The Controversial 2011 MVP Races...11 Years Later

Hey everyone!
The 2011 MLB season was one of the most memorable seasons of the 21st century. One reason why was because of the MVP races. Both winners were players you wouldn't expect heading into the season. However, the fallout of these MVP races are why they are remembered more than a decade later.
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[@ablecantaim7112]

The fact that Ellsbury was written off by that voter simply because his team collapses while he produced well in September is so frustrating.

[@SportStorm23]

I agree

[@karsonmapes]

ellsbury was my favorite player back then

[@hornetguy9063]

@@karsonmapes he was never really cool in my book. You’d hear stuff leak out about what a primadonna he was, pouting when the Red Sox signed Mike Cameron to play CF and pouting when he was dropped from the lead off spot when struggling at the plate. There’s a good reason why the Red Sox didn’t even give him a serious offer even though they knew the Yankees were in on him. He did have an amazing 2011 though.

[@DuckAvenger]

Still mad that Kemp didn't win it could have been twice in the decade the dodgers could have cy young and mvp

[@jameswinslow8540]

Nah as a red Sox fan screw that team they were lazy and entitled, glad no one got mvp on that team that year

[@tomgalindo8117]

Matt had one of his HRs robbed too he was so close to 40/40. He easily could have had a great career if he never destroyed his shoulder in Coors field in 2012

[@sak7785]

It was Kemp’s hip that derailed his career, not his shoulder.

[@wasthataspongebobreference533]

With Miggy announcing 2023 is gonna be his last season, and assuming he plays out his contract, it’s crazy how of all names said in this video, Verlander is gonna be the last active player standing.

[@er_playz5429]

We’re getting old :(

[@garrett9562]

And is crazy he's back with his ole teammate

[@baylor06]

Joey votto

[@jaimelannister1797]

I’m biased as a dodger fan but I thought even back in 2011 that Kemp should’ve won. Only reason he didn’t was cause the dodgers weren’t a playoff team

[@LumpyAdams]

That's exactly why he didn't win and I've never been a fan of MVP going to someone on a non playoff team.. because what are you the MVP of? First one on the golf course? It's a stupid idea.

[@jaimelannister1797]

@@LumpyAdams terrible take. It’s an individual award. The player is not in control over how good the rest of his team is

[@yessir7630]

@@LumpyAdams dumb take , it's an individual award and one player doesn't have that much impact on a team winning lol

[@LumpyAdams]

@@yessir7630 it's most valuable, not best player. So no, it's not as terrible as you think. What's valuable about a player that has a great year statistically but doesn't play in one postseason game? That's why football has MVP and OPOY. It's why baseball has MVP and the Hank Aaron award. So take YOUR shitty and zero thought out take and go to bed, kid.

[@YoureNotReet]

@@LumpyAdamstake dumb.... individual an is award its

[@MattGS22]

I just think it’s stupid how much better verlander has been since the MVP, yet he hasn’t gotten close to an MVP. Either don’t give pitchers mvp or give them all MVP lol

[@SportStorm23]

If he had stayed healthy all of 2022, I wonder if he would've got more votes. He never would've beat Judge or Ohtani, but a 200 ERA+ in a full season is insane

[@jaimelannister1797]

2011 is still his best season

[@MattGS22]

@@jaimelannister1797 in terms of innings/volume/results: MAYBE. But In terms of actual results his time in Houston his 2019 and 2022 were better

[@jaimelannister1797]

@@MattGS22 volume matters a lot. Verlander pitched 250 innings in 2011! And he won the triple crown. It’s his best season

[@shoukatsukai]

Probably because hitters nowadays have less holes in their game. You wouldnt take any of the 2011 MVP hitters over Mike Trout, 2018 Mookie Betts, etc.

[@cesarcabrera97]

The Dodgers only played 161 games that season because a game postponed was never re-scheduled because it didn't affect the standings, and in the first game of the 2012 season Matt Kemp hit a home run. I know that had that game been re-scheduled it doesn't mean that Kemp would've hit a HR and reach the 40-40 mark, but it remains a big what-if for me.

[@CharmCityGamer]

To this day, that one is interesting in all the ways. Thanks SportStorm!

