Youkilis...or Pedroia...??

[Fried Neckbones]

It's a weird MVP race, that's for sure. Seems like all the playoff contenders have multiple options, with no clear-cut head and shoulders above the rest players. Quentin's injury could tip it to Dye if the White Sox stay in it late, don't forget about Morneau if the Twins make a run at it (his stats, especially the traditional power numbers voters like are way above the rest of the Twins), and then there is the potential just because he set a record and his team is kicking ass candidate: K-Rod. And of course, if Dustin keeps playing like he has been and the Sox can overtake the Rays, I think he has a legit shot too.

 

Gonna be an interesting September.

[CrespoBlows]

http://ballhype.com/video/dustin_pedroia_rips_jerry_remy/

[landia]

MVP considerations assuming a Sox postseason birth? Discuss.

 

I wish Pedroia will be MVP,because he always give me a surprise.

The day before yester day,Red sox would lose the game without pedroia.

GO GO GO Pedroia!MVP!!!

[TheKilo]

http://ballhype.com/video/dustin_pedroia_rips_jerry_remy/

 

LOL

[bostonsports17]

Dustin Pedroia.....why?? Quentin is likely out for the season and I didn't think he was gonna get it in the first place...Pedroia is your MVP AL 2008

[JShramek]

How awesome would it be if Pedroia gets it!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheKilo]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dowling25]

I think Pedroia should be the league MVP over Quentin. That is not just cause i'm a Sox fan I think he has better stats imo.

[VA Sox Fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3611226

 

AL MVP: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox

 

There's no set formula for what an MVP ought to look like. But I can guarantee you one thing: There has never been an MVP who looked like the Red Sox's favorite mini-mite. I mean, how tall is Dustin Pedroia, anyhow? "I don't know," laughed teammate Sean Casey. "Maybe 5-3? 5-5? 5-6? I don't know. But he plays like he's 6-5, 250."

 

Well, whatever you measure this guy at (and officially, he's, ahem, 5-foot-9), he has been a larger-than-life figure for a team that sure needed him. Pedroia could still lead the league in hits, runs, doubles and batting. He could become the shortest batting champ since Snuffy Stirnweiss (5-8) in 1945. And that's not all. Would you believe this man has mashed more extra-base hits than either Josh Hamilton or Miguel Cabrera? And batted .374 since June 14? All true.

 

The Elias Sports Bureau reports that Pedroia's 43 hits and 33 runs in 26 games in August marked the first month that any player has accumulated those numbers in that few games since Lou Gehrig's 48-hit, 35-run June in 1936. When the Red Sox needed Pedroia to hit cleanup for four games, he did that (going 12 for 18, with two homers, four doubles and a 1.222 slugging percentage). When they needed him to steal a base, he did that (20 for 21).

 

He's an energizer. He's a great defender. He's a leader. "Every night," Casey said, "you know Dustin Pedroia will do something to help you win a ball game."

 

Sure sounds like an MVP to me -- although just barely over Justin Morneau.

 

Apologies to: Morneau, Carlos Quentin, Kevin Youkilis, Joe Mauer, Vladimir Guerrero, Grady Sizemore, Hamilton, Evan Longoria, Francisco Rodriguez, Mauer.

[Gom]

I don't think it's even a question, fellas. Morneau is singularly the most important player on any team. The Twins aren't even in the race if not for Morneau.

 

This is not a knock on Pedroia, who makes the most of his talent and then some. He is nowhere near as valuable to his team as Morneau is to his team.

 

I also picked Morneau over Jeter in Jeter's near MVP season. You like to think that that "scrappy" player makes a difference, and he does, but it's like comparing apples to oranges.

 

Jeter's 2006 Stats:

.343 BA .417 OBP .483 SLG 34 SB

Pedroia 2008 Stats:

.325 BA .375 OBP .493 SLG 20 SB

 

Jeter didn't deserve to win [his stats are better than Pedroia's] over 2006 Morneau. Pedroia stats aren't as good [neither are Morneau's], but Morneau deserves it again.

