Alright...Who Is YOUR AL MVP?

Like I said...I think the award should change it's name. I would have no problem naming a player like Adam Jones or Nick Markakis the Most Outstanding Player if they were in last place but were having the best season in the AL. But since Outstanding is changed for Valuable...this is my feeling.(And don't take that as a cheap shot to the Orioles...I was just talking about this season in general).

I agree to an extent. Damon has been outstanding for the Yanks this season. But he's had ups and downs at points this season. He gets time off against lefties from time to time. Jeter, on the other hand, has never really hit a funk, plays every day, is playing some of the best defense ever, and is, imo, the best offensive player on the team. But you would also have to make a case for Melky when it comes to the clutch catagory. He has been great this season in the 7th inning or later.

  Thats his fault that the Twins didnt spend 500m to get players? Mauer is the MVP hands down.

Quote Originally Posted by Fairweatherfan:

Everyone that says "Joe Mauer can't even get his team to play .500 ball" doesn't know shit about Joe Mauer.  There is absolutely nothing more he could do to help the team, HE IS HITTING .380 WITH 25 JACKS.  You are really going to try to compare Derek Jeter to that?

Mauer with RISP - .390 - Mauer with RISP with 2 outs?  .444

Jeter with RISP - .280 - Jeter with RISP with 2 outs? .290


So Sparky is arguing that a declining defensive player that hits over 100 points less with RISP, that plays in a homerun ballpark but still has 8 HRs less than a man who missed the first month, that hits over 50 points less OVERALL deserves the MVP more than the catcher with the far superior numbers.


Yeah, good luck with that one

You obviously didn't read my other threads. He is the BEST PLAYER IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE, which is why the "MVP" award should change it's title. Read post #63.

Don't forget Torri Hunter.

That's funny, cuz STL has no problem winning plenty of World Series. Small market and all.

Imagine how much better they might do if they added $120 million to their payroll like NY......or $45 million to compete with Boston.

Well said

 In that case, Boston has only won 2 WS in over an 80 plus year span. STL has won 10 in less of a span. Look at the Cubs and White Sox, big markets and 1 WS combined in 80 plus years.

The big market/small market thing really didn't take effect until the mid-90's with TV revenues playing such a huge role in team income.

I believe your point was that STL has been competitive and they have......but they are still not anywhere near a level playing field with the NY's and Boston's of the world.....

B.S.  It's about which team would win less games if the respective player was not on their team.

If team A wins 60 games without a player and 70 with...and team B wins 80 games without a player and 85 with, which player is most valuable?  The player on team A......which has a worse record.

Value is the difference between having and not having a player.  It has nothing to do with wins...people just default to wins because it's an objective measure in absense of knowing all the other information (how a team would perform with and without a player).  It's a cop out.  I don't know if I have an alternative, but saying the MVP has to come from a winning team is a joke. 

Is there a correlation?  Maybe.  But causation?  Not completely buying it.  It's a fall back position cuz no one has a better idea. 

Yeah, but Tampa has no problems competing with NY and Boston now, with a fraction of the payroll.

And that's the problem....it's wrong and it needs to be changed. Just because something is wrong and has been for years doesn't mean it doesn't need to be changed. The Heisman Trophy has the same problem right now. It can only go to the best player (typically a QB) off the best team. It's ridiculous. Value to a team is not determined solely by how many wins that team has. Baseball isn't an individual sport and shouldn't be treated as such.

What if Mauer hits .400 with 40 HR's? He shouldn't just be "given consideration" he should win. This isn't close. Mauer is the "best player" in the American League and the "Most Valuable" player in the American League. Oh, and the guy is a damn good defensive catcher to boot.

Would the  Twins trade Mauer straight up for Jeter?  HELL NO!

Would the Yanks trade Jeter straight up for Mauer? HELL YES!

They competed with them for one year.......this year they are contending, but not seriously in my opinion. Do you think the Rays will be competing in 5 years? 10 years? I guarantee the Yanks will be. When you can pay what they pay in payroll it is a lock they will compete. That's why baseball is not as popular as it once was.

Well a good majority of their talent is locked up for years to come. Not to mention their farm system to second to none. So yes, they will compete for the next 5 to 10 years without a doubt. New management has really turned this team around for the future.

We'll see......it'll be interesting and I hope you're right.