The stupid thing about the MVP race is that half of it involves perception. Is his team good regardless of how he performed as an individual? Is he a clutch player based on stuff we think we've seen but might not actually know? Is he the type of baseball player worthy of the honor of being selected by us sportswriter types as the best in the game? Is he tall? Is he handsome? Etc, etc. These ridiculous perceptions are probably why -- despite what the fans think -- Dustin Pedroia will not win the MVP this season. Don't believe me? Just ask Ozzie Guillen, who called the smallish in stature second baseman a "g*dd*mn jockey".
''I never thought I was going to walk a goddamn jockey,'' Guillen said of the 5-7 Pedroia, a player he actually admires. ''Walking a guy who just came from being on top of Big Brown. Right now, he's on a roll. This guy right now is on fire. No matter what you throw up there, he's going to get it. I can't believe you can change professions in one year, go from the Kentucky Derby to the Boston Red Sox ballpark.''Now, in fairness to Ozzie, he then proceeded to discuss the fact that Pedroia was the heart and soul of Boston's team right now.
Pedroia has reached base in 10 consecutive plate appearances and became the first Red Sox player with four hits or more in consecutive games since Wade Boggs did it in June 1989.
When he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, Pedroia was met with cheers of ''MVP, MVP.''
But the fact remains that people view Pedroia as a talented player in the freaking David Eckstein scrap model. And that's gonna make it tough for him to pull MVP votes from sportswriters when especially if the Red Sox don't win their division or *gasp* make the playoffs.
Oh yes, and Ozzie Guillen is funny as hell, thanks for asking.
Update: I should probably point out (see below) that I do not think Dustin Pedroia is the top MVP candidate ... but I do think he is a candidate, one who's physical appearance will hamper his ability to win the award. And there's no way Josh Hamilton wins on the Rangers, regardless of how many RsBI he has.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-31-2008 @ 6:39PM
Scott said...
A .861 OPS, that's why.
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8-31-2008 @ 5:40PM
§ said...
Of course he won't win MVP this year... Josh Hamilton, Carlos Quentin or Jermaine Dye will win MVP this year.
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8-31-2008 @ 5:44PM
§ said...
add 'Justin Morneau' to "those more likely to win MVP"
8-31-2008 @ 9:05PM
Dave said...
No one in there right mind would ever listen to Ozzie the sunflower spitting no nothing......
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9-01-2008 @ 11:10AM
Wayne said...
Not making the playoffs didn't hurt ARod's MVP chances with Texas.
The MVP award has become a joke in the same way that the Academy Awards are. It's all about politics and lobbying for the award. The media are sheep.
Pedroia's defense is better than any of the other MVP candidates in the AL. David Ortiz has yet to win the award because he doesn't contribute defensively. Now that the Sox have a player who contributes defensively, his OPS isn't high enough.
Pedroia is a better all-around player than any of the other AL MVP candidates. Combining OBP, defensive, base running, and importance to team, Pedroia should have a legitimate shot.
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9-01-2008 @ 4:07PM
Dean said...
Wayne read what I wrote. I agree with you about Dustin Pedroia. I was thinking Kevin Youkilis up until about two weeks ago. Its not that he slumped, its just how awesome a player Pedroia is. He is the 2lst century "Charlie Hustle" and the "Toy Canon" combined.
Another factor that should be noted no one is having an out of sight season. The first place teams like Rays (have no super-star) but a lot of very good players having very good season, Not a lot of offense on the Angels,. White Sox have Quentin and Dye and Twins have Morneau and Mauer.
If Pedroia has a very good to excellent September and Red Sox win wild card (at least) he should be MVP.
Dean
9-01-2008 @ 4:07PM
Dean said...
First of all I believe Dustin Pedroia is the Red Sox MVP as of September 1st with Youlikis a very close second.
Lets see who the possible MVPs might be: C Quentin, JJ Mauer or J Morneau, A Rod. ( a no show in the clutch), Hamilton (great first half), Milton Bradley (career year on an also ran team) and I Kinsler from Texas, J Dye, Upton from Tampa Bay (but they have a lot of guys having good season no star), A Huff (a DH from Baltimore) also ran team, , Cabrara (from Detroit), Rodriguez closer for Angels, Lee starter for Indians, Nobody from Blue Jays, Mariners or A's,
Let's narrow it down to: Quentin, Dye, Pedroia, Rodriguez
Here's my ranking: 1. Pedroia, 2. Rodriguez, 3. Quentin, 4. Dye, 5. Youkilis (if I was allowed 5).
I will admit I have been a Red Sox fan for more than 50 years. OK go ahead and react.
Dean
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9-01-2008 @ 9:43PM
George said...
Ozzie Guillen better take his head out of his a**. Dustin Pedroia is the best dam ball player out there today. Is there anything that guy can't do? Dam he's a total ballplayer and if he's not the MVP, there is something very wrong in baseball.
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9-05-2008 @ 4:48PM
MArk said...
Ozzie's head was in exactly the right place... he was complimenting Dustin and commenting that he's short, making light of it... his comments should be taken as a compliment coming from a Hall of Famer.