Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Handicapping the American League MVP Race
Similar to 2005, finding the candidate most deserving for the AL Most Valuable Player Award is a lesson in perspectives. Once again, we have to ask ourselves if a player who only hits (David Ortiz) deserves consideration for the league's top honor? Can a player win the league award, and still not be considered his team's MVP? Should pitcher Johan Santana who literally carried his team to a division title be considered, despite only pitching every fifth day? Or does Derek Jeter win his first MVP since ESPN's Baseball Tonight crew annoints him as the guy who should get it? Here are my Top 5 candidates of the award...
5. DAVID ORTIZ, DH, BOSTON RED SOX
AVG: .287, HR: 54, RBI: 137, R: 115
I am sure that many of my friends in New England scoff at this ranking, believing that he should be rated much higher. Ortiz proved the most exciting hitter in baseball through July, making walk-off hits seem almost mundane at Fenway Park. Besides leading the league in home runs, runs batted in, and walks, Ortiz finished third in runs scored. Recognizing that he was the most clutch hitter all season this side of Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard, a late-season slide by the Red Sox and his limited role in the field hurt his chances.
4. JUSTIN MORNEAU, 1B, MINNESOTA TWINS
AVG: .321, HR: 34, RBI: 130, R: 97
A highly touted prospect who had yet to meet expectations, the light turned on for Morneau in 2006. Morneau increased his batting average an astounding 82 points and drove in 51 more runs compared with 2005. He became the first Twin to hit 30 home runs in a season since 1987. Hitting just .235 in June, the lanky first basemen hit .369 the rest of the way. His personal turnaround was a key component to the Twins incredible second-half run that helped them capture the Central Division crown. Minnesota's small-market and his rather quite demeanor hurts his candidacy for the MVP, but his equally qualifed teammate Joe Mauer ultimately dooms Morneau's chances.
3. JERMAINE DYE, RF, CHICAGO WHITE SOX
AVG: .315, HR: 44, RBI: 120, R: 103
Exhibiting more power at the plate, Dye easily trumped the 33 homers he hit in 2000, his previous career high. Hitting behind sluggers Jim Thome and Paul Konerko, Dye consistently made opposing pitchers pay for pitching around the two stars. Dye finished in the Top 5 in four categories including: slugging, OPS (on-base plus slugging), RBI, and in homers. Despite his career year, the White Sox tailed off late in the season, and were eliminated in the final week. The slide significantly hurt Dye's MVP hopes and doesn't figure to beat Mauer or Jeter.
2. JOE MAUER, C, MINNESOTA TWINS
AVG: .347, HR: 13, RBI: 84, R: 86
Mauer has fulfilled all the expectations for the Minnesota Twins since he was drafted first overall in 2001. The local boy from nearby St. Paul became the first catcher in American League history to win the batting title. His clutch hitting and .429 on-base percentage provided ample opportunities for the aforementioned Justin Morneau to drive in runs. Besides his outstanding skills with the bat, his play behind the plate merits him consideration for the Gold Glove. Mauer committed just four errors all season and threw out a robust 37.9% of all basestealers. Mauer, just 23, has become the posterchild for a resurgent Twins organization that was on the verge of bankruptcy and possible relocation just three years ago. A low-profile and teammate Morneau hurts his ability to make a run at Jeter.
1. DEREK JETER, SS, NEW YORK YANKEES
AVG: .343, HR: 14, RBI: 97, R: 118
Jeter, one of the biggest stars on the most popular team in the world, put together a spectacular 2006 season. Barely losing out on the batting title to Mauer and finishing just shy of the 100 RBi plateau, Jeter was second in the league in runs scored. He stole 34 bases and maintained a .417 on-base percentage. The shortstop turned in a respectable .975 fielding percentage. Appearing in 150 games, Jeter played a pivotal role early in the season when the Yankees were besieged by injuries. Playing shortstop for the most recognizable franchise in sports, Jeter should win the MVP by a comfortable margin over Twins catcher Joe Mauer.
This is my opinion, but like I said, MVP voting is all about perspective. Arguments can be made for Johan Santana and others not appearing on this list. Another valid question to ask is how valuable is Derek Jeter to a team filled with all-stars like the Yankees versus somebody like Carlos Guillen who performed superbly during the Tigers surprising season. It is important to recognize the crucial influence that the media plays in helping a candidate gain the upper hand in a race as tight as the 2006 AL MVP. As a coworker said to me: "The reason Guillen won't get any consideration is that nobody on Baseball Tonight mentioned his name." And don't even get me started on Grady Sizemore who put together a year never before seen from a leadoff hitter. These are the five players who I believe will finish in the Top 5 in voting...and deservedly so.
