Throughout the World Series, we’ll be keeping an eye on the race to win the World Series MVP. After each game we’ll rank the top candidates for the award based on their performance and intangible worthiness for the big honor.
Another game, another leader atop the World Series MVP Watch. We finally got ourselves a tightly contested game, but failed to have any real heroes emerge. The field is slowly starting to take shape, but with at least two game left to play, the MVP is still very much up for grabs.
1) Salvador Perez: He didn’t do anything on offense in this one, but he did show some real defensive prowess by gunning down Hunter Pence on a stolen base attempt and later making an impressive play to nail Gregor Blanco on a bunt attempt. None of it is flashy, but without an obvious favorite emerging, little things like these that Perez keeps doing will get him noticed.
2) Alcides Escobar: He’s pretty much the only Royal hitting well right now. He picked up another double and scored two runs in last night’s game, giving him some credentials as a “look at what a great catalyst he is” candidate.
3) Hunter Pence: It was another quiet night for the Giants offense, but Pence was once again one of the few bright spots. He picked up a hit and a walk, making him the only Giant to reach base twice in Game 3. He’s still mostly riding a big Game 1 to be on this list, but his overall stats remain strong.
4) Kelvin Herrera: A middle reliever for World Series MVP? I know, it sounds crazy, but Herrera has come in to save the day in the middle innings in both of the Royals’ victories. He’s also walked two batters in each appearance and allowed one inherited runner to score, so they haven’t exactly been the sharpest of outings. They have, however, been outings of four outs or more, which scores him bonus points. Then again, I’m not sure how seriously we can take him after his, um, adventurous at-bat.
5) Madison Bumgarner: Still lurking as an MVP dark horse depending on how he pitches in Game 5 and, of course, if the Giants actually go on to win the whole dang thing.
