al mvp race

That's because MLB specifically did away with them in the late 1980s. (Remember the GW-RBI stat that used to appear on the backs of Topps cards? Nobody keeps that stat anymore.)

There was never a consensus on what a "game-winning" RBI was. Was it the RBI groundout in the first inning of a 5-0 game? Was it the three-run homer that gave a team a 5-2 lead it didn't relinquish in an 8-6 win -- or was it whoever drove in the 7th run, like a GWG in hockey?

Baseball-Reference, as usual, does a better job breaking down the splits you're looking for: there's a category for "late and close," another for "tie game," another for "1-run difference," etc.

Here's Mauer's: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=mauerjo01&year=2009&t=b#clutc
(In "late and close" situations, he's hitting .322/.437/.492, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 7 K in 71 plate appearances.)

Here's Tex's: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=teixema01&year=2009&t=b#clutc
(In "late and close" situations, he's hitting .282/.350/.592, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 8 BB, 16 K in 80 plate appearances.)

 

That's kind of what I was looking for, the "late and close" stat.

 

Mark Teixeira? Seriously? People are making cases for Mark Teixeira?

 

I'm not really on that boat. But people here seem to like him for MVP, so I tossed out a few stats.

 

There is no earthly reason why Teixeira should be in the top three, never mind the winner.

Mauer
Morales
Jeter/M. Young

 

OK, fair enough, they aren't bad, but with 31 homers, I hope you score 80 runs. And the OBP is OK, but balance it with 89 Ks (to 51 for Mauer), and then throw in the fact that Mauer's OBP is 60 points higher, and, well, there simply is no comparison.

You are right that those numbers are all good. They just don't compare to Mauer's.

 

Yeah but Mauer would have whiffed 38 times in April.

 

strikeouts aren't worse than other outs. *ducks*

 

Agreed. Just saying his numbers are as good as any of the other contenders, including the guys on his own team.

 

Tell all the teams that traded Soriano that.

 

Both of them?

Soriano's problem in his career hasn't been too many strikeouts. It's been too many outs. (and bad defense, and a bad attitude, and deteriorating legs).

 

My vote would be for Miguel Cabrera.