Mauer was robbed...

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

The Cardinals Albert Pujols and the Yankees Derek Jeter were named the 2009 recipients of the Hank Aaron Award as the outstanding offensive performers for their respective league. Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins had a higher average, more doubles, more home runs, more RBI's, more walks, fewer strike outs, more total bases, a higher slugging percentage, and higher OPs than Jeter. Of course, to be fair, Jeter did have more singles and stolen bases than Mauer.

Jeter had a very good offensive season, but it must be that Yankee mystique at work once again, because I don't see how any rational individual with half a brain could not vote for Joe Mauer in the AL this year.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Just create the Derek Jeter Award for Incredible Awesomeness and give it to him every year and leave the rest of the shit alone.

[Frayed Knot]

I saw that too.
Just for kicks I looked up the 'Runs Created' stat for the AL this year to see that Jeter finished 12th.

The good thing is that nobody cares about that award to the point where MLB probably did more harm to Aaron than good by concocting it in the first place.

[ashie62]

yes, and intangible qualities count double

[Fman99]

yes, and intangible qualities count double[/quote:3lvu68p8]

Ironical.

[Frayed Knot]

If we're going to honor old Braves I think Jeter should have won the Joe Adcock award.

Adcock, like Jeter, was the third best offensive player on his team too.

[MFS62]

I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics.
I guess the Aaron Award is MLB's version of TSN's award.

If they're going to give some sort of MVP to Jeter, well be my guest.
But if the Aaron award is all about numbers/ production, it should not go to Jeter. Doc makes the case for Mauer, and I can live with that.

Later

[Centerfield]

I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics.
Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

Jeter did not have the best statistics.

[MFS62]

I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics.
Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Sporting News awards have become as irrelevant as the publication that issues them.

[MFS62]

The Sporting News awards have become as irrelevant as the publication that issues them.

[metirish]

This is not going that good is it?

[Frayed Knot]

I've posted before that the most valuable player award should go to the player who was the most valuable contributor to his team's success while the Sporting News' Player of the Year Award should go to the player with the best statistics.
I guess the Aaron Award is MLB's version of TSN's award.

[MFS62]

That's what I said, or at least tried to say.
Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

But, briefly - Yogi Berra won three MVP awards, yet he never led his league in a single offensive category. At the time, there was little debate that he deserved him. Ernie Banks won the MVP award twice, yet his team finished last or next to last(maybe both of those years). But he had great statistics. How fucking valuable was he in helping his team win if they didn't win diddley?

You seem to be on two different tacks. (1) This award should go the best offender as distinct from the best all-round player. (2) The MVP should go to a player on a team that contended to the end.

As far as (1), Jeter was not the best offender in the league. Neither was he the best on his team.

As far as (2), I disagree. And the Cubs finished neither last nor next to last either of those years.

[Guest Edgy DC]

The Aaron award was essentially a PR attempt by MLB to honor Hank by naming each league's best offensive player and make it distinct from the MVP award. The problem is it's poorly publicized and barely known. It's like they created something only to ignore it.

[Centerfield]

I've explained it before.
But, briefly - Yogi Berra won three MVP awards, yet he never led his league in a single offensive category. At the time, there was little debate that he deserved him.
Ernie Banks won the MVP award twice, yet his team finished last or next to last(maybe both of those years). But he had great statistics. How fucking valuable was he in helping his team win if they didn't win diddley?
Later

[Guest holychicken]

What a joke. I bet Jeter wins the MVP and the Cy Young award for both the AL and the NL.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Historically, is there a strong correlation between the Aaron awards' recipients and the MVP award recipient set?

Not so much: During the ten years since the Aaron award's inception in 1999, there have been just 6 matches (out of 20 potential). This doesn't necessarily augur bad things for Mr. Mauer's chances at receiving the slightly-less-Mickey-Mouse award.

[metirish]

Quickly......name five out of the last ten winners not counting these two...if you can then you are a sick puppy.