The Skillz Report

Who's The NLDS MVP If Giants/Nationals Was Best-of-Three?

 

(originally written 10/5/14)

 

In case the baseball gods are reading this, let's preface the upcoming article with the following statement: We Giants fans know the series is not over, and won't be over until/unless they record 27 outs on Monday. Or 54, if need be. 

 

In no way is this article meant to imply Washington is done. You don't win 96 games without claiming three straight against a good team.

 

So please do not smite us by striking my Giants down. I learned of your potency when I texted friends during a Tim Lincecum no-hit bid five years ago. This writing is just for fun, a way to fill the emptiness of a day without Giants playoff baseball.

 

That said...

If the NLDS were a best-of-three...and it actually chose a Most Valuable Player...who would it be? So many have chipped in up and down the roster. Let's hear what YOU think:

 

Pablo Sandoval:

He's a free-agent-to-be, and he's playing to impress. Which isn't to say Panda jakes it the other six months—Giants fans know his falling dugout catch in the Wild Card game is far from his first such effort, and his NLDS Game 2 RBI double with two outs in the ninth ruined what looked to be a sure Nats win.

 

Hunter Pence:

His overall numbers don't stand out, but if he doesn't absolutely bust his ass to beat a would-be double-play ball in Game 1 and steal second, he doesn't score the Giants 2nd run. The homers by Bryce Harper and Asdrubal Cabrera tie the game, and that game might've gone 18 innings as well. Plus, he's locked down right field as always.

 

Yusmeiro Petit:

Speaking of the record-breaking 18-inning Game 2, Petit may well be the most accomplished nobody in baseball. He came one batter away from a 2013 perfect game, he set a record for consecutive batters retired in '14, and he gave San Francisco SIX INNINGS of sparkling relief pitching in that Game 2. Thanks to Petit and starter Tim Hudson, two pitchers chewed up over 13 innings of that affair.

 

Brandon Belt:

The new papa, of course, won Game 2 with an 18th-inning bomb—not to mention his Game 1 RBI single that rewarded the aforementioned Pence for his hustle.

 

Joe Panik:

The rookie dazzled in Game 1 and has driven in or scored three of the Giants' five runs this series. Plus, Panik turned in a great diving play in Game 1 when Washington held all the momentum.

 

Tim Hudson:

A case can be made for the old guy, who wasn't a lock to make the playoff rotation following a late-season slide. He sparkled in Game 2, pitching into the eighth and putting SF in a position to mount a comeback. The Giants weren't going to score much, if at all, vs. Jordan Zimmermann—thanks to Hudson, they didn't have to.

 

Brandon Crawford:

Hey, Bucky Dent basically won ALCS MVP for his Game #163 homer years ago; why not nominate Crawford for his Wild-Card game death blow?

 

Chime in below.