J-Roll or Holliday?

Question

Good arguments for each - Hooliday certainly seems to have the edge if you look at the tradtional criteria of great triple crown category numbers. Plus he had a great September. Usisually, if that guy's team makes the playoffs, he's a lock.

Rollins' case is a little more unconventional. The arguments for him include looking at things like 30 HRs and 96 RBI from the leadoff position, his hits & stolen bases & total bases, his leadership, and the fact that he does it all as a great-fielding shortstop.

So who do you give the edge to?

Answer 1

Edge to Holliday and it is not only just about numbers. If it were only numbers you could put the factors in a computer and let it pick the winner. Holliday led a team that many, so called experts, believed would finish last in their division, let alone make the playoffs, and turned the Rockies into a winner. It seems he always took it up a notch when the team needed him and his leadership took the team to the promise land, and with a few breaks could win it all. In my opinion Holliday is the guy hands down.

Answer 2

Holliday. He's first in the NL in hits, BA, and RBI. He's third in slugging percentage, fourth in HR, and sixth in on-base percentage, while assuming the leadership role from veteran Todd Helton to lead a Rockies team, that everyone had written off when the season started, to a late season surge to force a one game playoff to make it into the postseason.

Rollins plays on a very potent Phillies lineup that ended the season with five players hitting more than 20 HR, on a team that led the league in runs scored. Though he did become the second player this year to enter the 20-20-20-20 club with Curtis Granderson, he only led the league in two offensive catergories, runs and triples. He was tied for second with Hanley Ramirez for hits with 212, whereas Holliday had 216. He accumulated 88 extra base hits, while Holliday had 92. He had a .296 where Holliday hit .340.

This same argument occurred two seasons ago with David Ortiz and A-Rod. Ortiz eventually did not win b/c of his batting average. A-Rod's .321 average compared to Ortiz's .300. So batting average means alot when discussing the league MVP.

Answer 3

They're very close. So, who did more when they had to?

In the last 30 days and last 7 of the season, when their teams were fighting for the play-offs, Holliday was FAR better.

Last 30 days
Rollins had 20 runs, 15 RBI, OBP325, SLG 521
Holliday 20 runs, 28 RBI, 464 OBP, 808 SLG

Last 7 days
Rollins 4 runs, 3 RBI, 353 OBP, 438 SLG
Holliday 6 runs, 5 RBI, 500 OBP, 600 SLG

I don't believe that "clutch" exists as a skill, but Holliday was markedly better when he was needed most.

It also helps that nobody seems to call him something stupid like M-Holl...

Answer 4

I like Matt Holliday a lot more than Jimmy Rollins for a couple of reasons. 1: Jimmy Rollins is a Phillie. I hate the Phillies. 2: Matt Holliday was on my fantasy team d this year and did amazing. Coming from 9th place out of 10 teams, he brought me up to 3rd place to finish the season off. I would definitely choose Matt Holliday overall.

Answer 5

Holliday will and should win the MVP. He won the batting crown, led the NL in RBI and 3rd in Runs Scored and 4th in HR. He beat Rollins in all the categories that he should have and kept it close in runs, which as a #3 hitter he shouldn't have done as easily.

Answer 6

Matt Holliday lead the NL in several offensive categories and was clutch all year including his game #163 heroics. He's my pick for MVP.

Answer 7

Holliday is an offense machine, but Rollins is a better defensively. It will be close, but it will probably go to Rollins, he backed up what he said in style and beat my team.

Answer 8

Holliday!

Answer 9

I think the edge can quite obviously be given to Holliday here. The proof is in the numbers.

Answer 10

Holliday.