[@EP12349]

I’ve followed baseball casually for my whole life but I’m just now getting into it more seriously and your videos are awesome for learning about both the present and past history of baseball so thank you

[@codygurnick6405]

Oh how times have changed when your team making the playoffs mattered. Good thing for Trout he was born when he was.

[@sendAJtospace]

What do you mean “still mattered” It has mattered since then and matters right now, what are you talking about

[@Gemnist98]

@@sendAJtospace Trout and Ohtani have won a collective four MVPs each - all in seasons when the Angels went below .500

[@sendAJtospace]

@@Gemnist98 And Trout got 2nd place behind Triple Crown Miggy on a WS squad in 2012 Trout absolutely and without question deserves each MVP he’s got, but that doesn’t mean playoff odds don’t still matter. That was a big factor as to why Judge rightfully won MVP over the MLB’s golden boy Ohtani last season, after all. The Yankees offense outside of him completely fell apart towards the end of the regular season. Way I see it, MVP consideration shouldn’t hold playoff odds *against* a player, but playoff odds should be argued *for* a player when they’re a significant reason for their team’s chances. Let alone when a man is straight up *the* difference in whether or not a team does make it. That second-half Judge stretch was as hard of a carry-job as you can realistically ask of a single player.

[@sendAJtospace]

Also this comment just doesn’t make sense. You’re implying Trout was lucky to be born to grow up and play in a period of time where making the playoffs mattered(which it does)but then he proceeded to win 3 MVP’s despite that. How is he lucky when he won 3 of em *despite* playoff odds working against him year in and year out? You can’t say 2012, and all the years after this 2011 topic, were years in which playoff odds didn’t matter, because A) Miggy’s and Judge’s MVP’s prove otherwise And B) This is all in the exact same era. 10 years ago isn’t exactly the stone age.

[@Karmy.]

and also when winning the Cy Young was largely based on wins

[@tonychen3628]

ah the mystery of award voting, similar kind of wtfs I've been asking since I found out Ichiro's single season hit record setting season didn't even make him top 3 in the MVP voting😁

[@97NikeSb]

Matt Kemp in 2011 was a monster. He deserved that MVP. Voters say that players in playoff teams have a better chance yet players like trout, ohtani, and Harper have won awards in a season where they team didn’t go to the postseason. Kemp carried that squad because all the off field issues with the McCourts, bankruptcy, and players that came up in the organization leaving because of the money issues.

[@denzelhunt3578]

Matt Kemp was my favorite player growing up and it still bothers me that he lost the MVP award to a cheater😔

[@kenrobinson7563]

Same man same

[@cjalexander6548]

Kemp still had a better season in my eyes

[@joshuapatrick682]

It’s crazy when the guy who is the one you viciously drug through the mud invites you to dinner to bury the hatchet, not you reaching out and asking for forgiveness to be the better man. Speaks a lot about Lorenizi’s character and Braun’s.

[@sethkinslow674]

Terrific video! I have an idea for a video for you. My idea is for you to make a video about Jerry Hairston's career from 2006-2008 mostly talking about his incredible comeback season in 2008

[@garrett9562]

Did he play for the Padres during that time? Only reason I ask is because I think I remember him on the show

[@sethkinslow674]

@@garrett9562 he played for the cubs and rangers in 2006 and hit 206 with just 10 rbi in 170 ab. In 2007 he hit just 189 with the rangers. In 2008 however, he hit 326 with the reds. But he did play for the padres in 2010 and that is worth talking about too because he hit 7 of his career high 10 home runs at home despite having more ABs on the road. He also had 36 of his career high 50 rbis at home. Thanks for the response.

[@SportStorm23]

Thank you! I remember Jerry Hairston a bit, same with Scott Hairston because he spent a few years with the Padres

[@anonymous-dq8mw]

Jose Bautista deserved an MVP the best hitter in the league by a wide margin in back to back seasons. Look at bautistas numbers in the second half of 2010 and his war totals in 2011 it’s actually astonishing that he never took home an MVP award.

