My Email to Murray Chass

The old guard of baseball writing has found the Internet. Unfortunately, the old guard still wants nothing to do with any real analysis.

While almost a month late in reading, this post on Murray Chass' blog set my "Pujols for MVP" blood back boiling. This article had everything, from blatant disregard to the first five months of the season, to this mystical notion that one player can "carry" a team (how did the Rangers do while A-Rod was tearing the cover off the ball for three years? Oh. Right.).

While Chass has been a favorite target of all those in bloggerland, most notably Fire Joe Morgan (RIP), this article, combined with the easily accessible email address provided at the bottom of the article, compelled me to write Mr. Chass an email regarding his work.

Dear Mr. Chass,

While scrolling through your Web site early this morning, I came across your article on why Ryan Howard should have been N.L. MVP. While I am aware that Ryan Howard had a big September, I am also aware of your death-hold on traditionalism and general refusal to look at measurable info in baseball, preferring to use your gut instinct on situations. For you, I share these concerns with your information:

- Albert Pujols had a grand total of 10.1 percent of his team's Plate Appearances, Ryan Howard had 11.2 percent. Baseball is not a sport where one player can "carry" a team, they need help. Howard received his help in the form of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Shane Victorino, etc. The Cardinals were a mediocre hitting team outside of Pujols and Ryan Ludwick.

- The Phillies could not have done what they did without Howard? Really? If you replace Howard's production with Pujols', Mark Teixeira's, Kevin Youkilis', Lance Berkman's, Adrian Gonzales', Prince Fielder's, etc, for the whole season, you don't have a championship quality team?

A win in June counts the same as a win in September, and had Howard been producing near the .900 OPS level all season (which isn't as good of a statistic as you love to point out because it overstates slugging), the Phillies probably lead the division heading into September, and we have no need for Howard's "heroics".

He missed out on the All-Star game for a reason: Other players were better and more deserving, as they were for MVP.

- Back to the point of "carrying." While I've already stated that no player wins or loses games on his own, that the No. 9 hitter will contribute just one plate appearance less than the No. 1 hitter a game, and that this basketball "take over the game" mentality is bogus, than where is the praise for other members of the Phillies?

Pat Burrell was a monster throughout the first half of the season, Jayson Werth OPS'd 1.071 in August (Howard OPS'd .791 in August). While Howard's Home Run production is a very good thing and very valuable, he was also a dud for three out of the six months in the season, a subpar defender even in a position filled with subpar defenders, and struggled with on base.

Essentially, the very basis of your argument is that the Phillies do not win the N.L. East without Howard's production in September. That is a true statement. However, this also encompasses the notion that baseball

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