5. DAVID ORTIZ, DH, BOSTON RED SOXAVG: .287, HR: 54, RBI: 137, R: 115
I am sure that many of my friends in New England scoff at this ranking, believing that he should be rated much higher. Ortiz proved the most exciting hitter in baseball through July, making walk-off hits seem almost mundane at Fenway Park. Besides leading the league in home runs, runs batted in, and walks, Ortiz finished third in runs scored. Recognizing that he was the most clutch hitter all season this side of Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard, a late-season slide by the Red Sox and his limited role in the field hurt his chances.
4. JUSTIN MORNEAU, 1B, MINNESOTA TWINS
AVG: .321, HR: 34, RBI: 130, R: 97A highly touted prospect who had yet to meet expectations, the light turned on for Morneau in 2006. Morneau increased his batting average an astounding 82 points and drove in 51 more runs compared with 2005. He became the first Twin to hit 30 home runs in a season since 1987. Hitting just .235 in June, the lanky first basemen hit .369 the rest of the way. His personal turnaround was a key component to the Twins incredible second-half run that helped them capture the Central Division crown. Minnesota's small-market and his rather quite demeanor hurts his candidacy for the MVP, but his equally qualifed teammate Joe Mauer ultimately dooms Morneau's chances.
3. JERMAINE DYE, RF, CHICAGO WHITE SOXAVG: .315, HR: 44, RBI: 120, R: 103
Exhibiting more power at the plate, Dye easily trumped the 33 homers he hit in 2000, his previous career high. Hitting behind sluggers Jim Thome and Paul Konerko, Dye consistently made opposing pitchers pay for pitching around the two stars. Dye finished in the Top 5 in four categories including: slugging, OPS (on-base plus slugging), RBI, and in homers. Despite his career year, the White Sox tailed off late in the season, and were eliminated in the final week. The slide significantly hurt Dye's MVP hopes and doesn't figure to beat Mauer or Jeter.
2. JOE MAUER, C, MINNESOTA TWINSAVG: .347, HR: 13, RBI: 84, R: 86
Mauer has fulfilled all the expectations for the Minnesota Twins since he was drafted first overall in 2001. The local boy from nearby St. Paul became the first catcher in American League history to win the batting title. His clutch hitting and .429 on-base percentage provided ample opportunities for the aforementioned Justin Morneau to drive in runs. Besides his outstanding skills with the bat, his play behind the plate merits him consideration for the Gold Glove. Mauer committed just four errors all season and threw out a robust 37.9% of all basestealers. Mauer, just 23, has become the posterchild for a resurgent Twins organization that was on the verge of bankruptcy and possible relocation just three years ago. A low-profile and teammate Morneau hurts his ability to make a run at Jeter.
1. DEREK JETER, SS, NEW YORK YANKEESAVG: .343, HR: 14, RBI: 97, R: 118
Jeter, one of the biggest stars on the most popular team in the world, put together a spectacular 2006 season. Barely losing out on the batting title to Mauer and finishing just shy of the 100 RBi plateau, Jeter was second in the league in runs scored. He stole 34 bases and maintained a .417 on-base percentage. The shortstop turned in a respectable .975 fielding percentage. Appearing in 150 games, Jeter played a pivotal role early in the season when the Yankees were besieged by injuries. Playing shortstop for the most recognizable franchise in sports, Jeter should win the MVP by a comfortable margin over Twins catcher Joe Mauer.
This is my opinion, but like I said, MVP voting is all about perspective. Arguments can be made for Johan Santana and others not appearing on this list. Another valid question to ask is how valuable is Derek Jeter to a team filled with all-stars like the Yankees versus somebody like Carlos Guillen who performed superbly during the Tigers surprising season. It is important to recognize the crucial influence that the media plays in helping a candidate gain the upper hand in a race as tight as the 2006 AL MVP. As a coworker said to me: "The reason Guillen won't get any consideration is that nobody on Baseball Tonight mentioned his name." And don't even get me started on Grady Sizemore who put together a year never before seen from a leadoff hitter. These are the five players who I believe will finish in the Top 5 in voting...and deservedly so.
# posted by Nate @ 10:24 PM 
