AL MVP
THE FAVORITES
Francisco Rodriguez, Angels: K-Rod has had a hand -- or, rather, a right arm -- in two out of every three Angels wins. His record-approaching saves total isn't the result of greater use -- he appeared in a similar number of games in each of the prior four seasons. Rather, as manager Mike Scioscia has pointed out, it is owed to the amazing number of situations begging for his specialty that have presented themselves.
Rodriguez's response to those repeated challenges is in the numbers. The Angels have won 55 games by one or two runs; K-Rod has saved 47 of them, and picked up the victory in two others. No one else in the league, obviously, has directly affected as many team wins. By definition, no one else has been as valuable.
Josh Hamilton, Rangers: He has brought a smile to everyone's face and six weeks ago would have been excused for working on his acceptance speech. He was still on a better-than-an-RBI-a-game pace, the main man behind the resurgent Rangers, rallying them from the worst 24-game start in club history.
Both man and team have since been yanked down to earth -- in Hamilton's case, the attrition of a long season not surprising on someone who for years had played no ball while tackling bigger foes. "My toes don't hurt," he said the other day, focusing on the bright side.
In 41 games since July 26, Hamilton has driven in only 21 runs. But, given his head start, he still leads the league in RBIs, and could yet rally to also take the home run crown. So even if he no longer is the MVP-elect, he remains a hot candidate.
THE CONTENDERS
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: If you tune into Red Sox Nation, you quickly get the idea that the little second baseman is the citizenry's choice as the team nominee. Every Boston surge has paralleled his streaks, which tend to be white-hot.
For instance: Pedroia went 21-for-34 (a .618 average) from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3 while Boston was going 6-2 to stay on the Rays' heels. He has scored 112 runs -- 30 more than any teammate -- which doesn't come as a surprise considering he reached base 243 times through 141 games. And he is in the driver's seat to cop the batting title, which could clinch it.
Justin Morneau, Twins: Belying his team's name, Morneau has been virtually an only child in Minnesota's offense. His 119 RBIs are 46 more than any teammate's, and he also has 25 percent of the banjo-hitting lineup's home runs.
Morneau is duplicating the numbers that did earn him the 2006 MVP Award. There is one significant difference between the seasons, however: Two years ago, he was surrounded by Torii Hunter and a healthy Michael Cuddyer, protection he didn't have this time. Makes this season even more impressive.
THE DARK HORSES
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: Youkilis will be Boston's third different RBI leader in three seasons (following Mike Lowell and David Ortiz), a testament to the team's balance. If intangibles entered the formula, his intensity would gain him extra votes. But the numbers themselves aren't glossy enough to swing the election in his favor.
Carlos Quentin, White Sox: One of the early front-runners finds himself in an odd situation, due to the self-inflicted wrist fracture borne of an instant of pique. If the White Sox hold onto the AL Central lead without Quentin, would that devalue his impact? So his best chance at MVP would come from the Sox fading without his bat -- but who would want that?
HONORABLE MENTION Grady Sizemore, Indians; Alex Rodriguez, Yankees; Joe Nathan, Twins; Vladimir Guerrero, Angels.
THE FAVORITES
Francisco Rodriguez, Angels: K-Rod has had a hand -- or, rather, a right arm -- in two out of every three Angels wins. His record-approaching saves total isn't the result of greater use -- he appeared in a similar number of games in each of the prior four seasons. Rather, as manager Mike Scioscia has pointed out, it is owed to the amazing number of situations begging for his specialty that have presented themselves.
Rodriguez's response to those repeated challenges is in the numbers. The Angels have won 55 games by one or two runs; K-Rod has saved 47 of them, and picked up the victory in two others. No one else in the league, obviously, has directly affected as many team wins. By definition, no one else has been as valuable.
Josh Hamilton, Rangers: He has brought a smile to everyone's face and six weeks ago would have been excused for working on his acceptance speech. He was still on a better-than-an-RBI-a-game pace, the main man behind the resurgent Rangers, rallying them from the worst 24-game start in club history.
Both man and team have since been yanked down to earth -- in Hamilton's case, the attrition of a long season not surprising on someone who for years had played no ball while tackling bigger foes. "My toes don't hurt," he said the other day, focusing on the bright side.
In 41 games since July 26, Hamilton has driven in only 21 runs. But, given his head start, he still leads the league in RBIs, and could yet rally to also take the home run crown. So even if he no longer is the MVP-elect, he remains a hot candidate.
THE CONTENDERS
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: If you tune into Red Sox Nation, you quickly get the idea that the little second baseman is the citizenry's choice as the team nominee. Every Boston surge has paralleled his streaks, which tend to be white-hot.
For instance: Pedroia went 21-for-34 (a .618 average) from Aug. 27 to Sept. 3 while Boston was going 6-2 to stay on the Rays' heels. He has scored 112 runs -- 30 more than any teammate -- which doesn't come as a surprise considering he reached base 243 times through 141 games. And he is in the driver's seat to cop the batting title, which could clinch it.
Justin Morneau, Twins: Belying his team's name, Morneau has been virtually an only child in Minnesota's offense. His 119 RBIs are 46 more than any teammate's, and he also has 25 percent of the banjo-hitting lineup's home runs.
Morneau is duplicating the numbers that did earn him the 2006 MVP Award. There is one significant difference between the seasons, however: Two years ago, he was surrounded by Torii Hunter and a healthy Michael Cuddyer, protection he didn't have this time. Makes this season even more impressive.
THE DARK HORSES
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: Youkilis will be Boston's third different RBI leader in three seasons (following Mike Lowell and David Ortiz), a testament to the team's balance. If intangibles entered the formula, his intensity would gain him extra votes. But the numbers themselves aren't glossy enough to swing the election in his favor.
Carlos Quentin, White Sox: One of the early front-runners finds himself in an odd situation, due to the self-inflicted wrist fracture borne of an instant of pique. If the White Sox hold onto the AL Central lead without Quentin, would that devalue his impact? So his best chance at MVP would come from the Sox fading without his bat -- but who would want that?
HONORABLE MENTION Grady Sizemore, Indians; Alex Rodriguez, Yankees; Joe Nathan, Twins; Vladimir Guerrero, Angels.