Posted on 09/11/2006 5:45:59 PM PDT by nickcarraway
David Ortiz, the American League leader in home runs and RBI, says Boston's fall from the American League playoff race should not disqualify him from the race for the AL's Most Valuable Player award.
David Ortiz Designated Httr Boston Red Sox
Profile 2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R OBP AVG 133 48 127 103 .402 .288
But Ortiz told reporters after the Red Sox's 9-3 win over the Royals on Sunday that he thinks that's what's going to happen.
"I'll tell you one thing," Ortiz said. "If I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBI [which would give him 137], that's going to be a round number that no one else in the American League will have."
"But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse. They're talking about [Derek] Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, he's having a great season, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ball club, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games.
"Don't get me wrong -- he's a great player, having a great season, but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup," Ortiz continued. "Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be."
Ortiz said if he had a vote, he might cast it for Jermaine Dye or Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox, or Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins.
"All depends on who makes the playoffs," he said. "Dye is having an unbelievable season, an incredible year. Konerko, too.
"Morneau, he's having a great season, but in Minnesota, there's no publicity. I bet you nobody knows who he is."
Ortiz also noted that Alex Rodriguez won the MVP in 2003, despite the fact his Texas Rangers finished last in the AL West. That season, A-Rod hit .298 with 47 home runs and 118 RBI.
"I'm right there," he said, "but I'm not going to win it. They give it to [Rodriguez] one year, even though his team was in last place, so now they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it. They gave it to Alex that year because of his numbers. But they always have a reason to vote for whatever, so that's why I don't worry about it."
Not because they lack talented players, though.
Joe Mauer is the AL MVP this year. No one else is even close.
Strike one. . . . Boston is a middle-of-the-pack team this year, out of contention.
Designated Httr. . . .
Strike two. . . . A DH should NEVER win MVP--UNLESS he's light years ahead of the pack. BUT . . .
Jeter . . . He's done a great job, he's having a great season. . . . Dye is having an unbelievable season, an incredible year. . . . Morneau, he's having a great season. . . .
Stee-rike three! You're out, Manny Ortez!
My top three for AL MVP at this point:
1) Jermaine Dye
2) Derek Jeter
3) Joe Mauer
NL MVP: 1) Ryan Howard, 2) Albert Pujols, 3) Carlos Beltran
The guy plays half the game.
I think the DH is a terrible rule and that's why I don't pay attention to the AL.
What are your numbers on DEFENSE, Mr. DH Half-a-ballplayer?
Hmmm, I guess it's just me, but I think the story here is that he slighted his teammates.
A-Fraud definately did not deserve that MVP. Early in the year when the Rangers really needed him, he batted around .200 with Runners In Scoring Position. Sure his numbers improved as the season wore on, but by then the Rangers were long out of it.
The guy plays half the game.
What do you think about Santana getting MVP this year?
There was a year, 95 or 96 that I thought Greg Maddux deserved the MVP.
For a pitcher to win it, they would have to have an extraordinarily great year...but I would generally shy away from giving it to a pitcher.
I don't like the AL so I haven't been following it that closely, so I don't know who deserves the MVP (But I know it isn't the guy who doesn't ever play in the field.)
You know it is a tough call for me. The red sox would have been out of contention in may if it were not for ortiz. DH winning mvp is a tough call. Ortiz is undoubtedly the best clutch hitter in baseball right now. I obviously am a big fan of david. But I would understand him not getting mvp. That said if anyone has made a case for a dh mvp it is ortiz
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