Jose Altuve, Bryce Harper, Barry Bonds, Clayton Kershaw, Kris Bryant, and Ken Griffey Jr. all share one historic honor. It has nothing to deal with the number of games they have won. Nothing to deal with injuries players have played through, and nothing to deal with what a player means to their team. Rather, they all have been named their league’s most valuable player.
Nothing against any of the players listed, but when you hear the phrase valuable, it does NOT mean best. There is no question that all of the players listed above were the best in their respective league. However, all of these players had a star studded lineup around them, on fantastic teams. What baseball measures is who is the best player (usually on the best team), rather than who is the most valuable to a team.
The dictionary definition of valuable is, “a thing of great worth.” A player with great worth to a team is not one who is always the best. For example, if the 2016 Chicago Cubs lost Kris Bryant, they still have other All Stars such as Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler, Addison Russell, and Javier Baez. If Houston lost Altuve, they have numerous players to pick up the slack. A true valuable player is one that a team can NOT replace.
An irreplaceable player could mean they play numerous positions, could be a 5 tool player, or could be a locker room guy that is the glue that holds a team together. This brings players like Mike Trout, Marwin Gonzalez, Cody Bellinger, and David Eckstein to the forefront. Some of these guys have won MVP, but the majority of players like this are left out. Valueable is something that is tough to put a finger on, but it does not mean best. For example, Mike Trout is the best in the league, is a 5 tool player, a great leader, and has an extremly high WAR (Wins Above Replacement). That is a most VALUABLE player. Gonzalez can play almost every position, and is a great clubhouse player. Without him, the Twins are not nearly the team they are right now: Now that is an MVP.
I have no problem with rewarding the best player in the league. That is something that anyone would be honored to be called. The problem I have is the name. It seems small, but those role players and players who bring teams together with different skills are over looked far too often. The importance of a truly valuable player is much higher than those greatly talented players. MLB, get the name right, and honor those players who are truly VALUABLE.
Bleacher Bum 