AL MVP Discussion

[dkgojackets]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

It doesn't matter. The writers don't care about VORP or any of the other Bill James/Billy Beane money ball stats. They only care about basic stats.

no, they care about heart and guts and grit and dirt and leadership and how good your teammates are

[CS10029]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

no, they care about heart and guts and grit and dirt and leadership and how good your teammates are

Sounds like Pedroia to me.

[Brandon13]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Sounds like Pedroia to me.

And Pedroia actually wouldn't be a bad pick.

[dkgojackets]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Sounds like Pedroia to me.

second coming of david eckstein imo

[snepp]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Jon Heyman trumpeting the horn of loud, closed-minded, and ignorant yet again at award time. I love me some strawmen!

http://www.firejoemorgan.com/2008/09/holy-cow-does-jon-heyman-hate-vorp.html

[DrJones]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

second coming of david eckstein imo

That's harsh. But I'm puzzled as to why Youkilis gets no love. Excellent D at 2 positions, superior offensive numbers to Pedroia in virtually every category.

[Beantown]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Simple: people don't like Youkilis.

[DrJones]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Simple: people don't like Youkilis.

Now that you mention it, I seem to recall hearing a few years ago that Youkilis was an unlikable d**k who never signed autographs, etc. Is that the general consensus in New England?

[ILLCHILL]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Youk was incredibly amazing when the team needed him most. Pedroia has been incredibly amazing late in the season, closer to voting time. My vote goes to Youk, then Pedroia, 1 and 2, straight up. Call it bias but Quentin has 0 chance, Mauer/Morneau would take my 3/4 spots, and A-Rod would take my 5th spot.

[goh]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

If that many people didn't like him I don't think they'd do the "YYOOOOUUUUKKKKK" thing when he's up to bat. I think it's just that he gets overlooked,you hear Red Sox and he's not the first name that comes to mind,probably about the 7th or 8th.

[Sportsforever]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

second coming of david eckstein imo

Whoa...Eckstein couldn't carry Pedroia's jock. Do you really feel they even compare?

[Misfit]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

The AL MVP this year is a crapshoot. The people of Boston are trumpeting Dustin Pedroia, but I think Youkilis is the MVP of that team (who ever thought he was capable of flirting with 30 home runs this year?!) while the Twins have Mauer and Morneau. Those four seem to be the guys most often mentioned at this point.

If you're the type of person who likes a guy who comes up big in September, then Morneau isn't your man as his .716 OPS for the month was his worst of the season (Mauer .897). I can't say I'm on the Morneau bandwagon. Outside of his RBI totals, there's not a whole lot there. Mauer has put up the numbers while playing catcher, a more valuable position. I would lean towards him as the Twins MVP (though I think Nathan warrants mention). Off topic, but if Morneau were to win it would he be the only 2-time MVP to not make the HOF? I think we can all agree he's a good player, but doesn't look like a future Hall of Famer at this point in time (that could always change, of course).

I can say, without feeling like a homer, that I would ultimately go with Youkilis. I'd like to point out someone from the best teams in the AL this year (Anaheim and Tampa) but neither team had a real stand-out guy either.

[bergie56]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

The AL MVP this year is a crapshoot. The people of Boston are trumpeting Dustin Pedroia, but I think Youkilis is the MVP of that team (who ever thought he was capable of flirting with 30 home runs this year?!) while the Twins have Mauer and Morneau. Those four seem to be the guys most often mentioned at this point.

If you're the type of person who likes a guy who comes up big in September, then Morneau isn't your man as his .716 OPS for the month was his worst of the season (Mauer .897). I can't say I'm on the Morneau bandwagon. Outside of his RBI totals, there's not a whole lot there. Mauer has put up the numbers while playing catcher, a more valuable position. I would lean towards him as the Twins MVP (though I think Nathan warrants mention). Off topic, but if Morneau were to win it would he be the only 2-time MVP to not make the HOF? I think we can all agree he's a good player, but doesn't look like a future Hall of Famer at this point in time (that could always change, of course).

I can say, without feeling like a homer, that I would ultimately go with Youkilis. I'd like to point out someone from the best teams in the AL this year (Anaheim and Tampa) but neither team had a real stand-out guy either.

As a Twins fan, I can honestly say that Morneau had been the MVP of the team and could have been a legitimate candidate through August. However, September counts a lot and Morneau struggled. IMO it should be between Mauer, Pedroia and Youkilis with the edge going to Youk.

[dkgojackets]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Whoa...Eckstein couldn't carry Pedroia's jock. Do you really feel they even compare?

no, its just an inside reference that you are outside of

anyway I'd give it to Mauer but theres no clear cut winner like the NL. There's about five players close to each other.

[DrJones]

Re: AL MVP Discussion

Off topic, but if Morneau were to win it would he be the only 2-time MVP to not make the HOF?

Ryan Howard?