 

That said, hats off to a great season by Pedroia. This puts to bed the debate as to who's better, Dustin or Cano. He's better than Cano in every single facet of the game.

[Cocos Disciples]

Morneau definitely didn't deserve it in 2006, but he'll probably get it this year.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Youkilis should be the MVP...he's having a better year than Morneau, and Pedroia.

[Soxfan1]

Fourth prize -- From Jay Leno, on the New York financial crisis:

 

"AIG has assets over $1 trillion. … Has anybody ever had $1 trillion and still failed? OK, besides the New York Yankees."

 

 

[TheKilo]

Gom - Explain to me why Morneau is the MVP.

[Cocos Disciples]

Just looked at the numbers. While I still think Morneau will win, I give a modest edge to Pedroia.

 

.325/.375/.493, 17 HR, 83 RBI, 20 SB, 61.9 VORP

.304/.376/.507, 23 HR, 129 RBI, 0 SB, 47.3 VORP

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Why isn't anyone paying attention to Youk...

 

.315/.392/.573, 29 HR, 115 RBI, 56.9 VORP

.304/.376/.507, 23 HR, 129 RBI, 47.3 VORP

.325/.375/.493, 17 HR, 83 RBI, 20 SB, 61.9 VORP

 

That's Youk-Morneau-Pedroia, and yes, Coco, I jacked your s***.

[TheKilo]

Pedroia has a better VORP as a 2B. That's why.

 

Out of Youk and Morneau, you clearly take Youk, but I'll take Pedroia's out of the three.

 

You can make the case for Mauer over Pedroia, but Pedroia has more than 100 more ABs than Mauer, which is the reason I'd choose him.

[TheKilo]

Like 2006, Morneau isn't even the MVP on his own team!

 

Why is everyone getting moist over an offensive season first basemen have all the f***ing time?

[Gom]

Gom - Explain to me why Morneau is the MVP.

I categorize MVP as the "Most Valuable Player". The one player from which a team owes the greatest amount of it's success to in getting to the post-season.

 

I do not believe that an MVP should come from a last-place team ala Andre Dawson. Although Pujols has the best numbers in the National League, I would give the award to Ryan Howard, whose solid bat and torrid September propelled the Phillies to the NL East crown.

 

That said, who is really more valuable to his team?

 

Pedroia or Morneau? Well, Morneau is the only power threat on his team. I give more value to RBI's than Runs. So do most of the writers who decide the award. Even giving Pedroia the added weight of Runs over RBIs, Morneau had more RBI's than Pedroia had runs, and he had less RBIs than Morneau had runs.

 

The edge goes to Pedroia in the field, and on the bases, but I really believe that the Red Sox make the playoffs without Pedroia, and the Twins don't even come close without Morneau.

[TheKilo]

I categorize MVP as the "Most Valuable Player". The one player from which a team owes the greatest amount of it's success to in getting to the post-season.

 

I do not believe that an MVP should come from a last-place team ala Andre Dawson. Although Pujols has the best numbers in the National League, I would give the award to Ryan Howard, whose solid bat and torrid September propelled the Phillies to the NL East crown.

 

That said, who is really more valuable to his team?

 

Pedroia or Morneau? Well, Morneau is the only power threat on his team. I give more value to RBI's than Runs. So do most of the writers who decide the award. Even giving Pedroia the added weight of Runs over RBIs, Morneau had more RBI's than Pedroia had runs, and he had less RBIs than Morneau had runs.

 

The edge goes to Pedroia in the field, and on the bases, but I really believe that the Red Sox make the playoffs without Pedroia, and the Twins don't even come close without Morneau.

 

The reason Morneau has so many runs is because the guys in front of him are getting on base (Joe Mauer). Mauer is the best offensive player on that team. No question. Morneau's had a nice season - it's not an MVP caliber season though.

 

Your last sentences - you basically say Pedroia is a comparable offensive but better defensive and baserunning player than Morneau, you still think Morneau is the MVP. Also, please keep in mind that Pedroia is a 2B and Morneau is a 1B.

 

Completely illogical.

 

Jeter should have won in 2006, too.

 

PS Pujols is the NL MVP and it's not really close.