al mvp race

didn't want to interrupt the flow on the rice discussion on the endless baseball thread so i started anew.

been hearing plenty lately how the amazing joe mauer is the front-runner, to which i ask, "why?" yes, his batting average is extraordinary. but his power numbers -- homers, doubles, rbi -- are certainly solid but nothing extraordinary.

most importantly, to me, is he's on a third-place team with little shot at the playoffs. when did the standing of your team lose its importance in mvp voting?

yes, i realize there have been several exceptions, most recently when a-rod won the mvp in texas when they sucked but his power numbers were ridiculous.

i have plenty of love for mauer, believe me. he's a marvelous young hitter and an excellent catcher as well, a rare combo. but given his team's standing, i don't see where his year demands mvp attention.

am i wrong? ??? ??? ???

 

If we insist on not giving the MVP to non-playoff teams, we shouldn't give it to teams who cruise to the playoffs either. It would have to be the best player on the team who made the playoffs by the narrowest margin.

 

Jeter will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award MVP.

 

Mauer's home run total might not lead the league, but you have to consider A) he hasn't played the entire season and B) for a guy who had never hit more than 13 homers in a season, he's doing pretty well for himself.

Edited for clarity

 

Sorry, Rick, but that is insane.

 

It seemed to me Rick was being facetious.

 

I think Teixeira will take to many of his votes.

 

i'd have less of an issue with that than mauer getting it. although i disagree that a player on a team that "cruises" should not get it. it is entirely possible that one player on that team could have been the reason the team eventually "cruised," i'd argue.

again, it's the old semantics debate. i like my most "valuable" player to be a guy largely responsible for his team winning something.

a-rod, when he won that year in texas, would not have received my vote, either. he may have been the "player of the year," perhaps. as mauer might be this year, though i'm still not convinced.

a-rod put up huge numbers in a totally pressure-free environment, when everyone seems to acknowledge he's at his best.

i'm not saying mauer is the same, just that "valuable" is the word that hangs me up.

 

no question. but still not mvp numbers anywhere across the board except b.a.

 

If guy leads the league in OPS (which Mauer is running away with I think), then he is deserving as anyone.

 

why?