AL MVP announcement later on today
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- November
- 18
The American League MVP will be announced in about an hour. Dustin Pedroia is the favorite. Be interesting to see if any Yankees get a vote. A-Rod should, considering you rank 10 players on the ballot.
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New Yankee first baseman Nick Swisher is doing a conference call with the beat writers at 5 p.m. today. I’ll post the audio of that as soon as I can afterward. Presumably he’ll explain why you all will love him and get over Mark Teixeira.
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Last week we told you about C.J. Henry playing hoops at Memphis. Yesterday his brother committed to the Tigers. Xavier Henry is the top-rated two guard in the nation. C.J., by the way, is out with a foot injury.
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Peter Abraham
baseball!
hopefully swisher is as funny as giambi so pete won’t miss jason
Go Swish !
This is not b/c I am a Yankees fan, but Pedroia really does not deserve this award. Morneau deserves it for the exact same reasons he did when he beat out Jeter two years ago.
My prediction is Morneau will win due to the same causes as two years ago – some writters will have Pedroia way down on the list, like some had with Jeter.
A little Pedroia stats, the only category he won on was runs scored. Consdering his OBP was not even in the top 10 in the AL, and he is an average stolen base threat, how can he get a ton of credit for this? He had only 83 RBIs, despite spending a little time in the cleanup spot.
He was extremely streaky as well. If you think this doesn’t matter, just ask Ryan Howard. His stats were the best, but he earned most of them during his crazy fire streaks.
Fredo – Thanks for your help with the draft question. I thought you only lose 1st round picks and not 2nd round picks.
So even if you sign 5 guys the most picks you give up is your own first rounder.
woo hoo, cant wait to hear from Swish!
He’s stealing Pedroia’s thunder lolz…a True Yankee already!!
(BTW, I do not think Pedroia should win either. I’d go for either Morneau or K-Rod. But I bet he will win anyway though. It’s kind of a weak crop this year. Nobody really has an open and shut case).
Let’s just hope P.A. isn’t so disappointed with Giambi’s departure that he takes to calling Swisher “The Big Swish”.
bdog,
You’re ignoring that Pedroia is a second baseman. He does not have to be a league-leader in OPS to be MVP. He hit exceptionally well for his position.
You’re wrong about his counting stats too. Aside from runs scored, he also led the league in doubles and hits. He would be a deserving MVP.
Morneau would be as bad an MVP pick this year as he was in 2006. Like that year, he is not even the most valuable player on his team. Mauer is.
I am holding my breath that we don’t end up with K-Rod as the MVP. That would be a real travesty.
?? I thought Pedroia ” won” on total hits, doubles, runs scored, not just runs scored?
I have to admit I am biased, as I am a short man. I wish the Yankees had a player like Pedroia, he would be a superdooperstar here.
Dempster deal good as done.
4/13 mil? Yikes! I bet ya AJ gets that 5th year now.
And people complain the Yankees drive up the market.
“You’re ignoring that Pedroia is a second baseman. He does not have to be a league-leader in OPS to be MVP. He hit exceptionally well for his position.”
if that’s the case, Mauer is your MVP…
Pedroia is very good, but I put him a hair below the competition.
Pavano for MVP.
C’mon Pete, … give him yer vote for all he’s been through here. He even said he was exhausted from it.
“So even if you sign 5 guys the most picks you give up is your own first rounder.”
As I understand it any Type A you sign costs you a draft pick. So if the Yankees signed three, they would lose their SCHEDULED 1st, 2nd and 3rd round picks.
“You’re ignoring that Pedroia is a second baseman. He does not have to be a league-leader in OPS to be MVP. He hit exceptionally well for his position.”
Given that argument, Hanley Ramirez should have been MVP in the national league – or Utley. I do not buy that argument, myself. We base someone’s MVP performance primarily on batting production, which makes the argument of the position they play weak.
Pedroia is enormously streaky, and his stats are padded from those streaks. An MVP needs to carry a team throughout the season, not for two months of the season. He was not there in September, which is the most important time. Further, in June when the Sox were in trouble, it was JD Drew who carried the load.
There are two or three more deserving players than Pedroia.
From Neil Best’s live chat:
Will YES telecast the 2 spring training games the Yankees will play against the Cubs at the new Yankee Stadium and will SNY do the same thing with the Mets when they play 2 spring training games against the Red Sox at Citi Field?
12:08-I would be stunned if that were not the case, but I have not been told that specifically.
