As the regular season is winding down, there seems to be more and more to talk about with each passing day. A potential Adam Wainwright vs. Max Scherzer showdown in the National League Wildcard game. An injury that could conceivably impact the career of Clayton Kershaw. A Dodgers’ offense finally playing with a sense of urgency.
And, speaking of that offense, there has not been a bigger contributor than infielder Trea Turner.
I’m sure Turner would tell you that he’s prioritizing his team’s upcoming playoff run over a possible NL Most Valuable Player award, but the MVP is definitely something worth talking about.
Some baseball folks still see the MVP race wide open between players like Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, Austin Riley and even Brandon Crawford. Max Muncy’s probably in the conversation, too. However, after considering the kind of year that Turner has had, it’s hard to think of anyone else snagging the honor.
Sure, Harper’s 1.043 OPS and Tatis’s 46 homers are eye-popping, but Turner’s overall numbers are as well-rounded as anyone. And that’s not even mentioning that he leads the world in batting with his next closest competitor, Soto, behind by a whopping 10 points.
For the season, Turner is hitting .327/.374/.531 with 33 doubles, 27 homers and 73 RBI alongside 32 stolen bases. In 50 games since being dealt to the Dodgers, he has slashed .335/.384/.550, suggesting just how valuable to the team he might be.
Turner’s two-home run, five-RBI performance on Friday night indicates just how well his bat is currently popping.
At the moment, Turner is OPSing .905 for the season, which is first on a Los Angeles squad that has some serious collective power. Next in line with a .897 OPS is Corey Seager, the player who Turner could be replacing as the Los Angeles shortstop next year — another topic we’ll be talking about in great detail during the offseason.
The crazy part about Seager’s recent performance is that he’s slashing a ridiculous .372/.455/.702 in 110 plate appearances over the last month, making him and TTurner one of the most threatening two-three punches in baseball right now.
It’s tough to imagine the Los Angeles offense soaring through the postseason without a hot Seager and Turner. Sure, there are a few other players with decent numbers — see Muncy and Justin Turner — but both have seemingly fallen victim to the offensive inconsistencies the team has seen for most of the year.
Despite the respectable power numbers, Muncy’s season average has fallen to .247. After peaking at a .305 season average in late July, JTurner is now hitting .278 for the season. Mookie Betts is hitting .268, which, if it holds, will be the second-worst average of his career.
Trea is currently leading the way in Los Angeles, and it sure would be nice if a few other players would hop on his, Seager and a healthy AJ Pollock’s train. If they do, the Dodgers might be a team to be reckoned with in the postseason.
The Turner-Scherzer trade solidified the rotation and the offense. Turner has played well playing a new position and hitting in the 3 hole lately after leading off when he first joined the team. That has allowed them to let Mookie hit leadoff where he is at his best. Turner not only leads the batting race, but he is the stolen base leader as well since Tatis has not attempted as many since his shoulder problems have popped up. If there is a knock on Turner, it is his penchant for sometimes blowing the easy play and causing the pitcher to have to throw more pitches in the inning. He did that again last night, but more than made up for it with his offense.
Nice to see Beaty get that PH HR last night. It has been a while since he has had a hit that meant something. He got a huge bear hug from Tio Albert, who also contributed with a PH single before Turner would unload his bomb. Evan Phillips has quietly made his case to be on the playoff roster. If Kersh is through, that was not the way I wanted to see him ride off into the sunset. His return this season is unlikely. And it looks and sounds as thought he is going to need TJ surgery. If he does, it would be 2023 before he is ready to pitch, and it would be after July that year. Does he want to go through all of that at age 33? It remains to be seen. And since he is a free agent, do he and the Dodgers take a chance and sign a personal services contract for next year, and then a one or two year deal for 23-24 when he will be 35? It will be something that is watched and talked about until CK makes up his mind about what he wants to do.
Trea Turner Topps now cards showing him as a Dodger are pretty pricey. I got my Pujols for 8 bucks and paid 6 for a Scherzer. But dealers are seeking 20 plus for Trea.
I have a handful of 2016 Bowman Draft rookie cards of TTurner if you would like to have one. Just let me know.
I think it would be nice if they would finally decide if the MVP is supposed to be the player who has had the best season or the player who has been the most valuable to his team. It seems to be up to each voter to decide and I think that’s ridiculous because it means that people are using different criteria to judge their choice.
I think we can eliminate Mr. Muncy from any consideration since he has been in a rather prolonged slump lately and there is always a recency bias in the voting. Since the award says “Most Valuable” that’s how I have always judged it and that means I would rarely consider a player whose team didn’t make the post season. Harper might be an exception since the Phillies got very close.
I wouldn’t have a problem with any of Trea, Crawford or Riley this year.
I would eliminate Tatis because of how badly the Padres have tanked and that’s in spite of the fact that I’m a major Tatis fan. I don’t mind his “attitude” and swagger as long as he’s producing, but to have the whole team fall down around him this year eliminates him from this award as far as I’m concerned.
There are reportedly some issues in the clubhouse with Tatis. I do agree he is incredibly talented.
The MVP award is very confusing as you say. I believe it has to go to a player that gets his team into the playoffs. It’s all about getting to the playoffs. Crawford has had a helluva year and his team has outperformed all the predictions. He might get it when that is factored in.
I’m not sure what you’ve heard about Tatis in the clubhouse. That might be true, but I know that the blow up he had with Manny the other day is nothing. I think those two are close and that was just Manny giving him a well deserved kick in the ass. I don’t think it will be a bad thing going forward.
What I do know is that the manager and probably the entire coaching staff are gone after tomorrow and that Preller had better really put a lot of thought into who replaces them. Bochy’s name has been tossed around and he’s certainly had success wherever he’s been but he wouldn’t be my choice. I would go with someone a bit younger. I think the ideal candidate would have been Alex Cora but, of course, he has a job.
I simply read he was being very angry after some at-bats and acting out. I think he is an incredible player.
Does Bochy want another manager job? He certainly has the high profile that San Diego might need after this disappointing season. Hopefully, Tatis isn’t going to emulate Machado who is not exactly the gold standard for professionalism.
I think it should no longer be called the MVP. Rename it to what it really should be, Player of the Year. Because there have been guys win this award who were not on winning teams. In 2017 the NL MVP was Giancarlo Stanton, who at the time was playing for Miami. Miami finished 20 games back of the Nationals and under .500. How can that guy be the most valuable player when his team was never in the race? Best player? Probably. So change the name. The Cubs, Dodgers and Nats, who all won their divisions, obviously had players who were valuable to their winning. And all won their division without much trouble. Harper won in 2015 with a second place DC team. They also were no where near a playoff team. He was the best player in the league that year though. But MVP? Doubtful.
MVP. Most valuable for what, or for whom? This league is a business, so is it about value to the league? If so, who sells the most tickets and jerseys? Who generates the tv ratings? Otherwise I agree with Bear. Player of the Year.
Agreed bear. Best player is easy. Mvp is so arbritary and is left in the hands of writers who aren’t the most knowledgeable sometimes
I have actually felt that way for a long time. Right now if MVP is the name, you would have to throw Trea Turner in the mix. Since he has come over to the Dodgers they have the best record in baseball and he has helped them get as close as they are to the Giants.