Get the Trophies and Banners Ready - Part 2

Jason Budden: Un-Common Sense?

Last week, I recognized the premier performances in the American League through the first week of May. This week, let’s examine the top performances in the National League, at this early point in the season (all stats are through games on May 14).

National League

MVP

Lance Berkman, Houston Astros, .392, 42 Runs, 13 HR’s, 38 RBI’s, 6 SB’s, 1.260 OPS
When I first started analyzing the top players in the National League, I was having a tough time deciding between Lance Berkman, Chase Utley and Chipper Jones. I had this long argument put together analyzing the three players’ stats. I argued that Berkman was the MVP at this point in the season, mainly because he was hitting homeruns and driving in runs late in close Astros games. I was pretty impressed with the thought and analysis that went into this argument.

Then Berkman went on a stretch during which he went 22 for 31 (that’s a .710 batting average) with four homeruns, 11 RBI, seven doubles, two stolen bases and 14 runs scored. During this eight game stretch, he scored in every game, hit homeruns in four and had at least two hits in seven of the eight. This included a five-hit game, four-hit game and two three-hit games. Plus, the Astros went 7-1 during that stretch. Unbelievable! I wasted all that time putting together my initial argument just to have Berkman blow the other two out of the water last week. Thanks for wasting my time Lance!

Runner Up #1

Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves, .415, 27 Runs, 10 HR’s, 31 RBI, 1.158 OPS
What a season for good ole Larry Jones, Jr. If he can get through the season without getting injured I will be surprised, but while he’s healthy, he is going to continue putting up impressive numbers.

Runner Up #2

Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies, .325, 32 Runs, 13 HR’s, 28 RBI, 3 SB, 1.075 OPS
Utley got off to a blazing start, hitting 10 homeruns in his first 22 games. If I had decided to blog about this back on April 24, he clearly would have been the early season favorite for NL MVP. But I didn’t…

Honorable Mention

Considering how bad the AL was, I figured I’d mention these players that are having very impressive starts as well (BA, R/HR/RBI, SB, OPS):

Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates, .305, 32/10/31, 3, .996
(1999 Team One Midwest)

Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins, .325, 34/9/23, 13, .968

Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs, .314, 32/10/27, 3, .964


Cy Young

Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks, 8-0, 2.41 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 41 K’s
This life throws us many curveballs, but there are certain things you can count on. The US Post Office will deliver your letter rain or shine, Chick Fil A is going to be closed on Sunday, Britney Spears will be back in rehab at some point and of course…Brandon Webb will be dominant. Since his arrival in 2003, Webb hasn’t posted a season ERA over 3.59. This year has been no different as he has posted a 2.41 ERA and is leading the league in wins (8). In fact, he has won every game he has started so far this year for the Diamondbacks. Hitters are batting only .197 against him in 2008 and he has been virtually untouchable for righties, who are hitting only .162.

Cy Young Runner Up & Rookie of the Year

Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds, 6-1, 1.12 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 57 K’s in 48 1/3 IP
Volquez is my Cy Young Runner Up and also my early favorite for the National League Rookie of the Year. His only loss this year was a quality start in which he gave up two runs (one earned) in six innings, while giving up only four hits, walking two and striking out nine. He hasn’t given up more than one earned run in any of his eight starts this season. The 24 year old from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, has games in which he has struck out eight, nine and ten batters (twice).

Runner Up

Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs, .315, 17 Runs, 6 HR’s, 26 RBI, .996 OPS
This season has been a roller coaster ride for Soto. He started the season 2 for 10, followed by an 8 for 17 stretch and then another slump. At one point in late April he went 0-8 during a two game stretch, striking out in all eight at bats. He followed up those strikeouts by going 13 for 26 with three homeruns, ten RBI and seven runs. Basically, you never know what you are going to get from Soto on a day-to-day basis, but in looking at the whole picture, you can clearly see a player with amazing potential.

Next week, we’ll crown our early season Champion!