[@petersonofleo11]

2010 Hamilton totally deserved his MVP he was also insane the second half of 2010. Starting June his slashline was .405/.454/.712 and 1.166 ops. A shame that Hamilton had his demons because he would have been a hall gamer without them.

[@garrettscroggs]

@@petersonofleo11 The story of Josh Hamilton is one of the most depressing stories in baseball.

[@999spot5]

ur trippin josh Hamilton was a better hitter and also a + on defense while bautista rly shoulda never been an outfielder lol.

[@anonymous-dq8mw]

@@999spot5 tell me you never watched bautista play the outfield without saying it. Jose had a cannon for a arm in the outfield and rarely ever made defensive errors. To say that he should’ve never been in the outfield is just flat out stupid.

[@joshuapatrick682]

I just wish I could go back then and tell my past self a few things.

[@DocEsquire]

I’ve been waiting for this one

[@andrewbloom7694]

I never understand how people think that playing on a last place team is easier. Frankly I'm amazed trout even bothers taking at bats anymore. You know when it's really fun to take ABs? During a playoff chase when your team is cruising and your fans are fired up. The "lack of pressure" thing just isn't what players actually experience. If anything they feel even MORE pressure cause a playoff team has other guys who can pick up the slack if you have an off day. If Mike Trout and Ohtani have bad days, the Angels are guaranteed to lose, because who else is gonna hit?

[@benkofi8570]

Yo don't sleep on David Fletcher man he hits bombs 🤣🤣🤣

[@juliebraden6911]

I've never in my life heard anybody make the argument that it's easier or less stressful to play on a bad team. If that's what is said in your circle of friends, you need a smarter circle of friends.

[@benkofi8570]

@@juliebraden6911 Idk I can see his point. I've never played baseball but I've played other team sports and I have always found it more stressful when I've felt I'd have to "carry" my team. That's just my experience with it though.

[@lukebolger1386]

Crazy thing was kemp played in all 161 dodger games. The dodgers didn’t play all 162 that season they had a game postponed between them and the nationals and because neither of them were playoff contenders, they didn’t end up making up the game. If they would’ve played that game I guarantee you kemp would’ve gone deep.

[@juliebraden6911]

lol ok Miss Cleo.

[@revvs4111]

been waiting for a new video

[@izaman56]

Thank you for this

[@DylanQuitoriano]

still crazy kemp missed a 40/40 by a single homerun

[@bosslax3162]

I'm fine with Verlander winning the AL, but Cliff Lee totally should've been considered greater in the National League IMO.

[@real_howard_stern5969]

“ANTISEMITE!!!” “Lol nah jk I did it” If this had occurred a decade later that writer would’ve been fired and that would’ve been the end of it, glad people saw through this bullshit back then.

[@danosaur55]

"And the MVP goes to... ...me, Bud Selig!!" [jumps in the Chevy Tahoe and does donuts in left field]

[@zachmartin3840]

As a Tigers fan, I grew up watching Verlander dominate hitters with his 100+ mph fastball in the 7th inning and later in games, and I absolutely adore him as a player. Ryan Braun, however, I absolutely despise for the way he flat out lied to baseball fans about his PED usage and trying to play the victim card

[@Gemnist98]

The NL race in particular is just super cringy to look back on. Ryan Braun is basically the Ben Shapiro of baseball, and it’s amazing how his reputation among the Brewers is still relatively intact (he’s in their Hall of Fame, for crying out loud).

[@AKT0B0S]

As a Dbacks fan I strongly dislike Braun

[@Uglimugkill]

Matt kemp needs to be awarded the nl mvp. Rewarding ped users, who lied about it, and tarnishing a sample collector lively hood.

[@nomarperez5253]

Streets will never forget about 2011 Kemp

[@LiamRFT]

Matt Kemp got screwed, thats it.

[@andrewwww1102]

Ryan Braun is my least favorite baseball player of all time. Blamed his cheating on some random person and claimed antisemitism. The fact that he lied about it and used that specific claim make real antisemitism seem less like an issue in our modern era.

[@JackLeDoux_]

Cry me a river

[@Demoralized88]

109

[@RileyAicher1]

Dino Laurenzi was a really good guy, and it sucks that Brauny dragged him through the mud

[@TheTEN24]

Braun getting that MVP over Kemp sucks

[@kimfalleiro]

what ??? a sub 500 Dodgers team ??? is that a thing ???

