Who is the Twins Team MVP?

First half would have been Polanco. He and Kepler have been the most healthy and are both having great seasons. Cruz has missed too many games but he's still in the running. It's such a well-rounded team.

It's a tough one.  I'd go with Kepler, Cruz or Rogers.

Odd that Odorizzi was only mentioned in comments once and not at all of the article. And Eddie was only mentioned in passing in the comments and not in the article. I'm not saying either one of those guys are the MVP but they are certainly worthy of mention.

What about Buxton? I don't have time to look up the stats, but it seems that the team did the best in terms of W-L when he has been in the lineup. They've been able to hold on without him, but I'm betting the record with him out of the lineup is not as good as when he was in it.

Kep for offense, defense. Cruz for being the heart and soul of this team. Second place in the "heart and soul" category is Gonzales.  Third place for H & S category is La Tortuga for always hustling and keeping everyone loose. Falvey and Levine for assembling this group. Rocco for being in charge on the field. This has been a fun team to watch and to cheer for.

What about Buxton? I don't have time to look up the stats, but it seems that the team did the best in terms of W-L when he has been in the lineup. They've been able to hold on without him, but I'm betting the record with him out of the lineup is not as good as when he was in it.

How can a guy who played in about half the games this year warrant any consideration?

It was a fun stat, and I ran with it as much as anyone, but it depends too much on a small sample of games relative to the full season, for my taste.

Take his last five appearances.  The Twins won all five games, but he was only a late inning defensive replacement and had no impact whatsoever.  Until we get anecdotal and actually point out instances where he saved runs in tight games and changed the outcome I find those numbers dubious

How can a guy who played in about half the games this year warrant any consideration?

Then we can count out Garver, probably Cruz, and Sano along with Buxton. None of which got a full season of playing time. That pretty much leaves Kepler the logical choice, with Polanco a close 2nd.

I gave to go with Kepler in a very narrow win over Cruz. I do so because his numbers have been amazing, consistent and he has been clutch. Not to mention excellent defense, which included a primary position switch due to Buxton's injury

If Cruz had missed just a little less time, I probably would have gone with him even without playing a position just because I think he's made such a difference in the clubhouse, in the dugout and the lineup.

Shocking no one, MAX! is my choice.

Kepler #1, Polanco #2, from there I'm not sure. 

You can look at his game log on baseball-reference.com, and sort his games by which innings played, and the pattern for his full games is quite favorable. That makes it fun. It doesn't make it meaningful.

 

"A small statistical sample, as with flattery, is like cologne water, to be smelt, not swallowed." -- Josh Billings, sabrmetrician in the 19th century

 

I mean, just to be clear, we're in agreement, just saying it slightly differently.

Yes, and I have done the sorts with his fielding stats. The most putouts he made in a game was nine and that was the game where he was injured and we lost anyway. It should also be noted he had 73 complete games this year and in 20 of them he made one putout or less. That's the thing with outfield defense. A player often doesn't get the opportunity to show their stuff, meanwhile he's taking four at bats in those games.

Defense matters but it can't matter as much as the offensive aspect of the game given the number of chances a player has defensively compared to offensively. In the field you aren't assured the opportunity to make plays but you will get your at bats

I really want to give it to Garver. His WAR per game is Troutian. Ruthian even! It's ridiculous.

And the Twins would be so screwed without him, giving Castro more starts than he should shoulder at this point, along with a bushel of starts to whoever is fourth on the depth chart at catcher this season, as Astudillo missed a big chunk due to injury, all the catcher reps.

Garver is likely a 4-5 win swing based on this roster. Berrios is probably the only other player that can come close to that kind of swing vs the next man up.

So I am going Garver. The best player per game has also been the most valuable.

Kepler.

It's one of those years in which the Twins MVY is the Twins Roster as a whole. Everyone has had their moments, everyone has been pretty consistent and played as a team. Even the now forgotten jettisoned bullpen arms (Magill, Parker, Morin) have been a part of the Twins getting to where they got. Talk about a TEAM EFFORT!

Cruz.

Although he's only the DH, other teams really do hate him coming up and his influence on Sano cannot be ignored. ("Are we having fun yet?") He seems to have this calming presence about him. You just know that it'll be a little bit better tomorrow so don't let it get to you.

Besides, he makes everyone better. The guy is 39 and he's going to drive in 100 runs and finish with an OPS of +.900 and hit above .290. (At the moment .299 vs. RHP and .298 vs LHP.) He seems to rarely sink into long slumps, and he just looks like a professional.

Polanco - for these reasons:  He's been durable, dependable and no denying his improved defense... followed closely by Kepler (who looks to be on the cusp of superstardom), Garver (how many big hits has he given us?) and Cruz (great for leadership ala Don Baylor, but wow, this man gives us a PRESENCE in the lineup!). 

I honestly don't know and I think the best way to decide it is to play rock paper scissors between 10 or 12 guys.. Let the players choose.