Normally I think the idea of CO-MVPs is really some soft shit. With rare exceptions, there's usually a clear cut guy who deserves series MVP. The 2001 World Series with Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling is the most glaring example of deserving co-mvps.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't lose any sleep over it, and this is the definition of a champagne problem, as my favorite team just won the World Series. I'm complaining about who won World Series MVP, but I still am shocked David Price didn't the very least earn a co-MVP for his work in the 2018 Fall Classic. My mans was robbed worse than Cambridge Merchants in The Town. Honestly I would've given it to him outright over Pearce. I just think Pearce was so good that if there was ever a time to give co-MVPs, this was the time. Look, Steve Pearce was awesome, I love Steve Pearce and his story. Did you know he grew up a Red Sox fan? Of course you did because Fox told you every 20 seconds. I don't wanna take away from his performance. His home runs brought me great joy. Butttt he hit 3 home runs. Plenty of guys have hit 3 home runs in a World Series. Pablo Sandoval did it in one game. I'm not trying to take away from him because I think it should've been split award. It's not like JBJ in the ALCS where he only got 3 hits, but they were probably the biggest 3 hits of the series, so it worked. Plus there was no one pitcher who really stood out as a potential MVP. So even hitting .200 JBJ made sense. I bet if you gave Steve Pearce truth serum he'd say he was surprised to win it. Because what David Price did in the World Series, for lack of a better word was historic. I was shocked when Pearce was by himself getting that ugly truck. Maybe that's what it's all about? Chevy doesn't wanna shell out two free cars to multi-millionaires?
Because I've thought about it. It's not like baseball has never done co-MVPs. There have been two in the last three seasons in the NLCS. For God's sake in 1981 there were THREE World Series MVPS,,, THREE. Back then it wasn't a big deal they probably just gave you a VCR.
In my eyes this is Chevy trying to save a buck. Why else would you not recognize a man who did more to help his team win the World Series? Maybe they figured Pearce could use a free car more since he's a journeyman and Price is a Cy Young Winning 1st overall pick? But there have been a few instances since 2001 where multiple guys were worthy of MVP. 2013 stands out to me (for obvi reasons) David Ortiz hit fucking .688, but Jon Lester also went 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA. I can't remember when the car started. I know Bumgarner got one in 2014, because who could ever forget that?
Getting back to Price though.... What David Price did in this Fall Classic has only been done a handful of times in last 60+ years.
Since the World Series MVP award was first awarded in 1955, 12 series have ended in 5 games. In those 12 series, only four times has a starting pitcher won two games. Those SP were Whitey Ford in 1961, Jerry Koosman in 1969, Jack Morris in 1984 and Orel Hershiser in 1988. Pretty nice company to be a part of. Once a RP went 2-0, Mike Stanton went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 4.1 IP for the 2000 Yankees. In laymen terms, two wins in a five game series is pretty rare. I know the win isn't everything for determining how good a pitcher is, but I'm sorry postseason wins for sure matter for showing how good a pitcher is. You aren't gonna see too many dudes going 5 allowing 6 earned picking up W's in October. Wins for sure aren't everything, look at Rich Hill. His career ERA in the World Series is 1.80 and he's winless, but October is about wins plain and simple. Wins are what gets you a ring, not WHIP or ERA. I was shocked to see of those four times, only twice was a 2-0 starting pitcher of a 5 game World Series awarded series MVP. They were: 1961 Whitey Ford went 2-0 with a cool 0.00 ERA in 14 innings (only gave up 6 hits) 1988 Orel Hershiser went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings In 2008 Cole Hamels went 1-0 in two starts with a 2.77 era in 13.0 innings and was named series MVP. I find it hard to believe in this series that were so short that starting pitchers who carried teams were not rewarded for it. To win a series that quickly you're gonna need great starting pitching and that's exactly what David Price provided. After all the shit he's gotten for choking in October, this year he righted the ship. In the 2018 World Series David Price went 2-0 in 3 appearances (2 starts) with a 1.98 ERA, 10 strikeouts, and only surrendered 10 base hits, his WHIP was 0.951 which for those of you who don't know non-traditional stats, is very good. I'm sorry, but David Price is why the Red Sox won the World Series. What he did was incredible. To pitch on short rest multiple times and give those kind of performances is the stuff of legends. Now over the course of time it'll be forgotten by most because there isn't the MVP label on it, but do not get it twisted, it was an MVP performance. This was the series David Price put the haters to bed. Forever.
Yes, he picked up his first win as a starter the series before against the Astros, but that was just one win. Has Price gotten shelled in his first start the narrative would return and everybody would just say game 5 against Houston was a fluke. Plus frankly, it wouldn't have really mattered if he sucked in the World Series. Steve Pearce was fucking awesome, and dominated games 4 and 5, but did nothing in games 1-3. David Price shut down the L.A. Dodgers and was absolutely dominate. I don't understand how MLB didn't recognize him considering his infamous postseason history.
I don't really like the idea of CO-MVPs, but if there was ever a time to give one, it was this year. This Red Sox team embodied what it meant to be a team all season long. Price showed he's a team guy by pitching whenever needed, including a key relief appearance in game 3 after starting (and winning) game 2.
In the 2016 and 2017 NLCS' their were co-mvps. With no cars given away I wonder if that's why the tough decision wasn't made? They were probably like fuck it, just give it to both of them. In 2016 the Cubs beat the Dodgers in 6 and SP Jon Lester (1-0 in 13.0 IP with a 1.38 ERA in 13.0 IP) split MVP honors with Javy Baez (.318 7/22 with 5 RBI). The next year the Dodgers got revenge and won in 5, the CO-MVPs were Chris Taylor (.316 2 HR and 3 RBI) and Justin Turner (.333 2 HR 7 RBI). A simple eye test tells me Price and Pearce were better. 2-0 with a 1.98 ERA and .333 with 3 HR and 8 RBI respectively. Give me those guys, now that I think of it the only explanation as to why they didn't split it was the car giveaway. Maybe racism? That's a great conclusion people seem to love to come to when they don't have any further explanation for something. Screw the car, Price and his 217 million (just from the Red Sox) can get whatever car he wants, this is about honor and respect, both of which Price deserves after this postseason. As he said he holds the trump card now. He was robbed and it's not right. Am I an SJW now? Given the narrative of his career of to this point it would've been fucking perfect. Whatever, he has a ring now and out-pitched two of the best pitchers (Verlander and Kershaw) of this generation but damn it man, the right man did not win series MVP.
2 Comments
11/5/2018 12:52:34 am
David Price deserves the best things in the field where he belongs. When it all happened, I was one of the many fans who were surprised when it he was not announced to be a co-MVP in the World Series. We were shocked because based on his performance, he deserves it and even the non-fans expected that already. Well, there must be something going on between them, something that we wouldn't know unless someone will say it!
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3/23/2020 10:26:53 am
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