[@benkofi8570]

Bro it feels weird looking at that doesn't it🤣

[@MikeJr9284]

Matt Kemp got robbed of an MVP that year.

[@SportStorm23]

Yeah I lean towards Kemp too

[@LumpyAdams]

No robbery. MVP should never go to someone on a non playoff team no matter the sport.

[@rdg760jr2]

@@LumpyAdams what about Bryce Harper in 2015?

[@Katsos44]

@@LumpyAdams that’s gotta be the stupidest take I’ve ever heard, you’re saying if a pitcher went 40-0 with 0.00 Era in 325 innings pitched, if the rest of his team sucked he doesn’t deserve the award?

[@LumpyAdams]

@@Katsos44 Stupidest take ever yet you use the most unrealistic and inconceivable argument of all time lol.. good job, windbag.

[@taojones8]

Verlander is only the second player in history to win Rookie of the Year, Cy Young and MVP, and will be the first to win all 3 plus be in the Hall of Fame.

[@ChalkInTheLand]

I truly believe the voters have forgotten what Most Valuable Player means. Its not an award for the most valuable team player. It's an award for a players personal success. Say Kris Bryant goes off this year and posts: .329 Batting average 47 Home runs 121 RBIs 8.9 WAR But the Rockies finish dead last in the NL West, going 70-92. If he ended up winning the MVP award, people would be pissed. They'd rather see it go to a player who put up inferior numbers but is on a team that's going to the playoffs. That's wrong. If Bryant wasn't on the Rockies that won 70 games, they may not have broken 62 wins. Every sport has become the same way with their MVP voting. Even the Heisman Trophy is awarded based largely on team success

[@metabreaker1185]

what do you expect from these dumb voters??? 😂😂 The very next season they stole the MVP from one of my favorite players of all time Mike Trout. Trout was leaps and bounds better in 2012, and everyone now understands it.

[@jaimelannister1797]

The dodgers only played 161 games in 2011 because making up a rainout wasn’t gonna affect the standings. If Kemp played that 162nd game he could’ve gotten to 40/40 😔

[@laartwork]

Bautista was so obviously juicing, but like most, never got b caught.

[@Urie157]

Bruan should have given up his MVP award, but he wouldn’t do that since “he was in denial of doing something wrong”

[@notsamhoward]

I always hated that "you can't win cuz your team didn't make the playoffs" cuz isn't value being the best? Baseball is the most team based sport because you can only get 4 of your teams at bats a game, only field balls hit to you, only pitch when they put you in, etc. You could put 2022 Aaron judge on the athletics and they aren't making the playoffs, but he still would've been the best player in the league that year and deserved mvp, soooo many amazing seasons and players who never got their recognition cuz their pitcher win total wasn't high enough or their team around them sucked.

[@chrisoneill4865]

I agree with you, which is why Judge should not have won the MVP. Somebody on a losing team put up strong offensive numbers, while at the same time being a top ten pitcher in the A.L. Judge won because he plays for the Yankees.

[@benkofi8570]

@@chrisoneill4865 Judge did have a better war than ohtani tbf. I don't think the 2022 Al MVP race was particularly clear cut

[@chrisoneill4865]

@@benkofi8570 I'm pretty big on war. However I do believe sometimes it doesn't tell the whole truth. Nobody can look at somebody who hits and pitches at that level vs. What Judge did and give it to Judge. Switch their teams and Ohtani wins a run away.

[@boppityboopy114]

@@chrisoneill4865 if you’re so big on war, how are you against judge winning when he has a much higher war

[@chrisoneill4865]

@@boppityboopy114 as it says above, I don't think it tells the whole truth. Judge did well at the plate, ok in the field. Ohtani did well at the plate, and well on the mound. I think pitching, while also putting up great numbers at the plate weighs heavier than playing the outfield.

[@kajee-kun]

Matt Kemp is my favorite player of all time, I feel that he should have won the MVP. large bias of course.

