Alex Rodriguez wins AL MVP

[riverside sluggers]

A-Rod named American League MVP

Yankees third baseman edges Boston's David Ortiz for honor

By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com

 

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez may not yet have any World Series rings to show for his remarkable career, but the Yankees' third baseman picked up his second American League Most Valuable Player Award on Monday.

Rodriguez beat out David Ortiz, Boston's larger-than-life designated hitter, who finished a close second in the vote. Rodriguez earned 16 first-place votes and 331 points, while Ortiz received 11 first-place votes and 307 points. Los Angeles' Vladimir Guerrero received the other first-place vote, finishing third. Boston's Manny Ramirez and Cleveland's Travis Hafner rounded out the top five.

 

Rodriguez got 11 second-place votes and one third, while Ortiz was listed second on 17 ballots. A-Rod's numbers were hard to argue with: a .321 average, 130 RBIs and an AL-leading 48 home runs. Considering Ortiz's final stats (.299-47-148), a case could have been made for either candidate, but Rodriguez's stellar play at third base likely pushed him over the top, as Ortiz's status as a DH hurt him with some voters. Votes were cast before the postseason, which was good news for both A-Rod and Big Papi, who may have watched Chicago's Paul Konerko vault himself to the top in that scenario. Rodriguez went 2-for-15 in the Yankees' ALDS loss to the Angels, while Ortiz had just one RBI as the Red Sox were swept out of the playoffs by the White Sox in the opening round.

 

The fact that the Yankees overtook the Red Sox to win their eighth consecutive AL East title probably didn't hurt Rodriguez, either. In the clincher, which came on the penultimate day of the regular season, A-Rod went 4-for-5 with a home run in the Yankees' 8-4 victory at Fenway Park. A-Rod ranked in the top five in the AL in homers (first), RBIs (fourth), batting average (second), runs (first), slugging percentage (first), OPS (first), on-base percentage (second) and walks (third). He even added 21 stolen bases, which was ninth best in the league.

 

Rodriguez's award is the 19th in Yankees history, the most of any franchise. He is the first Yankee to win the MVP Award since Don Mattingly captured it in 1985. Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle won three MVPs apiece, while Roger Maris won two. Other Yankees winners were Lou Gehrig, Joe Gordon, Spud Chandler, Phil Rizzuto, Elston Howard and Thurman Munson. Rodriguez became the 23rd multiple MVP winner and only the fourth to win at two positions and with two clubs. He was a shortstop with the Rangers when he was the AL MVP in 2003.

 

Rodriguez has also been the runner-up twice, in 2002 with Texas to Oakland's Miguel Tejada and in 1996 with Seattle to Texas' Juan Gonzalez. Ortiz's supporters pointed to his numbers in "close and late" situations, which are defined by at-bats in the seventh inning or later with the team either ahead by one run, tied or with the potential tying run at least on deck. In 78 such at-bats, Ortiz hit .346 (27-for-78) with 11 home runs, 33 RBIs and a .447 on-base percentage. But A-Rod posted respectable numbers in those situations, too, hitting .293 (22-for-75) with four home runs, 12 RBIs and a .418 on-base percentage.

 

Rodriguez, who took a lot of heat in 2004 for hitting just .248 with runners in scoring position -- including a .206 mark with RISP and two outs -- made up for it this season. With runners in scoring position, Rodriguez hit .290, including a .302 average with two outs. Rodriguez, who set an AL mark for most home runs by a third baseman, also set a new club standard for right-handed hitters with his 48 homers, breaking DiMaggio's 68-year-old mark of 47. DiMaggio's 1937 season had been the only one in which a right-handed hitter hit more than 40 home runs for the Bombers.

 

Of those 48 long balls, 26 of them came at Yankee Stadium, as A-Rod shattered the previous team mark of 19 home runs hit by a right-hander in the Bronx. The mark had been held by DiMaggio ('37) and Gary Sheffield (2004). Rodriguez also became the youngest player in baseball history to reach 400 home runs, hitting his milestone shot on June 8 in Milwaukee. Rodriguez hit 409 homers before his 30th birthday, eclipsing the mark of his former teammate, Ken Griffey Jr., who hit 398 homers before turning 30.

 

If Ortiz was really cast off due that his main position is a DH, then the MLB really doesnt know or care how great of a player he is...

[Moose]

Let the arguments begin.

