AL MVP Should Go To . . .

[Guest Rotblatt]

I'm asking who it SHOULD go to, but personally, I'm going to answer this in terms of whom I'd LIKE it to go to, because the person it should probably go to is a bitch-slapping cheater fuckwad.

I'm leaving out RBIs, because I think they're irrelevent.

FRAA is BP's RAA2, or the number of runs the player has saved his team over the average fielder at his position.

[Guest Rotblatt]

A-Rod's probably been the best all-around player in the American League this year, but I went with Ortizzle because I fucking loathe A-Rod after his shameful slap of Arroyo last year. And his whininess in general.

The only real justification for my choice is Ortiz's flair for the dramatic this season. I mean, the guy has been incredibly focused during pressure situations.

You could also argue that Ortiz means more to the Sox than A-Rod does. He and Manny are the only real big boppers there, whereas the Yankees have Sheffield & Giambi--not to mention Matsui.

Plus, if you balance production with salary, Ortiz wins in a landslide.

If Young or Tejada had been better fielders this season, I'd be tempted by them. Guerrero's a good option as well, but the time he's missed hurts his candidacy.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I don't think $-Rod is a lock by any stretch - I voted for Ortiz as well.

[metsmarathon]

i can make a good case for ortiz, but only cos i'd be trying not to give the award to arod.

[MFS62]

I = None of the Above.

I'd cast my vote for Hidecki Matsui - who has been the steadiest Yankee run producer all season.
The Daily News has been running a "Yankee (and Met) of the Week" article all season, with weekly points awarded. Matsui is in the top three in a close race.

B'sides, he carried that team to their big lead the first half of last year, while all the other stars weren't performing or were injured. When Sheffield came back, he piled up stats while the Yankee lead dwindled.

So, my vote this year is because I think he got screwed out of it last year.

But if I have to pick one from your list, I'd vote for Vlad. Without him, that team blows chunks.

Later

[Valadius]

What the bloody hell are these VORP things... sounds like some kind of Star Trek gibberish. I'm sick of these crazy stats that really don't mean anything.

[Guest Rotblatt]

VORP is Value Over Replacement Player. It basically aims to measure an individual's offensive output relative to other players at his position. Here's the Baseball Prospectus definition:

The number of runs contributed beyond what a replacement-level player at the same position would contribute if given the same percentage of team plate appearances. VORP scores do not consider the quality of a player's defense.

Most places set "replacement level" at 80% of league average.

[Frayed Knot]

Question:
If ARod does win the MVP does the number of Yankees who have won that award get increased by one or not ... y'know, on account of him not being a real Yankee and all?

[Edgy MD]

He gets to be a real Yankee after he dies, like Maris, so the awards will eventually end up in Yankee possession.

[Elster88]

I voted for Ortiz.
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This post had the designation 152) Anthony Young

[Guest SI Metman]

I'd like to see Ortiz get it, but it will go to slappy.

The award will probably be decided in the next 2 weeks. Much like Larry won it in '99 by almost burying us, and Vlad won it last year by burying Oakland.

[metirish]

I voted for Ortiz, the idea that a DH should not win the AL MVP is just stupid, it's part of that stupid league so it should not count against him..

[Frayed Knot]

Being a DH shouldn't count him out but it should be taken into consideration.

[Guest Rotblatt]

I agree, Frayed. Although it LOOKS like A-Rod hasn't been that great with the glove this

season. That being said, I've heard a lot of "gold glove defense" bandied about, so maybe the stats or off. Or our media is full of Yankee apologigists.

Even if he hasn't been great with the glove, playing a defensive spot is still an advantage for him.

If the Yankees don't make the playoffs, it will probably go to Ortiz. Otherwise, I think A-Rod at this point is the clear pick.