OK it has to be said. Crew was 3 - 9 - 3 and everybody, including most guys around here, had written them off. Andrulis decided to guve JB a shot. So they turn it around, go 8 - 2 - 2 with Busch between the uprights and are the first team in the East to clinch the playoffs. His 1.02 GAA leads the league, despite being behind the same putrid defense that Presthus had. Somebody want to tell me that we'd be where we are without him? Bottom line: if MVP is about making a difference and turning a team around, Jon Busch has the best case of anybody in the league.
When was MVP ever defined as who "turns a team around"? MVP=Carlos Ruiz. Get used to it, and accept it.
*stands up* clap clap clap clap clap clap clap... excellent post, bill. of course, that post wouldn't have been written without busch's great job in net. so, yeah, he'd get my vote as well. and he's currently the leading GK in the league: http://mlsnet.com/statistics/
I would have to say that the three frontrunners are Ruiz, Twellman and Busch. The first two have scored in bunches just when they were needed allowing LA to climb into the Western Conference lead and NE into the playoff picture as someone that controls their destiny. And, like Bill said, where would we be without Busch? Maybe behind DC looking up at #9 in the table.
Well, since the acronym stands for Most Valuable Player, and IMO no one player in the league has been more valuable to his team than JB, I guess your answer is SINCE NOW. Apparently being the prime piece in a team's season doesn't make it for you nearly as much as being a DIVING ***** *****.
To me, Busch is a clear third. And there is no shame in that. The only thing that keeps Busch from Twellman-Ruiz level, is that he only played three-fifths of the season, and the four goals we gave up to San Jose. With that said, "accept it" is a debate move - along the lines of "I'm taking my ball and going home" - though you can see in a way that the MLS PR machine was squarely behind the two new scoring sensations.
I would give it to Twellmen. Like it was said, if Busch put up the same numbers but had played all season he would be my choice, but if it wasn't for Tyler Twellmen the Revs wouldn't even have a shot at the conference title.
... and you know, the funny thing is that if Busch had started for the entire season and we hadn't seen the complete difference his presence has made, we probably wouldn't be considering him as an MVP candidate, we'd be talking about how our new young defense was doing the job in back, and how stupid Andrulis was for not giving Presthus more PT. I'll be surprised if the league scoring champ doesn't get the award. The high profile MVP awards almost always go to the guys who put points on the scoreboard, not the guys who deny scoring. It isn't fair, but cest la vie. Now if we're talking team MVP....
If the revs make the playoffs, I think Twellman will get it. He's the young american scoring sensation, and somehow that will get more votes than the young Guatamalan scoring sensation. It's strange, cause I think most Revs fans will tell you that Ralston is just as valuable to that team as Twellman is. If the award was given out for what the acronym actually stands for Busch would definately be gettin some consideration. But given the MLS's emphasis on offense in all its promotrions (strike force) I really think that the MVP will go to Twellman. It just plays to well into the pr machine for next year. "See the newest members of MLS strikeforce Twellman and Buddle..." But maybe I'm way off.
There has always been talk about who was #3 on the list, and Busch might be the guy. If the Revs make it to the top of the conference, and if Twellman doesn't score, he will still have 7 goals in the 6 game unbeaten streak. Without Twellman, Revs would have no chance of making the playoffs, he is so valuable to the team.