Waiting for Manny

sporting goods

So we've played 70% of the season now - who is the AL MVP? To narrow it down, let's arbitrarily make some cuts:

If you are not in the top 10 of either runs created, or runs created per 27 outs, then you are out. If you are a pitcher, then, you are obviously out. There is just no way any AL pitcher is deserving of MVP consideration this year. If your team is not .500, then you are out. There are years I would argue this shouldn't matter, but with some genuine stars around right now, I'll say that it does.

So who does that leave?

-Sheffield
-Ramirez
-Rodriguez
-Ortiz
-Damon
-Hafner
-Giambi
-Guerrerro

The .500 rule eliminated Roberts, Teixeira, Sexson, Crawford, and Tejada. I can live with that - they can make the top 10, but not the top 3.

OK, next cut. If you are not the best DH on the list, or arguably the best player on your team, then you cannot be considered. Goodbye Giambi, Hafner, and Damon.

That leaves Sheffield, A-Rod, Ramirez, Ortiz, and Guerrero. So who will win?

Voter version: Sheffield won't win because of his attitude, and he should have won last year and didn't, so forget it. It's harder to win your second award (ask Giambi), so goodbye Vlad. Voters won't vote en masse for a DH, so out goes Ortiz. Manny or A-Rod? Well, if the season ended today, the 17 RBI and 5.5 games in the standings would lead everyone to vote for Manny.

But I'm not convinced. When I look at how bad the Yankees pitching has been, the fact that they are where they are is due to their hitting. And to me, it's all about Gary Sheffield. He leads the league in Runs Created, Runs Created per 27 outs, Average with runners in scoring position, cheesy mustaches, and ridiculous statements. So I would fill out my non-existent ballot like this:

1. Gary Sheffield
2. Manny Ramirez
3. David Ortiz
4. Alex Rodriguez
5. Brian Roberts
6. Johnny Damon

How's that for an east coast bias??? If Vlad doesn't win, it will be the first time since 1995 that a player from the AL East won.