Mercifully Not MVP: 2008's Most Overrated MLB Players

MVP voting has come and gone. And for the first time ever, I am happy about both MVP selections. Hell, I am happy about both Cy Young award winners. But unfortunately, the voters once again showed their inability to let go of archaic numbers that provide nothing but talking points towards a players worth. So for all you fans of "big Septembers", "RBI", "grit", and other crappy reasons for arguing a player's worth, this list is for you. Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers : MVP of the Brewers' lineup? Definitely. But despite being outside of the top 15 in the NL in VORP and trailing such elite players as Russell Branyan and Denard Span of the Twins in EqA, managed to find himself third in MVP voting. To be fair to Braun, he adjusted well to left field, but his sub-average OBP was worth third? Knowing players like Hanley Ramirez and Chipper Jones could not even break the top 10, I am not buying it. Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies : Yes, he was a key player in September. Yes, he had a big World Series. But ... (link)