I don’t know about Williams but certainly Yaz’s 1967 has to be one of the best clutch performances–especially down the stretch and even in the Series–that any player has ever given any team. That’s a tough call to make on Ortiz yet. But if it came from the front office, hey, you can see why they’d say such a thing.

I want ARod to win. But Ortiz’s production in the clutch is way better than ARod’s. I can’t believe how Verducci would put that stat there and say how much better ARod is because of his higher OBP. I still think ARod will win and should win the MVP, but Verducci is seriously sipping out of the bong water for trying to defend how ARod is better and putting that stat there.

well said, Raf.

Hey, Ortiz is having another terrific year. He’s a great hitter, dominating the strike zone and coming up with clutch hit after clutch hit.

But Rodriguez beats him for the MVP by a mile this year, for all the reasons Verducci cites. I really hope he wins it, Yanks’ finish notwithstanding.

Tom Verducci… SI.

Toilet paper, or fishwrap?

jen (and Verducci) are both right – don’t play the field, no MVP.

I’d say a DH could win the MVP only if he’s so amazingly better than everyone else, that not playing the field doesn’t matter. Imagine Bonds circa ’01-’04 in the AL as a DH.

Ortiz (.295/.395/.594) is not amazingly better than A-Rod (.319/.418/.600) – in fact, he’s arguably less better given A-Rod’s higher OBP.

A-Rod wins.

//That should be a big point when it comes down to picking the AL MVP this season.//

That, and Papi only plays half the game. The award is most valuable player, not just hitter.