————————————————–
So I guess we will see
Mauer should definitely get the MVP, he constantly gets overlooked because he doesn’t have DINGERS but the guy is a freaking stud.
I wouldn’t be terribly upset if Pedroia won it. It’s a shame for A-Rod though, he would be one of the frontrunners if the Yankees made the playoffs.
Guys at least get the stats right. Pedroia WAS there in Sept, he batted 355 over the last two months!!
if Pedrioa does win MVP in 30 mins, expect to the trolls to come out in full force.
LOL Francesa sounds like he wants to hurt Mike from Montclair
Yep, Dempster’s looking like he’ll be a Cubbie. He might have been OK as our “4th” pitcher, if nothing else had come along.
I said 4 because I still like the idea of Joba getting assigned the “5th” slot just to reduce his innings. He’d still pitch consecutively with CC and Wang being in the fifth slot, he’d just get his spot skipped over every 5 times or so. Whose idea was that orignially, Pete’s?
Fat Mike is trying to be Mad Dog since Dog left, he yells and screams at times just to make noise, it is affected and fake
Fatcessa is very mad… even though that guy was right.. ha
“Guys at least get the stats right. Pedroia WAS there in Sept, he batted 355 over the last two months!!”
Wow, September last two months now! Good job there Turbo.
BBB,
From the last thread.
Sorry, didn’t mean to diss your Heat. SoS and I are western conference guys (gals).
But yes, the Heat look better than last season.
I’m still debating whether or not I like an Lamar Odom for Shawn Marion trade. But I really like LO’s versatility and willingness to play 6th man.
I think if its Hobbit who wins the award. They should for one time only do away with the trophy and give him a ring instead. Yes pressious. It just makes sense.
WEEI says Pedroia won the MVP
“I think if its Hobbit who wins the award. They should for one time only do away with the trophy and give him a ring instead. Yes pressious. It just makes sense.”
Hilarious!
I personally see him as the Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.
I heard his mom walks him to fenway every day. He skips down the street, holding his moms hand, and clasping to his Power Rangers lunch box.
bdog,
A player’s value as a hitter is always relative to his position. A second baseman who can hit is a lot harder to find than a first baseman who can hit.
H-Ram and Utley had very good seasons and both will usually be in the running for MVP because they put up great numbers at defensively-minded positions. That doesn’t mean they should be locks for MVP. Pujols’ season was so good that he easily compensated for being a first baseman and was an obvious, no-brainer MVP choice. It also helped that he fields his position well. (So does Pedroia.)
Every player is streaky to some extent. To say Pedroia isn’t the MVP because he didn’t play great in September (which I haven’t looked up) while overlooking every month he did play well is unfair. Besides, the Sox made the playoffs, so it’s not like Pedroia was responsible for some kind of collapse.
As for your statement that there are two or three guys more deserving than Pedroia, you are right according to WARP. Those players’ names are Cliff Lee, Mariano Rivera, and Roy Halladay. I doubt you were thinking of any of them. Who are your choices?
saucY, I would be happy with Mauer as MVP. Great player and strangely overlooked due to the presence of Morneau.
MVP? Ahhh … Pedroiaphelia plays hard and had a good year (especially for a little twirp) but I don’t think he’s MVP.
Who? Probably someone on Tampa. That whole team played above expectations so it could be Upton, Longoria, or someone else. Maddon already got his award.
Or Manny. Ortiz said if they had Manny they might have gone all the way. I think he meant the team going all the way in the world series, not him & Manny in the shower.
Anyways, that makes Manny pretty valuable doesn’t it? Just ask him & Agent Boras …
lol, SoS.
Wow. The letting CJ Henry walk-on trick actually worked. The parents of the Henry boys both played at Kansas.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=3710575
No mention of the Yankees. Of course not, this is a feel-good story, not a train-wreck one!
WOW!!!! I’m honored. I have my second imposter. Obviously not Tony Curtis “The Great Imposter” talent, though. This one is more PeeWee Herman type talent.
Such a boring hot stove season
Jeremy,
You contradicted yourself twice. By saying that position is important and making the playoffs are important yet Pujols deserved to win is quite interesting.
I would pick Mauer, Youk (I think I threw up on my keyboard), Morneau, Hamilton, and Kinsler over Pedroia – probably in that order.
“WOW!!!! I’m honored. I have my second imposter. Obviously not Tony Curtis “The Great Imposter†talent, though. This one is more PeeWee Herman type talent.”
