Travis Hafner: Most underated/undervalued player

[pacers721]

There is no doubt in my mind that Travis Hafner is the most underrated, undervalued player in the major leagues. Currently, Hafner is leading the AL in OPS with 1.086 and second in the MLB behind Pujols with 1.100. But because he plays for the Indians, rarely do I hear mention of his name as an MVP candidate. Whats even more amazing (and astonishing) is that before the all-star game, Hafner lead the AL in OPS with 1.112 (Thome followed with 1.065) and yet didn't make the all-star team. If that's not ridiculous, then I don't know what is. And through all this, Hafner is making only $2.7 million in 2006 (whereas $2.9 million is the mlb average). I understand that Hafner is a DH, that Ozzie chose his hometown players, and that Cleveland is not a playoff contender. But still, considering all this, I think Hafner is more than deserving of an All-Star spot and a MVP consideration (especially considering ARod won the MVP in 2003 with an OPS of 0.996 with a last place team).

Note: I realize that OPS isn't a universal player evaluator, but I think the large difference between his OPS and opposing players' is enough to establish his offensive dominance.

[ohms_law]

I think you make a somewhat convincing argument for All-star, but there's not much that you can say to convince me that he's deserving of the MVP award. Cleveland is 59-68 and in 4th in the AL central, after all.

Who was Cleveland's all-star representative, anyway?

[Mighty Bosstown]

The day Travis Hafner wins a MVP over David Ortiz is the day I complain to no end.

[HoustonGM]

Who was Cleveland's all-star representative, anyway?
Grady Sizemore.

The All-Star Game is little more than a popularity contest.

[ohms_law]

no argument's from me on that score.
:D

I was just curious is all.

[Yankees Fan]

I agree with you that Travis Hafner is severely underrated, but he's still not my MVP pick, nor is Ortiz. Mine would be Joe Mauer, who I think is underrated because he is a great offensive catcher.

[Mighty Bosstown]

I wasn't saying that Ortiz should be the MVP this year, I just say that Ortiz is clearly a much better candidate for MVP then Travis Hafner. Despite Hafner's Grand Slams, you wouldn't actually see Hafner as a clutch player and a man that had added wins single-handedly to his team. Ortiz has given the Red Sox plenty of wins and had they won the division he'd have to be the MVP.

[HoustonGM]

Remove Hafner, the Indians take a significant hit, and probably lose a lot of games in the standings.

Remove Ortiz, the Red Sox will take a hit, but not as signficant as Hafner being removed fromt he Indians. They'd lose a few games in the standings.

Mighty Bosstown: Baseball Between the Numbers (the chapter Is David Ortiz Clutch?) shows how clutch isn't really a consistent thing that someone either is or isn't...basically, "clutch players" don't exist.

[ohms_law]

I don't think that sabermetrics can really speak to clutch play though, at least not without additional tools.

The Leverage Index sort of systems probably can prove or disprove "clutch" performance, if you can get data from enough games and come up with stats for people.
I will say this though. Situations do exist in baseball that are high pressure, for pitchers and for hitters, even for fielders. Human nature is such that some players will step up their game and perform better, while others will "choak" and not be able to perform.
The problem that sabermetrics has, or any statistics for that matter, is really one of granularity. None of these stats show situational performance, or when they do the sample size is really too small.