention.

So with just the MVP trophies still to be awarded (6PM tonight) I'm playing a little catch-up here:



AL ROY: Randy Arozarena, still a rook despite his hot 2020 post-season, getting 22 of the 30 1st place votes. Luis Garcia (HOU) and Wander Franco (TBR) were 2nd & 3rd w/2 1st place votes each.

There were others receiving votes also but MLB now decides it's going to let you know in advance that those guys, including ones who snagged 1st place votes, had no shot at winning.



NL ROY: Jonathan India (CIN), 1st on 29 of 30 ballots. Miami RHP Trevor Rogers, with the lone other 1st place vote, took 2nd, and StL's Dylan Carlson gets to go first in Double Jeopardy





AL MOY: Kevin Cash, TBR

NL MOY: Gabe Kapler, SFG





AL CY: Robbie Ray TBR (29 1st place votes). Gerritt Cole NYY (1), Lance Lynn CHW.

NL CY: Corbin Burnes MIL (12), Zach Wheeler PHI (12), Max Scherzer WAS/LAD (6)

Also Walker Buehler (LAD), Brandon Woodruff (MIL), Kevin Gausman (SFG), Adam Wainwright (StL), Julio Urias (LAD), Jacob deGrom (NYM)

[bmfc1]

Do you think that MLB should give out the awards at a ceremony rather than one at a time on their network?

[Frayed Knot]

That's been suggested from time to time. It would be good if they could figure out a time and place but I think the logistics might make it tough to pull off.

You've got the players from the WS teams who'd be just off a week or two while for others the season would already be six weeks or so in the rearview and

already scattered to the four corners of this country not to mention the Caribbean, South American, and East Asia. Some would be home for the first time

in maybe eight months and not anxious to leave, or they'd away on vacations, getting ready to play winter ball, or who the hell knows what else (chasing

wild hogs on their farms?).



Would be good if they could pull it off ... but would kinda suck if like 2/3 of the potential winners simply blew it off.

'Jacob deGrom couldn't be with us today (he's in Bora Bora) so accepting the award in his place is ... Patrick Mazeika, who caught him three times this year.

[G-Fafif]

Do you think that MLB should give out the awards at a ceremony rather than one at a time on their network?

Corbin Burnes could take a page from Paul Simon re Jacob deGrom missing half a season.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Fwiw, Wheeler got a little jobbed.



I sure think his loss was bigger in the moment than Syndy.

[Edgy MD]

I'm all about the awards show. DRAMARAMA!

[Ceetar]

not to mention you're gonna ask a bunch of players who are NOT going to win an award to show up and be gracious losers.



You could do it DURING the World Series? It'd certainly be better than the talking heads for a pregame show. And then you could keep the winner around for an interview during the game (provided he's not on the teams) and provide an inning or so where he's talking about like, active baseball, about pitching (or hitting) against the people playing the game live in front of him. That'd be way more interesting color than whatever Joe Buck blathers on about these days. Hell, kick Joe Buck out and give all three finalists to the award of the day the half inning, and then switch leagues. Get Burnes, Wheeler and Scherzer talking pitching to Freddy Freeman while Freeman IS BATTING.

[bmfc1]

Ceetar for MLB Event Planner!

[bmfc1]

The NL MVP is announced tonight. Soto/Harper/Tatis. https://www.mlb.com/news/case-for-2021-mvp-award-finalistshttps://www.mlb.com/news/case-for-2021-mvp-award-finalists

I'm pulling for Harper because it would doubly piss off both Nationals fans as they hate him and their guy would lose.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

The awards are spread out over a week so there is a steady stream of baseball news into November. If I recall, these are presented by the Baseball Writers Association of America, not MLB. They like having things to write about during a slow time, rather than one huge story with all the awards in them. The lesser awards don't get as overshadowed by the bigger ones when they have a day to themselves.



MLB doesn't want any non-World Series news to detract from the World Series. Teams aren't supposed to announce anything during that time.



I'm fine with all this. Keeps good baseball discussions going.

[Frayed Knot]

The awards are voted on by BBWAA but presented by MLB, for whatever that's worth.

And while spreading them out definitely was designed as an attempt to keep baseball in the news after the WS was over (they used to do just one award per week) the problem now is that they

get very little attention from anyone but the MLB Network. I doubt most SportsCenter anchors even know who the players are much less know that the awards are being given out this week.

