Top MVP candidates for 2015 NL

While you're at it, please identify 5 NL hitters who either have superior career offensive stats to HRam and Votto or who have bettered their 2013 rate stats within the past 5 years. Then make your case for your own top 10 list. It will probably contain the likes of Shelby Miller.

There you go changing your definition again. First you said recent past performance, now you're asking for a past-5 year analysis. That's not "recent." Now, you not only decide what you mean by "upside," you can't even decide what you mean by "established upside."

You want me. You stalk me on these threads. I blush. Name 5 superior hitters, still waiting....

This is where I put you on my foes list, you poor sick man. If you haven't noticed, you've come on every one of my Top ten list threads. Your behavior was always hostile, but it didn't get disturbing until now.

Goodbye, psycho.

You seem to be confusing "upside" with "consistency". I never said they were the most consistent hitters, indeed their health issues preclude that. I said they had higher established upside than those off the list. While those above them have high upside AND high consistency, those below them haven't proven they have can achieve the performance level necessary to win an MVP award.

The concept: Player 1 may have a 5% chance of winning the MVP, 20% of being an All Star, but a 35% chance of bombing out entirely due to injury concerns.

Versus Player 2 who is only a 5% risk of bombing out due to injuries, but has a 0% or minimal chance of winning an MVP or All Star berth because of a less impressive skill set.

Surely, this concept is easy enough that even you can grasp it.

LOL! If I only knew Strether was a homophobe I would have gayed this up months ago. Ciao bello!

And "established" means over a non-trivial sample size such that one can conclude it's part of their skill set. And nowhere did I characterize Votto's health record over 4 years as terrible, in spite of how much you respect my opinion and therefore want me to agree with you. Thank you for the compliment.

Votto continues to rake.

Looks like Adrian Gonzalez in a runaway. He should come down from his 1.357BA and 84 HR's but hey he looks good for it right now!

What about Alex Rodriguez?

Arod will have to overcome the media not liking him and if I had a vote also actually be on the field most of the time by end of season.

In the NL Bryant may soon be forcing people to consider his merits.

People are already considering Bryant's merits. He was arguably the best hitting/power hitting prospect in the last 50 years at the start of the season, and he's done nothing to disprove that in the majors so far. And if the Cubs miss the playoffs by 1-4 games, they are going to be kicking themselves for going with Olt at the beginning, regardless of the extra year of service they gained. Their fans won't be happy about it either.

MLB really needs to get revamp its current "service time" rules and just start the service time clock on opening day, so teams don't have to struggle with the quandary, players can start their careers at the time they've earned, and fans can see their teams actually play the best possible team for which they are paying.

Finally, Houston fans have to be wondering what could have been, as they hope Mark Appel lives up somewhat to his original promise.

And if the Cubs miss the playoffs by 1-4 games, they are going to be kicking themselves for going with Olt at the beginning

I will second that.