 

EDIT: Goddamn, 3 threads already.Too bad, I can't delete my thread. Somebody delete this.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Enjoy your individual achievments...you still don't have a ring.

[CalvnHobs6]

1. Alex Rodriguez - 331 votes (16 1st place)

2. David Ortiz - 307 (11 1st place)

3. Vladdy Guerrero - 196 (1 1st place)

4. Manny Ramirez

 

Congrats to A-Rod, shoulda been papi, but oh well, so it goes.

[CalvnHobs6]

There were three threads created within seconds of one another. I merged them all together.

[BoSox84]

Why am I not surprised. nevermind A-Job got most of his numbers when his team was leading while Papi produced in the clutch.

[CalvnHobs6]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2223736

[Moose]

All I can say is this is much more deserving than his '03 award. Therefore, he should have 1 MVP award, not 2.

[riverside sluggers]

if Ortiz was cast off aside because of mainly he "is just" a DH. People who voted really dont know or care of how a great player he is and carried the team on his back in 2005.

 

For the Yankees it wasnt Arod who brought the team to the playoffs, if not for Small and Chacon, the Sox wouldve won the East by a not small margin.

[yankeessuck013]

Enjoy your individual achievments...you still don't have a ring.

 

exactly

[yankeessuck013]

http://cache.boston.com/images/bostondirtdogs//ring_ortiz_150.jpg

 

http://www.seventh-inning-stretch.com/images/2k4-ws-photos/ortiz-ring.jpg

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

lol you Red Sox fans sound bitter. The bottomline is this award is based on the regular season and despite what you guys say A-Rod had better numbers and his team won the division and on the day they clinched the division he went 4-5 with a HR. Congrats A-Rod on your MVP lets get that ring next season.

[riverside sluggers]

cuz arod never chokes when it comes to the late innings and playoffs

[User Name]

This is the biggest hock of ********, ever. It appears nobody cares that if Alex Rodriguez wasn't on the Yankees, that they'd still be a respectable ball culb, and that cannot be said for the Red Sox after losing David Ortiz.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

If you guys think the Yankees would have made the playoffs without 48 HR's and 130 RBI's out of 3rd base then your morons. This idea that it was all Chacon and Small is BS. Yes they were a major part of it BUT at the end of the day it WAS A TEAM EFFORT. It wasnt just Small or Chacon or Wang or A-Rod or Mo or Jeter or Giambi it was all of them.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

This is the biggest hock of ********, ever. It appears nobody cares that if Alex Rodriguez wasn't on the Yankees, that they'd still be a respectable ball culb, and that cannot be said for the Red Sox after losing David Ortiz.

True because the Red Sox dont have one of the best right handed hitters of all time hitting behind him or an all-star catcher or an all-star CF. Please the Red Sox arent the Royals. Lets be real here folks.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

cuz arod never chokes when it comes to the late innings and playoffs

Ortiz really had an amazing playoffs this year. The results showed(3 game sweepage).

[ksushi]

Yeah, I personally don't think A-rod really embodies the idea of the MVP. Sure throw numbers at me all day, but at the end of a day, to me at least, it really comes down to how tough a competitor he is, and how dependent his team is on him. A-rod isn't even the MVP of his team, Derek Jeter is, or Mariano Rivera. Without A-rod that team is still a force, with out Derek or Mariano, the team would not have finished in first place and would not have been so much of a force. Thats my two sense, tear it apart if you want, cause I'm sure its flawed but thats how I think. I'm old school when it comes to this stuff. Its all about winning with MVP, how much your team needs you, how much better you make the guys around you and how much you contribute to the teams success. I just think that A-rod isn't a good MVP.

 

I recognize he had awesome stats, and he is the fantasy MVP, I would take Ortiz on my team over A-rod anyday of the week and I'd even stick him at first base. Oh well, life goes on. To be honest though, if I had a vote it would go to Mariano Rivera, if you're going to tear me apart for this at least don't call me a homer.

[riverside sluggers]

Ortiz really had an amazing playoffs this year. The results showed(3 game sweepage).

 

okkk, it was the pitching not ortiz that lost the series but if you want stats...