[@chicagodude8888]

If it weren't for that antisemitic Cubs fan Braun's MVP wouldn't be tainted.

[@notsamhoward]

...or it would be the cheating

[@fightingchicken2009]

The antisemitic made him put the peds in his system

[@chicagodude8888]

@@notsamhoward I couldn't have been more sarcastic if ai tried. Guys use ped's to inflate their stats for the $. Wrong as it is at least I can see the reasoning. Using the age old "anti semitism" accusation is humorous and repulsive at the same time. Look at his numbers pre and post PED's. He went from 300 plus average with 30 plus homers to multiple stints on the DL and respectable but nowhere near the MVP caliber numbers before he was pooped.

[@beck1710]

Braun did steroids his whole career. Always thought the ball just flew off his bat.

[@gradywcharles2263]

To me, Kemp was undeniably the NL mvp

[@BigPapiChi]

Kemp should’ve won it don’t care haven’t even watched the video.

[@jonahveliz8163]

It’s not the first time a Dodger was cheated out of accolades.

[@Tyrunner0097]

Here's the thing about Braun: I was an intern with a Milwaukee sports radio station just after the whole PEd thing with him, and I was allowed into the Brewers clubhouse to do postgame interviews, and looking at Braun, there was NOTHING that showed him on PEd's at all. His muscle definition was more akin to a surfer than anything body-building related. Khris Davis on the other hand, that guy was completely *ripped*. I can't speak as to what really happened with him, but I would be inclined to think that he used them to recover faster from injury, so he could help the team (He had constant nagging injuries during his career) Also, don't forget that Braun was under the microscope by MLB drug testers in 2012, and he hit 42 home runs that year.

[@jayclean5653]

You don't have to looked jacked to be on PEDs.

[@fightingchicken2009]

Pics or it didn't happen

[@Tyrunner0097]

@@fightingchicken2009 No personal photography allowed in the clubhouse.

[@fightingchicken2009]

@@Tyrunner0097 yea Braun cheated then

[@JackLeDoux_]

Because he was taking stuff to remain injury free

[@moosehreviews3420]

Its really awkward for Brewers fans when Braun's name comes up. He was celebrated as highly as Aaron Rodgers in the state of Wisconsin, and now his name is infamous for cheating and trying to throw a man's career down the drain in the process.

[@juliebraden6911]

They really try to engage in revisionist history when you mention it.

[@JackLeDoux_]

Not true at all

[@wasthataspongebobreference533]

Any dodgers fans know of any noteworthy Matt Kemp fly outs that were robbed home runs in 2011? Gonna try and find a name and then do some digging for a long butterfly effect

[@BIueJays11]

More vids let’s go

[@markellzey1531]

There are a lot of eerie similarities between Matt Kemp and Cody Bellinger.

[@juliebraden6911]

Ok. Care to elaborate

[@jeffphillips1832]

I wish ellsbury won. It was his only shot.

[@iamjobu6101]

Cliff Lee should’ve won it in the NL.

[@marcman1999]

Covid reference at 1:54

[@Reiderreiter]

A pitcher should never win MVP. They have the Cy Young for that.

[@joshuapatrick682]

Unfortunate, Braun tanked his whole damn reputation because of this mess and ruined the life of a guy who likely won’t make in his whole lifetime what Braun made in one year as a cheater and a liar.

[@F40PH-2CAT]

To be fair no one ever thought he was an anti semite and saying so only hurt Braun.

[@michaelanthony4042]

Ellsbury was absolutely robbed. I’ll never get over that bullshit outcome.

[@izaman56]

We can all blame the dodgers for the 2011 NL MVP

[@drb0mb]

eeecccch "the 250 trio" is an attempt to get your stink on a metric by pure chance, since it's as arbitrary as a lot of other arbitrary things we're moving away from in baseball stats. that's enough of this.

[@SittingGC]

Cheaters always stealing shit from the Dodgers.

[@morganchallinor4669]

Still pissed about fraud beating out kemp for mvp!!!

[@jakemonaghan8958]

Didn’t know Braun appealed and won

[@fightingchicken2009]

It was all over the news at the time

[@juliebraden6911]

Not sure how you could keep up with baseball and miss that.

