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AL MVP
I'm a baseball fan. Have been since I was about four and my Dad tossed me a tennis ball to hit and I lined a shot off his forehead. Specifically, I'm a National League fan. Have been since 1955 when Johnny Podres won Game 7 of the World Series for the Brooklyn Dodgers and my grandfather dressed up like a Brooklyn Bum and spent a few happy days walking the streets of Plattsburgh and Rouses Point.
But I do follow the American League, mostly for the fun of cheering against the Yankees, and for the pleasure I get cutting off John Sterling on the radio in the middle of his "The Yankees Win! Theeeeeeeeeeee Yankees Win!" routine.
An interesting debate has come up as to who should be the American League's Most Valuable Player. Most baseball analysts throw four players into the mix: Jermaine Dye of the Chicago White Sox, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox.
Now the casual fans may not have even heard of Dye and Morneau. Both are having their best seasons and making major headlines for the first time. Jeter and Ortiz are familiar names, mostly because they are veteran players and they compete against each other in that great Yankees-Red Sox rivalry which gets featured on national television every series.
With about two weeks remaining in the 2006 season here are the players' vital stats:
Dye - .323 batting average, 41 home runs, 114 RBI, 94 runs scored, 160 hits
Jeter - .345 batting average, 13 home runs, 92 RBI, 104 runs scored, 193 hits
Morneau - .325 batting average, 33 home runs, 120 RBI, 85 runs scored, 169 hits
Ortiz - .283 batting average, 48 home runs, 127 RBI, 103 runs scored, 145 hits
Now you have to remember the Most Valuable Player Award implies that you were valuable to your team in helping them win games, reach post-season and move on to the World Series. It's not called the Best Player Award or the Biggest Numbers Award. On that alone I give Ortiz the quick boot because the Red Sox won't get to post-season play this year. I don't care if he hits 60 home runs, it's no Big Pappi after October 1st. The White Sox and Twins are in the wild card battle at this point, so they may get extra play in October.
Both players are about 20 points behind Jeter in the batting average category, but both, being power hitters, far outnumber Jeter in the home run category. If you add up ribbies and runs scored for the remaining three, they all come out about even, especially considering that Jeter usually bats second and the other pair bat further down with more RBI opportunities.
Jeter has many more hits, but I'd rather look at the stat for hitting with runners in scoring position. Did you come up with the big hit or not? Jeter is hitting an incredible .396 with runners at second and/or third. Dye is a dandy .356 and Morneau is at .333. In case you are wondering, Ortiz hits .291 with runners in scoring position thus far this season.
Plus, Jeter plays a skill position, shortstop. Dye patrols the outfield and Morneau plays first base. If you didn't get my drift yet, I say Derek Jeter should be the American League's MVP. As a Yankee hater since '55 it isn't easy to admit. I have never liked Derek Jeter. He always had that little grin, even when he got called out on strikes or booted a grounder, as if he knew that it was really somebody else's fault.
Oh, my Mom loves Derek Jeter. She has his picture on the wall next to her computer. Goose loves Derek Jeter. Goose says that Jeter grin is because he just always enjoys playing baseball. I suppose I'd grin a little too if about five thousand girls showed up at my work wishing they could date me, and screamed at me, "Oh, Foxy, Foxy!"
But I've watched Jeter play many games on that darn YES Network. And, time after time this season, when I'd be cheering for him to strike out, he'd bloop a single to right field or foul off fifteen pitches and then kiss a line drive up the middle to give the Yankees the lead. And he'd be on first base with that little grin, while I reached for the remote to shut the game off.
You heard it here first, folks. The American League's Most Valuable Player is Derek Jeter. Jeter Wins! Jeeeeeeeeeeter Wins!
Comments
Hi Foxy enjoy the stories and the warm memories it brings back to the special times and days thatare long gone by in Plattsburgh! Lenny Smallacombe
Posted by: Lenny Smallacombe | October 2, 2006 2:04 PM
Foxy, I know that picking Jeter (because he is a Yankee) is difficult for you. As a true baseball fan you know that he is the mvp. I agree Ortiz has the numbers but it is very easy to walk back to the dugout and sit on the bench... not be a position player. Hope the bloody's are okay... as you know I retired about six weeks ago. Go Yanks
(Foxy's note: Great to hear from Karyn, one of the North Country's greatest Yankee fans. And the best maker of Bloody Marys in the North Country as well. Wish I'd been there on your final night to get your last Bloody Mary!)
Posted by: Karyn | September 15, 2006 10:06 PM
Foxy, I know you are such the Jeter hater, but it's great of you to think he should be the American League MVP. I know that many people don't like the Yankees for many reasons, most of all because, their infamous owner "buys" a potential winner. But look at Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter, both who came up through their farm system. Many critics thought Jeter would be one of the greats, even as a rookie in 1996. Lets face it Foxy, if Derek Jeter was wearing Dodger Blue, you would know why he has that smirk on his face. Single, rich, and loves playing baseball!!!!
I think Joe Mauer should be in the MVP hunt as well. Lets face it, up until Yesterday he held the batting title all season, and plays catcher, which is probably the toughest position on the field, with all the nicks he gets during the season, behind the plate. The way the Twins have been playing, they may become the AL Central Division winners, and unless they fall apart in the next couple of weeks a cinch to win the AL wildcard. Most people other than people who live in Twins Territory, don't realize that nearly half of the starting staff have been called up from Triple A Rochester, over the last few months, including 4 pitchers, who are keeping them in the hunt.
(Foxy's note: Great points about the Twins and Mauer. On my fantasy baseball team I went from Piazza for many years to Mauer. Not a bad replacement, huh?)
Posted by: Steve Peryer | September 15, 2006 8:01 AM