 

Alex Rodriguez: 2 for 15 (.133 avg) Double, no RBIs, 6 walks, 5 Ks, 1 for 2 SBs (defining moment grounded into a double play top of the 9th inning in game 5)--Had 2 costly errors as well

 

David Ortiz: 4 for 12 (.333 avg) 2 Doubles, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 Ks

 

hmmm

[yankeessuck013]

okkk, it was the pitching not ortiz that lost the series but if you want stats...

 

Alex Rodriguez: 2 for 15 (.133 avg) Double, 6 walks, 5 Ks, 1 for 2 SBs (defining moment grounded into a double play top of the 9th inning in game 5)

 

David Ortiz: 4 for 12 (.333 avg) 2 Doubles, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 Ks

 

hmmm

 

OWNED.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

okkk

 

Alex Rodriguez: 2 for 15 (.133 avg) Double, 6 walks, 5 Ks, 1 for 2 SBs

 

David Ortiz: 4 for 12 (.333 avg) 2 Doubles, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 3 Ks

 

hmmm

If we go by your logic Ortiz choked. 3 Game sweepage. Despite the media's hunger for blood the Yankees didnt lose only because of A-Rod. If RJ does his f***ing job we are facing the White Sox. BTW I remeber there were situations in which Ortiz could have gotten a big hit in that series and he didnt get it done.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

OWNED.

How is that owned(which is one of the dumbiest things I've ever heard)? 4 hits in a 3 game sweep doesnt get it done. ooo 1 hit per game. Congrats

[yankeessuck013]

True because the Red Sox dont have one of the best right handed hitters of all time hitting behind him or an all-star catcher or an all-star CF. Please the Red Sox arent the Royals. Lets be real here folks.

 

3 years before ortiz. no playoffs. time to stop talkin outta your ass

[riverside sluggers]

How is that owned(which is one of the dumbiest things I've ever heard)? 4 hits in a 3 game sweep doesnt get it done. ooo 1 hit per game. Congrats

 

but arod is off the hook for having 2 hits in 5 games? explain please

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

3 years before ortiz. no playoffs. time to stop talkin outta your ass

what are you talking about? Lets compare the teams dumbass

 

C- Red Sox

1b-Yankees

2b-Yankees

SS-Yankees

3B- Yankees

LF- Red Sox

RF-Yankees

CF-Red Sox

DH- Red Sox

 

WOW The Yankees hold an amazing 5-4 position edge. Please shut up with the if the Red Sox didnt have Ortiz they would stink. I'm tried of it. Its a crock of s*** and we all know it. BTW it also helps to have one of the great pitchers of all time in Pedro in your roto, Curt Schilling and a once great bullpen with Timlin, Foulke and Embree.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

but arod is off the hook for having 2 hits in 5 games? explain please

Intresting I never said A-Rod was off the hook but there is this idea out there that Ortiz had an amzing post-season when he didnt. Too bad the MVP award has nothing to do with the postseason otherwise you guys would have an arguement in the first place

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

I'm not taking anything away from Ortiz but A-Rod had a better year. Its just that simple. Too bad you cant use the 2005 postseason as a point of refrence otherwise you would have an argument.

[yeszir]

I'd still rather have Papi on my team.

[yankeessuck013]

I'd still rather have Papi on my team.

 

word holmes

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I'm not taking anything away for Ortiz but A-Rod had a better year. Its just that simple. Too bad you cant use the 2005 postseason as a point of refrence otherwise you would have an argument.

 

Dude you should realize you will not win this. You just won't no matter how hard you try...you wanna hear what a Red Sox fan from NY has to say about it....well here I go....

 

We can go by the numbers, we can go by the team wins, we can do whatever but when its all said and done both players are about even on every level. They are both all-stars and great players but here is what makes David Ortiz an MVP. Everyone loves the guy...he makes everyone else around him better. I have never, NOT ONCE, heard a bad remark pointed toward David Ortiz. Everyone wants to talk about Manny protecting him in the lineup....EVERY coach talks about how they don't want to let ORTIZ beat them. The only other players in the Major Leagues I hear talks like that are about Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds....A-Rods name never comes up in those discussions. I talk to lots of baseball fans cause you can imagine there aren't a ton of Boston fans out here. I hear lots of hatred toward A-Rod. He isn't a team player, the lockroom doesn't like him, the coaches don't like him....believe it cause its true. There is a reason the team chemistry in NY is so bad...the players don't like him and the fans can't make up there mind about him.

 

....ask who you would would rather have on there team and who you would want to build around: David Ortiz