Voting for the Most Valuable Oriole
By Roch Kubatko
I received an e-mail today inviting me to vote for Most Valuable Oriole, and it got me to thinking about how much I'd appreciate the input of my blog readers.
Also, there's no game today and I'd like to file a second entry.
Members of the media who cover the team make three selections, with the first-place finisher receiving five votes, second place three and third place one. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the homestand.
Chris Davis was the easy choice last season. One voter deprived him of being a unanimous selection.
Five candidates come to mind this season: Outfielders Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones, starter Wei-Yin Chen and relievers Zach Britton and Darren O'Day.
Cruz is batting .263/.331/.529 with 27 doubles, one triple, 39 home runs and 101 RBIs in 143 games. He ranks first in the majors in homers and fourth in RBIs.
If there's an award for Best Free-Agent Bargain, Cruz might rank as the favorite after signing a one-year, $8 million contract in spring training.
Jones is batting .286/.318/.468/ with 28 doubles, two triples, 25 home runs and 85 RBIs in 145 games. He was chosen as MVO in 2011 and 2012, making him the seventh Oriole to win it in consecutive seasons.
Chen is 15-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 28 starts. His 15 wins rank second to Max Scherzer and Jered Weaver - who both have 16 - in the American League.
Britton is 3-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 34 saves in 38 opportunities over 65 appearances in his first season as a closer. He's allowed 43 hits in 70 1/3 innings.
O'Day may come across as a dark horse candidates because he's a set-up guy, but his ERA was below 1.00 from Aug. 15 to Sept. 2. One grand slam, to the Reds' Jay Bruce, can soil the numbers.
O'Day is 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA and three saves in 61 games, with 38 hits allowed and 65 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. He posted a 0.30 ERA over 27 innings from June 17 to Aug. 30, and the grand slam halted his streak of 12 consecutive scoreless appearances.
I've already turned in my ballot, but I won't reveal it until the winner is announced.
Feel free to share your top three and whether there's another candidate who deserves consideration.
Jones is batting .286/.318/.468/ with 28 doubles, two triples, 25 home runs and 85 RBIs in 145 games. He was chosen as MVO in 2011 and 2012, making him the seventh Oriole to win it in consecutive seasons.
Chen is 15-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 28 starts. His 15 wins rank second to Max Scherzer and Jered Weaver - who both have 16 - in the American League.
Britton is 3-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 34 saves in 38 opportunities over 65 appearances in his first season as a closer. He's allowed 43 hits in 70 1/3 innings.
O'Day may come across as a dark horse candidates because he's a set-up guy, but his ERA was below 1.00 from Aug. 15 to Sept. 2. One grand slam, to the Reds' Jay Bruce, can soil the numbers.
O'Day is 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA and three saves in 61 games, with 38 hits allowed and 65 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. He posted a 0.30 ERA over 27 innings from June 17 to Aug. 30, and the grand slam halted his streak of 12 consecutive scoreless appearances.
I've already turned in my ballot, but I won't reveal it until the winner is announced.
Feel free to share your top three and whether there's another candidate who deserves consideration.
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