The best unintended benefit of my blog vanishing, requiring a manual move of my previous posts back to this space, is that I had to redo my baseball list.
That seems like madness, given the extensiveness of the work it took to put it together the first time, but as I mentioned in my last list post - one of the main components of my rankings, WARP3, went through a pretty significant defensive overhaul this season.
The current numbers are better. And now my list is better.
The other element that's better is I've solidly increased the degree to which the list values peak - I still think career value is what should primarily be measured - but I wanted to reward excellence - wanted to give some recognition for greatness.
So, now I've done that. Included as a component in the New and Improved Ranking of the 200 Greatest MLB Players ever is MVP Quality seasons, those with a WARP3 of 10+. The new WARP really solidifies that as the benchmark number, I think - those players who reached it really, in an ordinary year, could absolutely have been legitimately called the best player in their respective leagues.
So, I'm going through the decades and providing (1) all of the MVPQ years and (2) all of the Real MVPs, the player in each league with the highest WARP3. Currently, the new WARP database is only sortable through 1954, so that's where I'll stop with this list for the time being.
But I won't need to wait much longer to unveil...The 200 greatest players in major league baseball history.
When that's done - the 50 greatest QB, RB, WR in NFL history.
When that's done - my new line of erotic cakes.
Here's the first decade of the brand new century. 2009 isn't over yet, I'll update as needed once the season ends:
2000-MVPQ
AL
Alex Rodriguez SS Mariners
Pedro Martinez P RSox (RMVP 14+WARP)
NL
Greg Maddux P Braves (RMVP sub 10WARP)
-Who had the best season in the decade? Pedro Martinez in the year 2000.
2001 MVPQ
NL
Barry Bonds LF Giants (RMVP)
Sammy Sosa RF Cubs
Luis Gonzalez LF DBacks
AL
Bret Boone 2B Mariners (RMVP)
-Let the steroid speculation begin! Bonds, as you'll see when I add the 90s list, is no stranger to MVPQ (total of 8 for his career). But by the time we reach Bret Boone, it's fair to wonder how he reached this level of performance.
MVPQ 2002
NL
Barry Bonds LF Giants (RMVP)
Randy Johnson P DBacks
AL
Derek Lowe P RSox (RMVP)
-Two straight for Bonds. Why has Johnson (now with my club, so I don't want to raise my voice too loudly, avoided the PED chatter?
MVPQ 2003
NL
Barry Bonds LF Giants (RMVP )
Albert Pujols LF Cards
Marcus Giles 2B Braves
AL
Esteban Loaiza P WSox (RMVP sub 10)
-3 straight for Bonds and Pujols, who gets a good bounce from the new WARP numbers, makes his debut. The AL has a lot of Tommy Tutone one hit wonders during the decade.
MVPQ 2004
NL
Adrian Beltre 3B Dodgers
Barry Bonds LF Giants (RMVP)
Randy Johnson P DBacks
Scott Rolen 3B Cards
Albert Pujols LF Cards
AL
Johan Santana P Twins (RMVP)
Miguel Tejada SS Orioles
Carlos Guillen SS Tigers
-The Bonds run ends with 4 straight. Santana is 4th pitcher in 5 years to take ALRMVP
MVPQ 2005
NL
Dontrelle Willis P Marlins (RMVP)
Roger Clemens P Astros
AL
Eric Chavez (RMVP)
2006 MVPQ
NL
Carlos Beltran CF Mets
Miguel Cabrera 3B Marlins (RMVP)
AL
Grady Sizemore CF Indians (RMVP)
-Beltran's had a better career than you think.
2007 MVPQ
NL
David Wright 3B Mets
Albert Pujols 1B Cards (RMVP)
Jake Peavy P Padres
AL
Alex Rodriguez 3B Yanks (RMVP)
-Pujols and ARod with their first RMVP Awards of the decade.
2008 - MVPQ
NL
Albert Pujols 1B Cards (RMVP)
Carlos Beltran CF Mets
AL
Cliff Lee P Indians
Mariano Rivera P Yanks (RMVP)
-Pujols wins his 2nd; it's the best season of Rivera's career.
2009 - MVPQ
NL
Albert Pujols 1B StL (RMVP)
AL
Joe Mauer C Min
Zack Greinke P KC (RMVP)
Evan Longoria 3B TB
Roy Halladay P Tor
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