Player A vs Player B
This is a little game we like to play. It's kinda like the blind resumes of bubble teams you see on ESPN during the weeks leading up to Selection Sunday. We give you the stats of two anonymous players from a certain season, and you choose one over the other. Good luck.


Scenario 1:

Hypothetical situation. You are the GM of an MLB team. Both of these players are on your team. Both of these players are rookies. You're tight for cash and can only sign one long-term. Who do you choose? Obviously, you're going to pick Player B. But if you happen to pick Player A because of the better SO:BB numbers and speed on the base paths, congrats! Player A is the 1986 rookie season of Barry Bonds. Player B is the 2006 rookie season of Dan Uggla. Not that Dan Uggla is terrible or anything.


Scenario 2:

New situation. You're a baseball writer who has a vote for the NL MVP. Take a look at these numbers. Who do you vote for? Besides a few more home runs and RBIs, there is really nothing that would lead you to picking Player A over Player B. Unfortunately, that's what many voters did in 2006. Player A is Ryan Howard, the NL MVP from that year, while Player B is MVP snub Albert Pujols, who finished second that year in voting. Also to note: Pujols had a 8.4 WAR that year. Howard? 5.2 WAR.

Scenario 3:

Same situation as above. In fact, Player A is still Ryan Howard. But Player B still has some decent numbers in comparison. More hits, doubles, higher BA. His 4.9 WAR is comparable to Howard's 5.2 WAR. And he has struck out less than half as many times as Howard. I don't think Howard deserved to win the 2006 NL MVP, however, I'd still take him over Player B here. But it would be a close vote, right? Nope. Player B is Garrett Atkins, who finished 15th in NL MVP voting in 2006. 

Scenario 4:

This one isn't really much of a situation than it is a fun observation. Besides having 1 more hit, Player A has essentially nothing on Player B. Another fact about Player B: This was his rookie of the year season. He is Angel Berroa, 2003 AL ROY. Player A? That, too, would be Angel Berroa. Obviously it's not his rookie year, so what is it? That would be the next most impressive season Berroa would have in his career (2005 to be specific). Most players get better their first couple of years, peak at around 26-30, then slowly decline towards their retirement. Not Berroa. His career was straight downhill after his rookie season. 

Scenario 5:

Saved the best for last. This one is completely ridiculous. Again, you're a voter for the AL MVP award. Who do you choose? Unless you are that bothered by the difference in stolen bases, there is essentially no reason to pick Player A over Player B. By the way, Player B's 36 homers, 137 RBIs, and .356 batting average led the AL. Yeah, he won the Triple Crown. The "Mike Trout" argument doesn't work here either: Player B had a 10.6 WAR; Player A had a 8.2 WAR. And yet, after all this, Player A was voted the AL MVP over Player B in 1942. Player A was Joe Gordon of the New York Yankees. Player B: Ted Williams.

Source: Baseball Reference