[@jakemonaghan8958]

@@juliebraden6911 cause I was 9 when it happened

[@Er059]

I believe the only reason Matt kemp didn’t win mvp was because mlb didn’t want both mvp and cy young on one team that didn’t make the playoffs. As it would look bad on the league

[@juliebraden6911]

MLB doesn't select the MVPs.

[@munaclassic4020]

using the argument that was against Ellsbury and Batista you could argue to deny all mike trout MVP's

[@baronvg]

Well, this dodgers fan likes to view that MVP as tainted and still, after a decade, doesn’t understand why MLB couldn’t just give it to Kemp after all the controversy. They do it in the Olympics all the time; someone is found to be a cheat, they give the medal to the next athlete up.

[@benkofi8570]

True, never thought about it like that

[@paduls]

despite all of MLB's attempts to hide the steroid era out of memory and make sure it is never mentioned, it is still engraved in history and they can never get rid of it. despite all of that, they won't ever rewrite it or cross it out of history, even if it led to an award.

[@salvatore_slate]

Is this MatPat

[@Bruceington]

Bautista deserved an mvp, I am extremeley bias as a jays fan but he was the best hitter in baseball

[@johnnieewalkerr]

No mention of Justin Upton smh

[@juliebraden6911]

Why would there be?

[@lurkintomgaming397]

Jacoby could have won that year

[@stanmarsh530]

2011 kemp🥲

[@BirdgangAndBats]

Braun is a clown and they should have stripped that MVP.

[@mikejones-yg1iw]

Tha u

[@Dj2knitro]

Kemp was robbed for sure.

[@AnhLilly]

😮

[@trevorschmitt-ernst4813]

I remember crying in my room when Braun tested positive for PEDs. I was so disappointed and angry

[@bdcdavid83]

Hudyo kasi si Braun wag magtiwala

[@dom_o]

KEMVP

[@the_claydog02]

*As a Brewers fan*, I can't even believe that this was 11 years ago. *I was in Kindergarten when this all happened.* Braun has impacted me in a huge way to get into baseball. I would want to go to Brewers games and pretend to be him. My parents told me (back when it happened) he got suspended, *but I didn't realize it was that bad* until I got really into the sport in 2017. My teachers name is pronounced Brown but it's spelled Braun and that's how I say it because I think it's cool. He wasn't always my favorite Brewer, 2017 Eric Thames, 2018-2020 Orlando Arcia, 2021 Corbin Burnes, 2022 Willy Adames. Although I do agree that he did do something bad, but I don't think taking those PED's changed too much of his stats, or the course of the season. There is a video on KZbin about the Brewers could've possibly won the 2011 WS. Braun was in the prime of his career, taking PED's doesn't automatically mean you'll "steal" an MVP and make the team a juggernaut.

[@jaimelannister1797]

Nice copium you got there. Of course PEDs made Braun better. And even if you ignore PEDs, Kemp still was more deserving

[@glucosaminecondroitan9135]

Willy Adames rocks!

[@pblmrt]

Ain’t the only time dodgers were rob of a major achievement that decade

[@SenorTortas]

I also remember how the Dodgers only played 161 games that season because a game got rained out in Washington. Who knows if Kemp would've hit home run #40 then? Certainly couldn't have hurt against the cheater Braun

[@juliebraden6911]

Yeah that's been covered about 12 times in the comments already.

[@robertkidnley93]

I'm a cubs fan and a bears fan so the fact ryan braun called someone antisemitic and blamed his hot piss on the fact the collector was a cubs fan and also let's not forget that aaron rodgers mr "immunized" himself stood up for braun is the reason I hate Wisconsin

[@bricked743]

:)

[@reese755]

Kemp should have been awarded the MVP after Braun admitted to cheating by using PEDs. Though it may not have changed the outcome of their careers, Kemp was the better player that season and should be recognized as such.

[@dabbingtoast7743]

I’m not a baseball fan, but holding playoff success against players in a sport where you can isolate individual success leaps and bounds ahead of other sports is a comically stupid way of thinking.

[@billnye1329]

Braun deserved it!

[@nohacksport2206]

First

[@bezerk1489]

first