Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

[deeman11747]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Its amazing me that no one else received a 2nd place vote besides Ortiz and A-Rod. I'm not saying that anyone deserved it more, I'm just saying that I'm suprised the voters didn't give anyone else more credit.

Vlad got a first place vote... I'm assuming from the guy who put A-Rod as 3rd.

[SPTO]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Meh I would've given it to Papi

[Matteh]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Congrats. Couldn't really go wrong with either.

I agree. Both had very good years and both deserved it, but only one could win it.

[videobastard]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

A rod deserved it.

[nyyanksfan20]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Congrats A-Rod you deserved it! Next stop World Series MVP!

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

At least they got 1 award right.

So let's hope they get another one right tomorrow! Go Andruw!

[Hootiefish]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Wow, I am suprised by the number of people agreeing with the choice. I myself did not see it as cut and dry as it apparently was. I thought Ortiz had a better season and was more VALUABLE to his team than A-Rod. Hell, A-Rod wasn't even considered the MVP on his own team (Rivera and Matsui would take those honors), so how in the world can he be considered the MVP of the league? Is he MVP because his stats are better? Gimme a break, stats are not the only definition of how valuable a player is to their team (or the league) -- see Steve Nash's MVP in the NBA. And let us not even get into the conversation of how many games A-Rod actually won with his bat. The man hit more 2-run homers with a 4 run lead than any player I have ever seen (except maybe Bobby Bonilla with the 1996 O's).

As for this junk about not voting for a DH, I have got news for all of the writers...get over it. It is a position, and will be a position for a very long time. It is no different than a closer winning the Cy Young over a starter. It is no different than someone with all power and no average winning MVP. Ortiz simply had all bat and no defense. The Sox were just smart enough to not exploit his obvious defenciency and start him at DH. How is Ortiz winning MVP any different than Juan Gonzalez winning 2 MVP's in the 90's?

[Vince]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Another MVP award, I don't think A-Rod should've won.

[jpup]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Wow, I am suprised by the number of people agreeing with the choice. I myself did not see it as cut and dry as it apparently was. I thought Ortiz had a better season and was more VALUABLE to his team than A-Rod. Hell, A-Rod wasn't even considered the MVP on his own team (Rivera and Matsui would take those honors), so how in the world can he be considered the MVP of the league? Is he MVP because his stats are better? Gimme a break, stats are not the only definition of how valuable a player is to their team (or the league) -- see Steve Nash's MVP in the NBA. And let us not even get into the conversation of how many games A-Rod actually won with his bat. The man hit more 2-run homers with a 4 run lead than any player I have ever seen (except maybe Bobby Bonilla with the 1996 O's).

As for this junk about not voting for a DH, I have got news for all of the writers...get over it. It is a position, and will be a position for a very long time. It is no different than a closer winning the Cy Young over a starter. It is no different than someone with all power and no average winning MVP. Ortiz simply had all bat and no defense. The Sox were just smart enough to not exploit his obvious defenciency and start him at DH. How is Ortiz winning MVP any different than Juan Gonzalez winning 2 MVP's in the 90's?

Ortiz .300/.397/.604/1.003
Arod .321/.421/.610/1.031

Ortiz did not deserve to win the MVP. If there is any argument to be made, it's for second place. Travis Hafner could have easily been second.

[Hootiefish]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Ortiz .300/.397/.604/1.003
Arod .321/.421/.610/1.031

Ortiz did not deserve to win the MVP. If there is any argument to be made, it's for second place. Travis Hafner could have easily been second.

I guess I just have a different opinion of what makes up an MVP. If you take A-Rod away from the Yankees they are still a 90-95 win team this year. If you take away Ortiz, the Sox go from 90-95 wins to about 80-85 easily. That is what makes a player valuable, not just their OPS.

And once again, how can someone who was not the MVP of their own team of travelling All-Stars be the MVP of their respective league?

[rubisco43]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

I guess I just have a different opinion of what makes up an MVP. If you take A-Rod away from the Yankees they are still a 90-95 win team this year. If you take away Ortiz, the Sox go from 90-95 wins to about 80-85 easily. That is what makes a player valuable, not just their OPS.

And once again, how can someone who was not the MVP of their own team of travelling All-Stars be the MVP of their respective league?

exactly. how else do you explain kirk gibson winning his MVP with fairly average numbers for the Dodgers. but this is the era of huge stats, and based on stats, either player would've been a fine pick.

[Stu]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

I guess I just have a different opinion of what makes up an MVP. If you take A-Rod away from the Yankees they are still a 90-95 win team this year. If you take away Ortiz, the Sox go from 90-95 wins to about 80-85 easily. That is what makes a player valuable, not just their OPS.

And once again, how can someone who was not the MVP of their own team of travelling All-Stars be the MVP of their respective league?

I agree with you but I'm slightly biased since I have the pleasure to watch Ortiz all year. The numbers that stand out for me is the production in late and close situations. Ortiz had 11 HR and 33 RBI's to Arod's 4 HR and 12 RBI.

As far as the fielding, you can't convince me that defense is a big part of this award when players like Juan Gonzalez and Frank Thomas have won it in the past. Then again, these are the same voters that gave Rafael Palmeiro a Glode Glove when he was a DH, so what did we expect.

[Hootiefish]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

Let me prefice this by saying that I do not feel as though this is why A-Rod won the MVP, instead this is merely a thought that I have.

I am beginning to realize that the writers are the absolute worst people to pick awards. Writers (if you have ever worked with any) are extremely sensitive and biased as a whole. They will vote for who gives them a good interview and not vote for someone who is a thorn in their side (see: Ted Williams not winning an MVP either year that he won the Triple Crown). Most of the voting writers today are of the old guard, the type that refuse to believe that the DH exists (despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary) and could not tell you OPS from a Win Share. They see the big three stat categories, and then balance that with how well the respective teams did (for the most part).

I feel as though the coaches and the players should be given the vote for the major awards. They are the ones that know the game, and they are the ones who are more likely to be honest about who was really more valuable to a team. Just my .02

[Stu]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

I agree 100% Hootiefish. The writers have also been known to take this as an opportunity to further their agendas. See 1999 when Pedro lost the MVP when a NY Post writer left him off the ballot since "a pitcher shouldn't win the mvp" even though he had voted for pitchers in the past.

Ted is another story all together. 2 Triple Crowns, a .406 year and a .388 year and he went 0-4 losing to 4 Yankees.

The problem is the writers are constantly changing the criteria for what an MVP is. Pedro couldn't win the award because he was a pitcher while Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, Roger Clemens and Dennis Eckersley could. David Ortiz can't win the award because he doesn't play in the field while guys like Juan Gonzalez, Frank Thomas and Mo Vaughn can even though they play poor defense.

[Hootiefish]

Re: Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

I agree 100% Hootiefish. The writers have also been known to take this as an opportunity to further their agendas. See 1999 when Pedro lost the MVP when a NY Post writer left him off the ballot since "a pitcher shouldn't win the mvp" even though he had voted for pitchers in the past.

Ted is another story all together. 2 Triple Crowns, a .406 year and a .388 year and he went 0-4 losing to 4 Yankees.

The problem is the writers are constantly changing the criteria for what an MVP is. Pedro couldn't win the award because he was a pitcher while Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, Roger Clemens and Dennis Eckersley could. David Ortiz can't win the award because he doesn't play in the field while guys like Juan Gonzalez, Frank Thomas and Mo Vaughn can even though they play poor defense.

Well said my new friend.