The Jeter For 2009 A.L. MVP Question
There’s a few ways for a player to win a league MVP award. You can be among the three best batters in the league and play a key defensive position well – and win the award…even if your team stinks. See: Rodriquez, Alex, circa 2003. Or, you can be the best hitter in terms of HR and RBI on a semi-contending team in a major media market – and win the award. See, Mattingly, Don, circa 1985. Or, you can be the heart and soul of a team that wins a somewhat close race after having a terrible season the year before – and win the award. See: Gibson, Kirk, circa 1988.
Many like to say that Derek Jeter should be the A.L. MVP Award winner in 2009.
But, is Jeter among the three best batters in the league this season? Joe Mauer, Miguel Cabrera, Justin Morneau, Kevin Youkilis and Kendry Morales have better numbers than Jeter, don’t they? And, Mauer plays a key defensive position – like Jeter – no?
Is Jeter the best hitter in terms of HR and RBI on a semi-contending team in a major media market? Well, Derek does play in New York. But, on the Yankees, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez are the power poster-children…not Jeter.
Can you say that Jeter is the heart and soul of a team that will win a somewhat close race after having a terrible season the year before? Well, yes, you probably could make that case…and not break a sweat doing it. So, if Kirk Gibson can win a league MVP in 1988. And, if Terry Pendleton can be an league MVP in 1991. Why can’t Derek Jeter be a league MVP in 2009?
What do you think about this debate?
in a post that I had intended to make, but didn’t because I couldn’t figure out how to make a poll (i didn’t spend all that much time trying to figure it out to be honest) while you were gone, I had found an article on SI that said that theres only been 2 seasons ever in the history of major league baseball where a shortstop that was Jeter’s age or older hit .330 or above. Both seasons were turned in by hall of famer Honus Wagner during the year of 1909 and 1911. The record by Wagner was in 1909 when he hit .339. To me, this isn’t just an mvp season…this is an all time season.
My poll, had it been easy to implement, would have been pretty much what this post is getting at: Jeter for MVP? Yay or Nay. Me? He gets the nod from me, so far, this year. We’ll see how this last month shapes up.
there are at least a few other ways to win an mvp. and you certainly don’t have to be amongst the three best hitters in the league (see: pedroia, dustin in 2008).
really tough to call here. it’s a two horse race right now, but just like the things could change between those two (mauer and jeter), other people could get back in it in a big way. the AL has been that tight this year, there are a lot of good players having really good seasons. cabrera and teixeira in particular each at one point looked like the front runner. going to come right down to the end to what happens with teams/players.
i’ve had my my vote in for mauer for two months, but last week was the first i felt like it wasn’t a lock and jeter was really in it, and that feeling has only grown this week. it’s really going to come down to what they do the last 30 games. if mauer leads the AL in avg, obp, slg, and ops as a catcher, and has more rbi and homers than jeter, it’s tough not to vote for him. but jeter has been better for the last 2 months and change by a sizeable margin, and plays for a team that might win 20 more games than the twins. should be fun to watch.
My feeling on this has not changed. If Mauer continues to hit and play at the same level he is now, and the Twins stay in the Central race down to the last 5-10 days of the season, then he’s the MVP.
If he fades, or the Twins fade, then he’s not. Whether it’s then Jeter, Tex, Morales, or someone else…well, I guess I’d pick Jeter in that case.
Not that I’m not rooting for him; not that I don’t very much want to see Jeter win an MVP. Jeter’s had a brilliant season; a great season, a Hall of Fame level season. Mauer’s having an historic one, so far, and keeping a mediocre team in a pennant race they otherwise have no business being in.
So, it’s Mauer, unless he fades, or the Twins fade.
I have never cared who won the MVP award. If the Yankees win, then I am satisfied and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest if the writers pick a player on an also-ran team. If the Yankees lose, it would not mollify me to see a Yankee win the MVP.
Dustin Pedroia won the MVP when Morneau and Kevin Youkalis produced more runs, and they were 2nd and 3rd in the MVP voting, respectively.
If that little f*ckhead can win, then DJ deserves to win even more, just like he deserved to win in 1999 and 2006. It’s like Al Pacino winning the Oscar for a movie that was nowhere near as great as Dog Day Afternoon or The Godfather.
BTW, my rant was about if Jeter was worthy, which I (obviously) think he is worthy. But I agree with Evan, Mauer is having a great year and he’s very much deserving.
Corey wrote:
I totally agree with this statement and also feel Jeter is worthy of the MVP vote, but there are two things that are working against Jeter.
1 – Mauer is having an equally historic year for a catcher.
2 – Even historically great numbers for a SS are just really good numbers for a 1B/3B/Corner outfielder, and a lot of voters aren’t smart enough to take position into account.
2 -
Bold prediction – neither Teixeira nor Jeter will win the award.
Just looking at it electorally – you have to believe there are two blocs of voters – those predisposed to vote for a Yankee and those predisposed to vote for the best non-Yankee available, think of the last group as the anti-East Coast Bias crowd.
What is likely to happen is that Jeter and Teixeira will split the “Yankee vote,” while Mauer will carry the “anybody but” vote and win the award with a plurality, if not majority.
sean mcnally wrote:
Agree completely…although (no offense) I wouldn’t exactly call that a bold prediction
@ MJ:
MJ wrote:
Generally when someone declares they are making a bold prediction…. they probably aren’t.
sean mcnally wrote:
Touché.
sean mcnally wrote:
Sean, call me a bloody cynic BUT that pro-Mauer vote will overwhelm anyone who votes for Teix or St Derek. There seems to be such an anti-NY bias among those who pick MVP, that Mauer will get MVP by a clear margin( a decent sized majority). He clearly deserves the award and barring any unseen circumstances , Joe” Miracle Man” Mauer will be MVP……