AL MVP Race

[qwyjibo]

Who does everyone have in this so far??


Right now my top 3 (no order yet since it's too close to call) are

Mauer
Ramirez
Jeter

Mauer and Jeter are producing some huge #'s and playing premium positions in the field reasonably well. Manny gets overlooked because of the Ortiz hype (which is getting out of control) but he is the best hitter on his team and right up there with Hafner overall in the AL. He may not be a good fielder (that's being generous) but he does play a position in the field nonetheless allowing the Red Sox to keep Ortiz at DH rather than have him embarass himself at 1B.


Behind those guys in a collective 4th are the DH's who are having some great years: Hafner, Ortiz and Thome. But being a DH, you shouldn't be MVP UNLESS you are by far the best hitter in the league and leading most of the offensive categories by a significant amount (Bonds-like lead during his roiding peak)... something that none of these 3 are doing nor likely will do.

[TestSubjekt]

I have a feeling it will be Ortiz. You can make an argument that someone else's stats are better, but I think that his clutch-ness will be a factor in the voting.

[qwyjibo]

Oh I think Ortiz will win it as well based on his hype but does he deserve it?? Not a chance IMO.

He really isn't even the best hitter on his own team but we all people love RBI's even though they are a team dependant stat.


Those 3 were the ones I think SHOULD be at the head of the race.

[558561]

What about Thome or Dye?

[patriotsdynasty121]

A-rod A-rod A-rod A-rod....... no Jeter Mauer or Ortiz.

[TestSubjekt]

qwyjibo said:

Oh I think Ortiz will win it as well based on his hype but does he deserve it?? Not a chance IMO.

He really isn't even the best hitter on his own team but we all people love RBI's even though they are a team dependant stat.

But it doesn't go to the best hitter. The MVP award is given to the most valuable player for his team. So driving in runs is a plus in my eyes for the MVP award. As is game winning RBI's in that he's helping his team win.

[YANKS]

This is a really close one this year as for who the real MVP is. I'm in agreeance that I think Ortiz will win it unless he totally falls apart.

I like your Top 3 and think all of them are worthy choices. I think I go with Manny in a close one. Dude has no one behind him and still puts up monster #s. I like Mauer a lot and I think his time will come. I think Jeter is having his best season and he better finish Top 3 this year.

I think if Vlad has another September like he did a coupla years ago he could make a late run as well (if he leads the Halos to the AL West title). Wells has had a great season, too bad his team stinks (no offense Canuks).

[LeafKing13]

Justin Mouneau should garner some attention (maybe i'm Bias

30 HR (7th in AL) 101 RBI (2nd in AL) and .316 AVG (10th in AL)

[qwyjibo]

admin said:

qwyjibo said:

Oh I think Ortiz will win it as well based on his hype but does he deserve it?? Not a chance IMO.

He really isn't even the best hitter on his own team but we all people love RBI's even though they are a team dependant stat.

But it doesn't go to the best hitter. The MVP award is given to the most valuable player for his team. So driving in runs is a plus in my eyes for the MVP award. As is game winning RBI's in that he's helping his team win.

But isn't being the best hitter on the team part of being "valuable"?? The fact that Manny can play a defensive position as well (albeit poorly) adds to his value to the team. The Red Sox would have an easier time replacing Ortiz than Manny if both were taken out of the lineup, that's why being a DH should detract from ones value.

Travis Hafner is IMO the best hitter in the AL but I still can't place at the top of the MVP voting since he doesn't overwhelmingly lead any offensive categories. And we all know he won't even be considered since the Indians aren't doing anything this year, another thing about MVP voting that irks me. People make the argument that without so and so, team A wouldn't be in 1st but in 3rd. But then you could make an argument for a player on a bad team saying that they wouldn't be in 3rd, they'd be in 5th and such. Hype is a big factor in MVP voting.

People will overlook Mauer because he doesn't have huge power #'s and the Twins might not make the playoffs. It's a shame.

Jeter has the Yankee media bias which helps him but he was already robbed once (IMO) in 1999.

Manny should be up there but the Ortiz media hype is ridiculous and so many people act like games are only decided in 9th innings only and previous innings meaning nothing.

[sportznutt]

It'll be, as of now, Big Papi.

[kfkorn]

My candidates for the AL MVP include David Ortiz, Travis Hafner, Justin Morneau, Manny Ramirez, and Derek Jeter. Guys like Joe Mauer, Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero, and Vernon Wells also deserve some consideration.

I think my vote would go to Travis Hafner, but I can see Ortiz winning. The guy is amazing in the clutch, which is extremely valuable.

[snowwy]

I think that in the end, it will come down to Ortiz, Morneau or Thome.

Ortiz is just so clutch and so important to the Red Sox and he has great numbers, on pace for the most home runs in the history of the storied franchise of Boston, although his average is down from last year.

Morneau is the reason the Twins are now winning, since he was put in the 5 spot in the lineup they have been on fire. He has great numbers.

[nesince92]

A DH as MVP (Thome)??

I don't think so.

[TestSubjekt]

nesince92 said:

A DH as MVP (Thome)??

I don't think so.

Same boat as Ortiz, right?

[nesince92]

true... same goes for him.

[wilsonc]

I'm leaning toward Mauer so far. With the year he's having at the plate combined with defensive excellence at one of the most challenging positions, I'd have a hard time giving it to any of the zero-defense, pure hitter types at this point this year. That said, it looks like a really close race, and a number of guys could claim it with a strong finish.