It can be very hard to gain recognition when on the losing side. Everyone knows Achilles and his exploits in Troy, but the Trojan Achilles, Hector, just gets lost in the conversation. William the Conqueror was victorious at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, every student of history has this date drilled into their heads, but what about poor Harold the Saxon? These performances, while valuable and admirable, just do not get the shine of the winner. They are destined for the waste bin of history.
On October 1st, 2017, Joey Votto had a fine day at the plate. He was two for four with two doubles in four plate appearances. His Cincinnati Reds defeated the 92 win Chicago Cubs 3-1 to end the season. His offensive output contributed to a season slash line of .320/.454/.578, with a 1032 OPS in 162 games. His on base percentage and OPS led the majors, and he chipped in 36 Home Runs along with 100 RBIs on the button. All told, he accrued 8.1 bWAR to lead both circuits. His Cincinnati Reds finished 68-94. He showed up each and every day, and was great each and every day.
Votto has received his flowers in the past. In 2010, he was crowned the National League MVP with a sterling slash line of .324/.424/.600(!) with 37 Home Runs and 113 RBIs en route to a 1.024 OPS and 7 WAR in 150 games. He was outstanding that season and led the league in On Base, Slugging, and OPS, and his Reds finished first in the National League Central with a 91-71 record. They proceeded to be swept (and no-hit) by the Phillies in the playoffs.
All that being said, 2017 may have been better. That was his masterpiece. He played in every game that season and was better. What was the difference? Maybe about 23 wins.
So who won that MVP award in 2017? Why that would be Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins. His season was great for a lot of the reasons, but it mainly has to do with pop. While Votto was getting on base at a ridiculous clip and selective at the plate, Stanton mashed. 59 Home Runs and 132 RBIs with a .281/.376/.631 slash line in 159 games which amounted to 7.1 bWAR. He’s got the flashy numbers, and his Marlins finished with 77 wins against 85 losses. His team didn’t win every night, but it won more than the Reds.
The MVP voting was razor thin with Stanton edging Votto by two points. Sure Stanton led the league in Home Runs and RBIs, but other sluggers haven’t won with those honorifics. It really came down to neither Votto or Stanton, it was Votto’s teammates. If the team could have scraped together some more wins, Votto may have two MVPs. There is a tax for being the best player on a mediocre or bad team, and Votto paid that tax.
The 2024-25 Cincinnati Bengals’s season ended on January 6, 2025 with a win as well. 19-17 over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Burrow was efficient as ever, going 37-46 for 277 yards with a Touchdown and Interception. The Bengals capped off a middling 9-8 and missed the playoffs by a game. The record speaks to mediocrity, but Burrow had the best statistical season of his career. He threw for 4,918 years on a 70.6 completion percentage with 43 Touchdowns against only 9 Interceptions.
If you were to be shown these numbers without a player’s name, team, or record, this is a no-brainer MVP season. But all of these facts are known, and Burrow is paying the tax. He should be the runaway MVP, but it will go to one of these flashy players, with worse numbers, on a team with less than the eight losses Cincinnati has. He is the best player on a mediocre team, and he will pay for that. There is Hector of Troy, Harold the Saxon, Joey Votto, and now Joe Burrow. All with great performances. All without the recognition.
