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Tuesday's Story of the Day: Who's Your MVP?
Two days, two debates. There's nothing like an MVP award to get an argument going.
While the AL MVP was a classic two-way race between Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and Red Sox DH David Ortiz, the NL showdown featured three superstars in Cubs first baseman Derek Lee, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols and Braves outfielder Andruw Jones. Every player had a legitimate case for winning, but it was A-Rod's defense and Pujols' consistency that won over voters by the slimmest of margins.
As for SportsNation take, the baseball writers got it half right. Pujols was the majority pick in the NL but it was David Ortiz who had the fan vote in the AL.
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Who deserves to win the AL MVP? (91,137 votes)
55.0% David Ortiz
45.0% Alex Rodriguez
SportsNation's Show: AL MVP Chatter
Steve (Princeton, NJ): With today's vote just hours away from being announced, wouldn't you agree that if A-Rod played for Boston and Ortiz for New York we wouldn't even be arguing this race? The only way Alex could lose is due to his being disliked by the fans and media and because he's a Yankee.
Jerry Crasnick: No, it's a legitimately close vote. But with apologies to the people in Boston, I think A-Rod's two-way game puts him over the top. I just checked and A-Rod hit .317 with seven homers and 24 RBI in September, compared to .320-11-29 for Ortiz. I know Ortiz was tremendous in the clutch, but it's not as if A-Rod vanished down the stretch.
Click here for Crasnick's transcript
Voice of the Fan: AL MVP
The voters got one right. Good Job. End of story.
Kevin (VA)
A-Rod had the numbers, but Big Papi had the mojo when it counted. But that was ignored.
Tony (Burlington)
I'm glad A-Rod got it but it doesn't make me want to root for him. Until he delivers in the post season, he's just a vehicle to get my Yankees to the postseason. I'll have to rely on others once we get there.
Jason (Scarsdale NY)
Let's give the MVP award to someone that doesn't have the kind of support in the lineup like Rodriguez and Ortiz do. How about Vladimir Guerrero or Travis Hafner? I think they deserved it more because they don't have the supporting cast that Ortiz and A-Rod have. Did A-Rod and Ortiz have good years? Yes. Were they the most valuable to their team? No!
Andrew (Le Mars, IA)
So A-Rod wins another MVP, but still has exactly as many World Series rings as Charo. Hoochie Coochie, A-Rod, Hoochie Coochie.
Casey (Whitewater, WI)
All the MVP is anymore is a negotiating chip. Not that A-Rod needs to have his contract renegotiated.
Todd (Tucson)
MVP voters like pretty boys.
Kev Wash (Richmond, VA)
Annnnnnd another chapter in the rivalry is closed. What will they come up with next?
Cara (New York)
Click here for the full transcript of Dan Shanoff's Morning Quickie
More SportsNation: Pujols Wins NL MVP
Much like the AL MVP, the Nation was torn on who to award the NL honors. While Pujols and his bat were hard to overlook, fans made a convincing case for Andruw Jones who stepped up when his team was battling injuries and led his team to another division title.
Toss in a darkhorse candidate in Derrek Lee who had baseball purists salivating over the prospect of a Triple Crown winner and you've got one heck of a race. Over 200,000 citizens of SportsNation weighed in and gave Pujols the slight edge.
Who deserves to win the NL MVP? (233,003 votes)
44% - Albert Pujols
40% - Andruw Jones
16% - Derek Lee
SportsNation's Show: NL MVP Chatter
Luis (Caracas, Ven): Do you have your article ready about how Pujols was robbed of the MVP? Knowing the voters, I think Jones will win even though he doesn't deserve it.
Jayson Stark: That article isn't written yet, because I think Pujols is going to win. And he should win. And I'll say that no matter how it turns out. By the way, for all of you who think I hate their team because I thought someone else should have won one of the awards presented so far, take a long deep breath. If I really did hate all the teams people accuse me of hating, I'd hate all 30 and probably the Hiroshima Carp, too. It's just opinions, folks. You're allowed to have yours. I'm allowed to have mine. That's what makes sports, and the internet, great.
Click here for Stark's transcript
Voice of the Fan: NL MVP
I don't think after seeing the voters obviously lend so much credence to A-Rod's defense, that you don't factor in Andruw Jones' defense and give him the MVP, because batting average is his only real deficiency when compared to Pujols.
Andy (OH)
Andruw Jones hands down. It's not the batting title it's the MVP. He has about one-fifth the lineup of Pujols and plays ten times better defense.
Greg (Titletown)
Jones should win the award. I know Pujols may be the sexy vote because he could have won the last three, but Jones put the Baby Braves on his back and carried them to that division title. With Chipper Jones hurt and the pitching fairly ordinary this year, Jones got the job done. Pujols at least had some offensive help, albeit injured frequently, and a great pitching staff behind him.
Larry (Omaha)
The Braves were a .500 team and their best player (Chipper Jones) went down with a serious injury. Then Andrew Jones goes on a tear, single-handedly carries that team for the next two weeks, leads the Braves to the second best record in the NL, leads the league in home runs and plays gold glove defense. If that doesn't earn you the MVP, what does?
Rob (NY)
Pujols without question. The MVP in the entire LEAGUE! There is no player pitchers are more afraid to pitch to than him (besides Barry Bonds). This guy is nasty, and he is only 26!!!
Frankie (At work in the MVP winning Evil Empire)
Derrick Lee, because he led the triple crown for most of the season and had the Cubs thinking of the playoffs.
Brandon (VA)
Derrek Lee did nothing to lose the MVP, and Andruw Jones was great, but Albert Pujols deserves to finally get one. The guy does everything, and he does it every year. This coming from an Astros fan.
Frank (TX)
Click here for the full transcript of Dan Shanoff's Morning Quickie
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