Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 2020 Ballot

Here are the specific rules for this election:

Candidate Eligibility: Any North American professional baseball player is eligible for the Most Meritorious Player (MMP) award including players on independent teams. Voters should consider the player’s on-field contribution to Major League Baseball (MLB) team(s) in that season only. If part of the season was spent outside MLB, that value may be considered as well. However, the player’s on-field contribution should be judged in relation to the ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 2020 Discussion

The Dodgers prevailed over the Tampa Bay Rays in an offseason that was nearly half as long as the regular season.

Vote for 15.

Player			bWAR
Mookie Betts		3.4
Jose Ramirez		2.2
Freddie Freeman		2.9
Fernando Tatis Jr	2.5
Anthony Rendon		1.8
Trea Turner		2.2
Mike Yastrzemski	2.5
Jose Abreu		2.8
Mike Trout		1.6
Manny Machado		2.8
Marcell Ozuna		2.3
DJ LeMahieu		2.8
Trevor Story		2.1
Juan Soto		2.1
Ronald Acuna Jr		2.1
Brandon Lowe		2.1
Trent Grisham		2.2
Tim Anderson		2.2
Dansby Swanson		2.6
Paul ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1933 Discussion

The Giants defeated the Senators 4 games to 1 in the World Series.

The second version of the Negro National League was formed. Cole’s American Giants won the first half title and the Pittsburgh Crawfords the second half. Their “playoff” was a one game that ended in a tie.

Vote for 10.

Player			SH WS		BBR WAR
Jimmie Foxx		38.9		9.2
Chuck Klein		31.7		7.5
Arky Vaughan		33.1		7.0
Joe Cronin		33.5		7.2
Wally Berger		36.3		6.9
Mickey Cochrane		25.7		6.0
Charlie Gehringer	28.3		7.2
Lou ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1932 Results

Congratulations to Jimmie Foxx on winning his first MMP award!

Player Name	pts	ballots	1sts
Jimmie Foxx	119	8	7
Babe Ruth	99	8	0
Lou Gehrig	93	8	0
Lefty Grove	91	8	1
Mel Ott	85	8	0
Chuck Klein	67	7	0
Bill Terry	58	6	0
Satchel Paige	52	5	0
Mickey Cochrane	39	5	0
Lon Warneke	36	5	0
Carl Hubbell	30	3	0
Lefty O'Doul	19	3	0
Red Ruffing	18	2	0
Babe Herman	13	1	0
Joe Cronin	8	1	0
Cool Papa Bell	7	1	0
General Crowder	6	1	0

Sox Therapy: Just Say No

With the World Series in full swing the Boston Red Sox (who will not win their fifth title despite losing the fewest games in a single season in franchise history) are searching for a new manager.  Reports from all manners of places have had them interviewing Pirates coach Don Kelly, Diamondbacks bench coach Luis Urueta (oh to hear Remy pronounce that), possibly Dodger coach George Lombard, Cub coach Will Venable and possibly others.  Of course, all of these interviews come while the elephant ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1932 Ballot

For 1932 each voter should rank the top 10 players from all leagues combined.

Balloting is scheduled to close at 4pm EDT on 4 November 2020. Please let me know if you want your preliminary ballot counted as your final ballot.

Anyone can vote, even if you do not normally participate in Hall of Merit discussions. If you have never participated in an MMP election, just post a preliminary ballot in the discussion thread by 3 November 2020.

For detailed rules see one of our previous ballots.

Sox Therapy: The Perfect Post-Season - World Series

Well, we reach the end of our series.  I hope you’ve enjoyed it.  With no baseball during the first four months of the season and then the Sox playing “baseball” for two months a little look back at some fun seemed like a good exercise. The timing of this ending is fitting as my youth baseball coaching for this year will also be ending this week.  I guess it’s time to move on.  A few random comments;

- I only go back as far as 1986 here.  No 1975.  I was five years old so while I’ve seen the ...

Sox Therapy: The Perfect Post-Season: ALCS

After sweeping all five games of the perfect Division Series the Sox go out and sweep all seven games in our perfect ALCS as well.

ALCS Game 1 - 2003 - Sox 5 at Yankees 2 - I’ll always believe the Sox were the better team in 2003.  Entering this series I was sky high with confidence and game one did nothing to diminish that. Homers from Ortiz, Ramirez (as part of a four hit day) and Todd Walker ringing one off the foul pole chased Mike Mussina.  Tim Wakefield dominated the Yanks not getting ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1931 Results

Congratulations to our 1931 Most Meritorious Player winner Babe Ruth!

Player Name	pts	ballots	1sts
Babe Ruth	115	8	3
Lefty Grove	112	8	4
Lou Gehrig	96	8	0
Joe Cronin	91	8	1
Al Simmons	85	8	0
Earl Averill	46	5	0
Mickey Cochrane	45	5	0
Wes Ferrell	39	4	0
Bill Terry	34	4	0
Willie Wells	29	3	0
Martin Dihigo	29	4	0
Wally Berger	28	3	0
Jud Wilson	19	2	0
Rogers Hornsby	15	2	0
Lefty Gomez	12	2	0
George Earnshaw	11	1	0
Bill Dickey	9	1	0
Mel Ott	7	1	0
Turkey Stearnes	6	1	0
Logan Hensley	6	1	0
Willie ...

Hall of Merit: Most Meritorious Player: 1932 Discussion

The Yankees swept the Cubs in the World Series.

Top teams in the fractured Negro Leagues include the Pittsburgh Crawfords, Cole’s American Giants, Monroe Monarchs and the Detroit Wolves.

Vote for 10.

Player			SH WS		BBR WAR
Jimmie Foxx		41.9		10.5
Babe Ruth		35.7		8.3
Chuck Klein		31.7		6.6
Mel Ott			32.1		7.9
Lou Gehrig		37.9		7.9
Mickey Cochrane		30.9		5.8
Joe Cronin		30.9		6.1
Babe Herman		24.4		6.6
Bill Terry		31.6		7.2
Lefty O'Doul		32.9		6.4
Tony Lazzeri		27.0		5.2
Paul ...