Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff
News Flash: Justin Morneau edges Derek Jeter to win the American League’s Most Valuable player award in an extremely close vote. The Red Sox David Ortiz finishes 3rd in the balloting.
Teddy’s Take: What’s the definition of valuable?
That’s the central argument that goes into almost every MVP ballot, and the reason we spend so much time debating these silly awards. There is no clear cut answer to that question, which is how I think Major League Baseball likes it. Rather than call it the Most Outstanding Player Award (that would be easier to agree on), they insert the word valuable and all hell breaks loose.
Red Sox fans were already up in arms knowing full well Big Papi was likely going to finish behind Jeter. Just imagine the reaction in
Forget Morneau’s gaudy 34-homers and 130-ribbies for a moment. Think back to July and August when the Twins made their improbable rise from below .500 to AL Central champs. Morneau supplied clutch hit after clutch hit, more than even our beloved Papi. For a while there, it seemed like every night featured a SportsCenter clip of
Now ask yourself this; would the Twins have won their division without Morneau? The obvious answer to that is no. Would the Yankees have won the AL East without Jeter? Maybe, maybe not…lord knows there’s enough talent there anyway. Would the Sox have finished 3rd in the East without Ortiz? Of course they would have. That's my definition of valuable. As far as I’m concerned, end of discussion!
Now if you want to get me going on Jeter stealing the Gold Glove from Alex Gonzalez, be my guest!
What did you think of the MVP voting? Agree or disagree? How about the NL MVP (Ryan Howard), Cy Young (Johan Santana and Brandon Webb), and Rookie of the Year (Justin Verlander and Hanley Ramirez)?
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