Oscar Gamble Society

Below is the NL MVP tally for this year; Prince Fielder was a not-too-shabby fourth. Given how much of the book Moneyball was devoted to Billy Beane’s mocking of Prince Fielder, and preference for Nick Swisher, does this constitute another blow to Beane’s reputation for astute judgment, if not to sabrmetrics in general? Swisher was a valuable contributor for the Yankees this year, but hardly worthy of MVP consideration like Teammates Jeter and Teixeira, both of whom were in the top four of the AL balloting IIRC.

The complete ballot: Roberto Alomar, Kevin Appier, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Ellis Burks, Andre Dawson, Andres Galarraga, Pat Hentgen, Mike Jackson, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Shane Reynolds, David Segui, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile

Who should get in?

I see several names, a couple new ones and some that have languished for years now. Oh how I wish Mattingly were among them, though I confess its really not even a close call.

Others are an even greater stretch, though, unless there was another David Segui of whom I’m not aware.

My ballot would definitely include votes for Blyleven, Dawson, Larkin, and McGwire, and possibly for Lee Smith, Jack Morris, Tim Raines and Alan Trammell.