USA TODAY International Edition
HIDDEN MVPS: 10 STARS MAKING MOVES
The names of Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton have been tossed around as MVP candidates for weeks now, and deservedly so. They rank among the top contenders with the likes of Jose Ramirez, Mike Trout and Francisco Lindor in the American League and Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Joey Votto in the National League.
However, there are several other worthy players who are not getting nearly as much love from the media. They might not finish among the leading vote-getters in the balloting, but they merit recognition as outstanding contributors to their teams, most of them contenders. Here’s our attempt at acknowledging them. (Note: Statistics through Tuesday’s games.)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Didi Gregorius, New York
Yankees: Not much goes underhyped in New York, but Gregorius’ phenomenal year has been overshadowed by the breakout star who is Judge. A terrific defender all along, Gregorius delivered a career-high 20 homers and 70 RBI in 2016, then improved on those numbers this season despite missing the first three weeks with a shoulder injury.
Gregorius broke Derek Jeter’s single-season home run record for a Yankees shortstop when he hit his 25th Sept. 20, to go along with 87 RBI and a .808 on-base plus slugging percentage. He has also been known to hand out free tickets to the subway and CN Tower as part of what’s known as DID Is DEEDs. Not a bad replacement for the captain. Marwin Gonzalez, Houston Astros: In his sixth season, Gonzalez has evolved into the latest version of Ben Zobrist, the utility player who becomes indispensable. Gonzalez has started more than 10 games at each of the infield positions, plus 34 more in left field. All the while, he has taken off offensively, setting career highs with 23 homers and 86 RBI while ranking fourth on the majors’ highest scoring team with a .902 OPS.
“Whenever I have a question on what I should do,” manager A.J. Hinch says, “the answer is usually, ‘Marwin can do it.’ ”
Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers: Typically a light-hitting shortstop with doubles capability, Andrus boosted his OPS by more than 130 points from 2015 to ’16, but nobody anticipated his power surge this season. After going eight years without reaching double figures in home runs, Andrus has hit 20. He has also set career highs in doubles (42), hits (186), runs (99) and RBI (87).
Andrus has been the one constant in a Rangers season marred by Adrian Beltre’s injuries and the subpar offensive performances of Rougned Odor, Mike Napoli and Jonathan Lucroy. Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins: A year after setting a Minnesota record for losses with 103, the Twins have scraped their way into prime position for a playoff spot thanks to players such as Dozier.
The second baseman leads the club with 33 homers and 90 RBI while ranking second in steals with 16, helping the Twins open a five-game lead for the second wild card.
Left fielder Eddie Rosario, who has hit 17 of his 27 homers in the second half, deserves mention as well.
Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles have fallen out of the race in the last three weeks, taking some of the luster off Schoop’s accomplishments. He has already been named the Orioles MVP by area media members, and his 32 homers and 105 RBI are club records for a second baseman.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles
Dodgers: When the Dodgers surged to a stunning 91-36 record, Jansen performed admirably, converting 35 of 36 save chances. When they faltered, losing 16 of 17, he remained steady, both on the field and in the clubhouse, where his influence has grown.
It's not only Jansen’s 40 saves that make him valuable, but the certainty of the game’s finality when he comes in, whether it’s the eighth inning or the ninth. His presence is a key reason the Dodgers can limit the innings, and exposure, of starting pitchers not named Clayton Kershaw. Jansen has converted 11 saves of more than one inning and has struck out 105 in 66 innings while giving up seven walks. That’s pure domination.
Travis Shaw, Milwaukee
Brewers: For the Brewers to be 11⁄2 games out of a playoff spot in the final week of the season is a minor miracle. For Shaw to be heading their offense might not qualify as such, but it certainly ranks as a feat of shrewd dealmaking.
Shaw, acquired in an offseason trade with the Red Sox, has reached career highs in most offensive categories, most notably home runs (31), RBI (99) and OPS (.866). His two-run homer in the 10th inning against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday might have saved the season. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals: The veteran receiver has been in the middle of the action during the Cardinals’ late push for a postseason spot, driving in 22 runs in September as St. Louis had gone 15-9 to move within 21⁄2 games of a National League wild-card spot. At 35, Molina continues to play stellar defense behind the plate while taking scarce days off. His 136 games started lead all major league catchers. In whatever time off he has, Molina and his wife are helping raise funds for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico.
Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals: After three consecutive seasons curtailed by injuries, Zimmerman seemed a candidate for the has-been category. Then he found his old stroke — an even better one, actually, with more loft — and propelled the Nationals in the early going. Now in his 13th season at 32, Zimmerman has set a career mark with 34 homers and figures to finish with his best OPS ever (it’s currently at .912).
In a loaded lineup that also includes Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Daniel Murphy, Zimmerman might get overlooked a bit, but pitchers know better than to forget about him. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers:
Sure, he’s going to walk away with the rookie of the year award, but somehow Bellinger seems to be lost in the conversation for the bigger honor. The Dodgers were 9-11 when Bellinger arrived April 25, energizing their offense with his eye-opening power and athleticism. Bellinger, who has already set an NL rookie record with 39 home runs, has looked comfortable while shifting between his natural first base and the three outfield spots.