My one connection to the general sports world is watching PTI on a regular basis but they film at 5PM and the awards are announced at 6 and by the next day the previous day's awards are

considered yesterday's news. So unless I make an active effort to find out who won each award I'm not likely to find out [hence this thread].



Like I said, I think it would be great if they could pull off a better method, I'm just not sure they can. During the WS would be great or maybe something in conjunction with the recent GMs

meeting when a bunch of front office talent is already gathered in one spot. But by either time most of the players' seasons have been over for a month or more and there needs to be an

incentive for Ohtani to jet in from Japan and Vladdy Jr from the DR, etc.

[Edgy MD]

No, I don't think it would or should happen during the World Series. The idea is to create baseball stories for the offseason, not to interrupt the big story of the main season. There should be to extend the baseball season, as a story, into a year-round cycle.



I think, if properly put together, the nominated players would have sufficient motivation to show up. They get a weekend junket in the offseason with their families, along with a chance to pimp their brand and fluff their sponsors before an assembled media. They get to rub elbows with models and actors, meet some colleagues for the all-important offseason golf circuit*, and maybe, if they are free agents, have dinner with a suitor or two.



*There should also be an MLB charity golf tournament during the offseason. It would be hewj.

[Ceetar]

Baseball already is a year-round cycle, to the extent that offseasons can be. trades, QOs, projected rosters and free agency all kick off right away. There are lulls sure, but also baseball is so regional now many non-WS teams checkout. But would a Phillies fan tune in to a World Series game or pregame and maybe stick around to see if Wheeler won? Maybe more so if they've already taken a month away from baseball? Remember, baseball's main concern is about TV and the money Networks pay for the product.



Hell, tell Fox as part of the WS Deal you gotta air a 30 minutes half-time show of the MVP unveiling during a Sunday game in November.

[Edgy MD]

I certainly don't believe Major League Baseball has succesfully promoted their product to the full extent it can be.

[kcmets]

=Ceetar post_id=81366 time=1637263544 user_id=102]Hell, tell Fox as part of the WS Deal you gotta air a 30 minutes half-time show of the MVP unveiling during a Sunday game in November.

[Ceetar]

I dunno, I haven't watched the NFL in years and years, but I'm told there's like a trillion people tuned in.

[kcmets]

Which has nothing to do with an MVP show aired during the WS, of course.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Edgy MD wrote: I certainly don't believe Major League Baseball has successfully promoted its product to the full extent it can be.

I agree with this 100 percent!

[Ceetar]

Which has nothing to do with an MVP show aired during the WS, of course.

right, i said "MAKE IT PART OF THE DEAL" MLB has a deal with Fox to air the World Series. As part of that, agree to air the awards show during halftime of the 4pm game on November 21st or whatever.

[kcmets]

=Ceetar post_id=81373 time=1637267301 user_id=102]As part of that, agree to air the awards show during halftime of the 4pm game on November 21st or whatever.

Edited November 18, 2021 by Guest

[Ceetar]

Just speaking to the idea of getting baseball into the national conversation in November. Forcing it into an NFL halftime show makes it more prominent and tricks Fox into promoting it.

[Frayed Knot]

right, i said "MAKE IT PART OF THE DEAL" MLB has a deal with Fox to air the World Series. As part of that, agree to air the awards show during halftime of the 4pm game on November 21st or whatever.

Good luck with that.

[kcmets]

Like the NFL wants to share spotlight time with MLB.

[Ceetar]

give teh NFL fans something else to gamble on during the first half. Throw in a DraftKings promo or whatever. everyone wins (I mean, except us)

[Frayed Knot]

Back to the actual awards for a moment ...



Harper is MVP in the NL, Ohtani in the AL



Harper (17 1st place votes)

Soto (6)

Tatis (2)

Brandon Crawford (4)

Trea Turner (1)

Paul Goldschmidt

Austin Riley

Tyler O'Neill

Freddie Freeman

Max Muncy



Ohtani (unanimous)

Vladdy Jr

Marcus Semien

[Edgy MD]

I'm usually the first to argue that Harper gets too much juice at awards time, but he was at the top of my ballot this year.



Voting for Ohtani ... wasn't a very difficult decision.