If Ichiro is a MVP Candidate...Then Where's Curtis Granderson?

If Ichiro Suzuki is in the running for MVP, then where does Curtis Granderson come in at? Granderson is the far superior leadoff hitter, but he rarely gets talked about.

Granderson plays a great center field for the Tigers and offensively he's very dangerous because not only does he have great speed, but he also hits for power and if the ball gets into the gap he is liable to be at third base with a triple.

The only knock on Granderson is that he strikes out a lot and his batting average is not that high, but Granderson shows why he is valuable as a leadoff hitter because he also takes walks and works the count, which accounts for his high strikeout total.

For the season the Tigers also have a record of 61-52 when Granderson plays. For the season he's hitting .259, with 23 homers, 54 RBIs, 20 doubles, 6 triples, 20 stolen bases, 57 walks, 98 strikeouts, a .344 on-base percentage, a .471 slugging percentage, a .815 OPS, and 211 total bases.

I will say this: by the season's end Granderson should overtake Ichiro in doubles, total bases, and in stolen bases because Ichiro doesn't run that much anymore and doubles from Ichiro are rare as been documented in years past.

Ichiro so far this season with him in the lineup for the Mariners they have a record of 54-54. His numbers are .359, 7 homers, 32 RBIs, 23 doubles, 3 triples, 23 walks,  67 runs, a .390 on-base percentage, a .464 slugging percentage, a .855 OPS, and 221 total bases.

So, of course Ichiro win on average, right now doubles, a bit better on-base percentage, OPS, and total bases right now.  

Granderson wins on home runs, RBIs, triples, walks, runs, and slugging percentage. Granderson defeats Ichiro in six categories and Ichiro beats Granderson on five categories.

Winner: Granderson!

Even in 2007 Ichiro somehow came in eighth in MVP voting and Granderson, who had a far superior season, came in 10th. Doesn't make sense does it?

Let's look at the two 2007 seasons as well. This will also prove just how much the media plays an influence on votes because there's no doubt that Granderson was the more complete player than Ichiro in 2007.

Granderson, 2007: .302 average, 23 homers, 74 RBIs, 185 hits, 122 runs, 38 doubles, 23 triples, 26 stolen bases and was caught only once, 52 walks, a .361 on-base percentage, a .552 slugging percentage, a .913 OPS, and 338 total bases.

Ichiro, 2007: .351 average, 6 homers, 68 RBIs, 238 hits, 111 runs, 22 doubles, 7 triples, 37 stolen bases but was caught 8 times, 49 walks, a .396 on-base percentage, a .431 slugging percentage, a OPS of .827, and 292 total bases.

Ichiro defeated Granderson in average, hits, stolen bases, and on-base percentage.

Granderson defeated Ichiro on home runs, RBIs, runs, doubles, triples, stolen base percentage, walks, slugging percentage, OPS, and total bases.

Meaning 10 categories that Granderson won and Ichiro won four categories. Granderson had the better season.