Kansas City Royals: Five First Half MVP Candidates
By Alec Tilson
- bWAR: 1.0
- fWAR: 1.2
- Pitching: 8-4, 3.40 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 1 Complete Game
- Defense: N/A
Disclaimer: This could have been Alex Gordon.
While Chris Young has been great (7-4 with a 2.89 ERA), the nod goes to the guy who leads the team with 100.2 innings pitched and 17 games started.
Baseball is about consistency. You don’t have to be electric to be a starting pitcher, just be consistently effective; and that’s what Volquez brings the Royals.
Edinson Volquez looks like the exact same pitcher that pitched 190+ innings of 3.04 ERA baseball for the Pirates last season. His groundball numbers are down a bit (46.4% GB) but he’s allowing fewer homeruns (8.0% Homerun/Flyball) than last season.
In fact, he’s only allowed eight homers this year, and only three in Kauffman Stadium. While that number may trend towards his 11% HR/FB career average, he might just be benefiting from the bigger home ballpark and a better defensive outfield.
Everyday Eddie has taken the ball every fifth day since the start, and he’s gone six innings or more in eight starts.
Baseball is about consistency. You don’t have to be electric to be a starting pitcher, just be consistently effective; and that’s what Volquez brings the Royals. There’s something to be said about a guy who doesn’t miss starts, doesn’t make excuses and competes every time he’s out there.
Don’t get me wrong, I hope I’m giving the second-half MVP awards to Ventura and Duffy, but for the first half, Volquez deserves it.
Grade: 7 out of 10
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