Article: Twins Daily Awards 2016: MVP

[Nick Nelson]

If the Twins had made the playoffs, or even come remotely close, Brian Dozier's name would be floating alongside Mookie Betts and Mike Trout in the American League MVP conversation. Instead, since the Twins were by far the worst team in baseball, he will be largely overlooked in national award discussions.

 

Nevertheless, Dozier deserves recognition for a truly special campaign.In some ways, Dozier's 2016 season was a continuation of his established career trend. In both 2014 and 2015, the second baseman delivered scalding hot production in the early months that was offset somewhat by a frigidly cold stretch in the latter portion, leading to overall numbers that were impressive but short of spectacular.

 

This season he flipped the script somewhat. First, because he reversed his pattern by starting slow and finishing strong. And second, because his hot streak was on another level from any we've seen from him -- or, really, anyone else. Over the final four months he hit 37 home runs with a .631 slugging percentage in 109 contests.

 

Overall, Dozier finished his age-29 season with a .268/.340/.546 slash line to go along with 42 homers, 35 doubles, five triples, 104 runs scored, 99 RBI and 18 steals on 20 tries. Incredible numbers across the board. He also provided steady and occasionally outstanding defense at second base, although you'll be hard-pressed to find any metric that ranks him as one of the best.

 

FanGraphs pegs his WAR at 6.0, tied for eighth-best in the American League. The next-highest qualifying Twins hitter was Joe Mauer, whose 1.0 mark ranked 66th. In other words, this wasn't exactly a tough decision.

 

The prodigious power output was remarkable and rare. His 40 home runs as a second baseman were the most ever for an American Leaguer. In the past 50 years, only 27 other MLB players have surpassed 40 homers and 35 doubles in the same season. Only two others have also added five triples.

 

In short, Dozier was an amazing source of self-manufactured offense. He put himself across the plate 42 times, and six times he was able to notch a run on the board before Minnesota's second batter came up to the plate in the first inning. When he wasn't completing the job himself, Dozier was constantly placing himself in scoring position with extra-base hits and steals, leading to a third straight 100-run season.

 

That Dozier was able to singularly produce this much offense for a club that still managed to lose 103 games is a testament to the adage that baseball is a team game, and there's only so much one guy out of nine in the lineup can do. Hopefully next year his contributions will be more meaningful, if he's still here.

 

In the meantime, let's just sit back and marvel at where his homer total ranks in Minnesota Twins history. Killer company, one might say.

 

Most Home Runs in a Twins Season

 

49 - Killebrew, 1964

49 - Killebrew, 1969

48 - Killebrew, 1962

46 - Killebrew, 1961

45 - Killebrew, 1963

44 - Killebrew, 1967

42 - Dozier, 2016

41 - Killebrew, 1970

39 - Killebrew, 1966

35 - Allison, 1963

35 - Willingham, 2012

 

THE BALLOTS

 

Here's how the voting for this one shook out on our seven-man panel. Obviously, not much dissent for the top choice:

 

Seth Stohs – 1.) Brian Doizer, 2.) Ervin Santana 3.) Joe Mauer

Parker Hageman – 1.) Brian Dozier, 2.) Ervin Santana, 3.) Joe Mauer

Nick Nelson – 1.) Brian Dozier, 2.) Ervin Santana, 3.) Joe Mauer

Jeremy Nygaard – 1.) Brian Dozier, 2.) Joe Mauer, 3.) Max Kepler

Cody Christie – 1.) Brian Dozier, 2.) Ervin Santana, 3.) Joe Mauer

Steve Lien – 1.) Brian Dozier, 2.) Miguel Sano, 3.) Ervin Santana

Eric Pleiss – 1.) Brian Dozier, 2.) Ervin Santana, 3.) Miguel Sano

 

POINTS

 

Brian Dozier: 35

Ervin Santana: 21

Joe Mauer: 14

Miguel Sano: 12

Max Kepler: 8

Eduardo Nunez: 5

Robbie Grossman: 1

Kurt Suzuki: 1

Byron Buxton: 1

 

Other 2016 Twins Daily Award recipients:

 

Most Improved: Brian Dozier

 

Rookie of the Year- Max Kepler

 

Best Pitcher: Ervin Santana

 

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[jimmer]

As much of a fan I am of Dozier (since before most seemed to be even paying attention to him) he's not even the top candidate for MVP from his own position. That distinction belongs to Altuve (with Cano POSSIBLY #2 at 2B).

 

Even if we were close to making the playoffs, or had made the playoffs, I doubt he'd be mentioned alongside Trout, Betts, Donaldson, Altuve or Machado.  

 

Dozier was a top 10 AL player and we can be happy for him based on that.

Edited October 7, 2016 by jimmer

[Bark's Lounge]

I think people need to brace themselves for an Ortiz MVP. I'll steal a line from that ****head running for POTUS - "It's Rigged!" 

[jimmer]

 

I think people need to brace themselves for an Ortiz MVP. I'll steal a line from that ****head running for POTUS - "It's Rigged!" 

Yeah, that'd be horrible.  Worse than Colon winning Cy Young in 2005.

[Seth Stohs]

No way does Ortiz win it... that would be sad...

 

But yeah, I don't think Dozier is a given for the Silver Slugger...

 

Altuve and Cano were both terrific too. 

[Mike Sixel]

Agreed on this choice! About as easy as the pitching award....

[Willihammer]

I'd have Dozier second behind Molitor. An average manager would have lost 110-112 games with this group.

[Doomtints]

Yes, Dozier is the Twins team MVP.  No question.  Good for him.

[EddieMatthews]

 

Yeah, that'd be horrible.  Worse than Colon winning Cy Young in 2005.

I agree, but Colon still is pitching and shut the Twins down this year.  Santana (2005) was the best AL pitcher in 2005.  He was HOF bound until he went to the Mets.

[Doomtints]

 

I agree, but Colon still is pitching and shut the Twins down this year.  Santana (2005) was the best AL pitcher in 2005.  He was HOF bound until he went to the Mets.

 

It's utterly insane that the Mets worked him like they did in 2012 when he sat out a full year in 2011 after shoulder surgery, especially for a team that was in no way going to make the playoffs.

 

I think Terry Collins learned from that because the Mets have been treating pitchers better since.  Before then, Collins ran a few of his aces to 230+ innings.  Since then, the peaks have been around 200 innings.  

 

If Santana had gone to any other team (or stayed in MN), he probably would have played longer.  Sure, he may not have had a no hitter.  But I bet he would trade one for the other if given the choice.  

Edited October 7, 2016 by Doomtints