Sure seems like an MVP argument
Plus, without Bautista, where would the Jays be this year? With him, they are already three games under .500, despite ranking fourth in the AL in scoring. That would change dramatically without the devastating Bautista, who leads the world in homers, walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and total bases. And it's not like the offense is really giving Bautista much help. Only two other starters, Adam Lind and Yunel Escobar, have OBPs above .300 (though young outfielder Eric Thames is making a good showing since being called up from Las Vegas). And of the 419 runs scored by the Jays in 2011, Bautista has scored or driven in 104 of them, or just a shade under a quarter. Without Bautista's .466 OBP, the team's .321 mark (which ranks sixth in the AL) would drop all the way to .301 (which would be 12th). The team's slugging percentage would drop from .419 (fourth in the AL) to .387 (tied for ninth). Bautista has not just carried the Blue Jays to where they are, he's dragged them kicking and screaming, against their will, to become a very good major league offense.