Yep that GB7. Most here are too young to know Pee Wee Herman let alone Tony Curtis. Damn GB stop making us regret falling assleep in history class or not watching black and white movies. Unless of coarse its the little rascals or the three stooges.
Rumors link at foxsports:
“Mets star swarmed by cougars in Times Square”
Why was Alex Rodriguez’s attendance at Miami event over the weekend the first thing to pop up in my mind?
I could see it being Morneau, Pedo, someone on Tampa, K-Rod then Mariano for MVP. Mariano being on a 3rd place team doesn’t help his cause but he’s got to be up there. Nobody else on this team except Moose really played like they were exceptionally valuable to the team. Wang and Joba were valuable merely out of being missed.
On NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Crazy Steve on WFAN!
GB,
Im going to run with something you said.
Who is the worst actor you have ever seen?
Mine goes to Keanu Reeves.
Sigh. As much as watching him play annoys me, Pedroia is one of the few players I’d be ok with winning the AL MVP. It should be Sizemore, and if not him then Mauer, but I’m sure those guys will get passed over because in certain years the MVP *must* make the playoffs. And because Mauer doesn’t hit HRs. He also doesn’t make many outs for a catcher but … we know where that argument leads with the BBWAA. Pedroia’s a better choice than any other individual Boston, Chicago, Anaheim or Tampa Bay player so I guess I’m pulling for him. Or something.
on=Oh
Well that wasn’t too bad
Kevin Youkilis was just as valuable to the Sox as Pedroia if not more so. I am not a fan of either of the jerks but if Pedroia isn’t the clear MVP of his own team, it’s hard to give it to him for the entire league.
Yup, Pedroia
http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp
Pedroia MVP what?
I hate baseball writers (except Pete), Pedroia won.
Swish should be a good listen. He’ll probably say something like he’s bringing Sabathia to the Yanks as we speak.
Doesn’t excuse not getting Adam Dunn though. Sign him, Cash!
expect the trolls to come out full force.
http://www.baseballwriters.org/awards/2008/2008_AL_mvp.html
PEDROIA AL MVP, 1 YEAR AFTER ROOKIE TRIUMPH
Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia had an historic victory in winning the 2008 American League Most Valuable Player Award in balloting by the BBWAA. Pedroia is the first AL second baseman to win the award in 49 years and only the third player to be named MVP the year after being elected Rookie of the Year.
Pedroia, who led the league in runs (118), hits (213) doubles (54) and multi-hit games (61), received 16 first-place votes from the 28 ballots cast by two writers in each league city. Pedroia was listed second on six ballots, third on four and fourth on one for a total of 317 points, based on a tabulation system rewarding 14 points for first place, nine for second, eight for third on down to one for 10th.
Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (.300, 23 HR, 129 RBI), the 2006 winner, received seven first-place votes and was the runner-up with 257 points. Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis (.312, 29 HR, 115 RBI) got two first-place votes and finished third with 201 points. Morneau and Youkilis were the only players named on all ballots.
Twins catcher Joe Mauer (.328, 9 HR, 85 RBI) also was first on two ballots and ranked fourth with 188 points. The other first-place vote went to Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez (2-3, 2.24 ERA, 62 SV), who totaled 143 points and finished sixth, behind Chicago White Sox left fielder Carlos Quentin (.288, 36 HR, 100 RBI), who had 160 points.
Rounding out the top 10 were Texas Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton (.304, 32 HR, 130 RBI), New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez (.302, 35 HR, 103 RBI, 104 R), the 2007 winner, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Carlos Pena (.247, 31 HR, 102 RBI) and Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore (.268, 33 HR, 90 RBI, 101 R, 38 SB). In all, 23 players gained mention.
Pedroia, 25, batted .326, second only to Mauer, with 17 home runs, 83 RBI and 20 stolen bases for the Red Sox, who were the AL wild-card team. He struck out only 52 times in 710 plate appearances.
As the previous year’s Rookie of the Year, Pedroia this year matched the feat in the AL of Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., who was the Rookie of the Year in 1982 and MVP in 1983, and in the National League of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, who was the Rookie of the Year in 2005 and MVP in 2006. Two other AL players won both awards in the same season, Red Sox center fielder Fred Lynn in 1975 and Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.
