NL MVP Candidates Mid Season

We're now the All Star Break in Dream League Season 4, and the MVP candidates are starting to solidify. Here's a tally of where Fox Sports ranks the MVP Candidates.





1.

Fernando Rodriguez Vancouver Mountain Lions Age: 26 B/T: L/L Born: La Romana, DO Position(s): LF/1B/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Vancouver has the best record in the Dream League at 70-26. There's a lot of reasons for that (more on that in a minute), but one main reason is Rodriguez. Rodriguez started out hot this year (was number five on our Quarterly MVP list), and has not cooled off. He's first in the NL in home runs (38), second in RBI (95), seventh in runs (71), first in slugging (.669), and second in OPS (1.009). He's also played stellar defense at both First Base and Left Field this season. Rodriguez should be in the top three on every sports writers' ballot right now.

2.

Josh Clancy Vancouver Mountain Lions Age: 33 B/T: L/L Born: De Soto, WI Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

You hate to do it. You even feel a little guilty about it. Still, you've got to keep it real. With the best record in baseball, Vancouver deserves to have two guys on this MVP list, and Clancy certainly deserves a spot there. How can you not put a guy who's 15-1 on your MVP list? Clancy, simply put, is the best pitcher in the Dream League right now. The pride of De Soto, Wisconsin, has always been All Star calibur, but he's raised his game to new heights with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP this year.

3.

Tony Yamada Fargo Tides Age: 24 B/T: L/L Born: Frankfort, KY Position(s): CF/1B/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Raise your hand if you thought Yamada would be in the top 125 when it came to Season 4 MVP consideration let alone the top 5? Yamada has been a very solid player over the last two seasons, but in Season 4 he's really come into his own as a focal point of the lineup. The Fargo outfielder leads the AL in RBI (96) and OPS (1.021), and is a big reason why Fargo is challenging Kansas City in the ultra competitive NL East.

4.

Neil Clyburn Buffalo Spectacular Views Age: 28 B/T: L/R Born: Fort Worth, TX Position(s): 1B/C View Hardball Dynasty Profile

When Clyburn won the Season 4 Home Run Derby, it came as a shock to some, but not to those who have followed Clyburn's career. Those close to the Buffalo club have always known he could smack 60 home runs if he wanted to--instead Clyburn chooses to be a more complete hitter. This year's line is enough to make internet stat geeks and "Moneyball" enthusiasts wet themselves. Traditional stats show Clyburn with 28 home runs and 67 RBI, but it's his on base percentage of .416 and OPS of 1.001 where he really shows his value. Make no mistake, Buffalo would be down and out of the NL East race without Clyburn in the middle of their lineup.



5.

Charlie McMillon San Diego Mad Friars Age: 27 B/T: R/R Born: Lindside, WV Position(s): P (ClA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Baseball analysts and fans will tell you saves are the most overrated stat in baseball. In today's game you can go into the game with a three run lead, get three outs, and get a save. For this reason there are many Closers with great save totals who are really frauds (see: Giomar Barrios). Then there are guys who are simply lights out--guys nobody wants to face. McMillon is one of those guys. In 22 save situations McMillon has closed out 21 of them. During this timeframe he's posted a microscopic ERA of 1.61 and an equally miniscule WHIP of 0.86. The Friars appeared to pull a real coup after lifting McMillon from the Toros during the offseason. They have an MVP candidate on their hands.

AL MVP Candidates Mid Season

We're now the All Star Break in Dream League Season 4, and the MVP candidates are starting to solidify. Here's a tally of where Fox Sports ranks the MVP Candidates.



1.

Darwin Floyd St. Louis Archies Age: 28 B/T: S/R Born: Cayuga, TX Position(s): SS/3B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Floyd has been slowing down (only one home run in the week leading up to the break), but don't let that cold spell fool you--he's having a great season. The diminutive infielder is hitting .328 and leading the AL with 43 home runs and an OPS of 1.137. Anyone surprised to see Floyd up on this list, hasn't been paying attention. For the last three seasons he's been an All Star, and in Season 2, he took home the AL MVP hardware. Right now he's a safe bet to do it again especially with the Archies posting an impressive 61-35 record.



2.

Walt Halladay Scranton Miners Age: 25 B/T: R/R Born: Hodgdon, ME Position(s): DH/C View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Walt Halladay was the leading MVP candidate in the first quarter of the season, and though Scranton has cooled off (now has a 54-42 record after a blistering start), Halladay hasn't let up. With 38 home runs and 97 RBI, he's established himself as a force in the middle of the Scranton lineup. To win the MVP Award Halladay will have to continue to rake the ball--there are a lot of baseball purists out there (you know who you are) who won't vote for Halladay because he doesn't play in the field.



3.

Max Tejada Colorado Knockers Age: 30 B/T: R/R Born: San Juan De La Maguana, DO Position(s): 3B/1B/COF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Rising from number five from the Quarterly MVP picks is Max Tejada. Yes, he plays in Coors Field. Yes, he plays in a loaded lineup. That said, you simply cannot ignore the production. 35 home runs. 115 RBI (leads league). A .323 average. Tejada has even pilfered 13 stolen bases in only 15 attempts. If Colorado finishes as the division leader in the AL West, and with a 9-1 record in their last 10 games and a six game lead, there's no reason to think they won't, Tejada will deserve MVP consideration.



4.

Grant Sparks Durham Bulls Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Stockton, KS Position(s): CF/CIF/2B/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Sure you know Grant Sparks. He's the guy with the hot head who's famous for punching water coolers in the dugout, throwing bats, and as of last month jawing it out with Durham law enforcement. What gets lost in the noise is how complete a talent Sparks is. Get this, through the All Star Break, Sparks already has 16 assists from the outfield. Only rocked-armed Wilfredo Felix has more (18). Throw in the fact Sparks has a legitimate shot of being a 40-40 guy (31 home runs to go along with 22 stolen bases), and the fact he plays for a 57-39 Duram team, and you have yourself a viable MVP candidate.



5.

Jacob Wilkerson St. Louis Archies Age: 32 B/T: R/R Born: Sutton, MA Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

When does it make sense to sign a 31 (now 32) year old pitcher to a four year $80 million dollars in guaranteed money despite the fact he's pitched in exactly one All Star game in the last three seasons? When it's Jacob Wilkerson. Wilkerson refuses to lose. In his 19 starts he's 11-0 with an ERA of 2.91 and a WHIP of 1.11. He's nearly holding opposing batters under the Mendoza line (.202) and has only allowed ten home runs all season. Pitchers rarely win the AL MVP award, and this year the competition is stiff--nonetheless Wilkerson deserves a vote or two this year.