Pedroia became the 20th former Rookie of the Year to be named MVP, the seventh in the AL. Other than Ripken, Lynn and Suzuki, former AL Rookie of the Year winners who later were MVPs were Rod Carew, Thurman Munson and Jose Canseco. NL players who won both awards were Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Orlando Cepeda, Willie McCovey, Pete Rose, Dick Allen, Johnny Bench, Andre Dawson, Jeff Bagwell, Albert Pujols and Howard. Allen was Rookie of the Year in one league (NL) and MVP in another (AL). Frank Robinson was an MVP in both leagues.
A second baseman had not won the MVP Award in the AL since 1959 when Nellie Fox of the Chicago White Sox was honored. Pedroia is only the fourth AL second baseman and 10th overall to win. The other AL winners were the New York Yankees’ Joe Gordon in 1942 and the Detroit Tigers’ Charlie Gehringer in 1937. The award has been won by a second baseman in the NL six times, including two-time winner Joe Morgan of the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976. The others were the St. Louis Cardinals’ Frankie Frisch in 1931, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson in 1949, the Chicago Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg in 1984 and the San Francisco Giants’ Jeff Kent in 2000. No position has had fewer MVP winners.
Pedroia is the 10th Red Sox player honored and the first since first baseman Mo Vaughn in 1995. The others were left fielders Ted Williams (who won twice, in 1946 and 1949), Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 and Jim Rice in 1978, right fielder Jackie Jensen in 1958, pitcher Roger Clemens in 1986, first baseman Jimmie Foxx in 1938 (he also won twice with the Philadelphia Athletics, in 1932 and 1933) and Lynn in 1975. Since Vaughn’s victory 13 years ago, three Red Sox players finished second in the voting: shortstop Nomar Garciaparra in 1998, pitcher Pedro Martinez in 1999 and designated hitter David Ortiz in 2005.
Okay I’m over Tex but we need another bat preferably in CF.
Now that Pedroia has won. Does he start off his speach by saying “Id like to thank all the little people”?
“You’re ignoring that Pedroia is a second baseman. He does not have to be a league-leader in OPS to be MVP. He hit exceptionally well for his position.”
That’s what silver slugger awards are for. Position is only marginally involved in MVPs and when it is, it is strictly with regard to defense (C, SS, CF should be given priority).
MVP is what it says it is – most valuable player. not most valuable player with respect to the position they played.
Pedroia wins MVP, which only further goes to prove my point on Cano.
Probably just a conspiracy though.
Gammons must have bribed the rest of the writers.
I don’t like the garden gnome but he was the best player on his team this year and Morneau and the Twins didn’t make the playoffs. He deserved it.
“It should be Sizemore”
Not sur ePedroia was either, but Sizemore was not the MVP of his own team.
Boston Dave
Bunch o’ jerks on that team but yes, Youk & Pedo both played well. Too bad for the team the one guy who could/should have been the most valuable to them sandbagged it, faked injury, laid down when they really needed him and demanded to be traded yet again.
Bunch o’ jerks in the stands there too, but that’s another conversation altogether.
S.o.S.
November 18th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
GB,
Im going to run with something you said.
Who is the worst actor you have ever seen?
Mine goes to Keanu Reeves.
__________________________________________________________
Roy Rogers. He also ties with Dale Evans as the worst singer.
This was an easy decision for the writers.
The only people who are upset reside on this page..that should tell you something.
Is Pedroia the first MVP winner to reside in a petting zoo?
bdog,
“You contradicted yourself twice. By saying that position is important and making the playoffs are important yet Pujols deserved to win is quite interesting.”
Yes, position is important. So why does that mean I contradicted myself to say Pujols was a deserving MVP? Pujols was far and away the best hitter in the league and left everyone else in the dust. If a different AL player had a season as good as Pujols’ RELATIVE TO HIS POSITION, then that player would be deserving too. But there was no such player, so Pujols was an easy choice for MVP.
I never said making the playoffs was important to being an MVP. In fact I think it’s much the opposite, a player should not be penalized in the MVP vote because his team did not make the playoffs. What I said to you was that Pedroia should not be penalized for being “streaky” as you put it because he helped his team win, not lose.
By the way, I knew I should have looked up Pedroia’s monthly splits before responding to you the first time. Just like when you incorrectly wrote Pedroia didn’t lead the league in anything but runs, you were also wrong about Pedroia having a bad September. Pedroia had a .914 OPS September.
Boston Dave,
This really isn’t complicated. A player’s value as a hitter increases if he plays a tough position to field. If the best-hitting 2B in baseball is merely a great hitter relative to other 2Bs, then he wins a Silver Slugger. If he is a great hitter relative to all other players adjusted for position, he is an MVP candidate. Pedroia fits into the latter category.