[The Miz]

Originally Posted by BCWWF Don't look now, but if the Twins somehow can wind up in the playoffs then you would have to give Justin Morneau serious consideration for MVP. Justin Morneau: AVG: 310 (15) RBI: 77 (3) HR: 24 (6) OBP: 358 (30) SLG: 592 (8) Vernon Wells AVG: 313 (13) RBI: 72 (7) HR: 23 (9) OBP: 381 (17) SLG: 602 (6) Jim Thome AVG: 303 RBI: 80 (2) HR: 31 (2) R: OBP: 418 (6) SLG: 657 (2) David Ortiz AVG: 280 RBI: 90 (1) HR: 32 (1) OBP: 389 (11) SLG: 608 (5) Based on batting alone, Thome or Ortiz are easily the top guys in the AL. Going against them, neither of them play in the field. For Wells, he is one of the top AL batters, although not at the level of Ortiz and Thome, but he is a great defensive player as well. Morneau is right up there with Wells in terms of batting, which is impressive considering how bad he started off the year, and he is an average to above average fielder, but nothing special. It is kind of the "given" that it is between Ortiz and Thome, but really, why should it be? Neither of those teams has been overly impressive to this point. The Red Sox have an expensive offense and are barely winning their division. The White Sox came into the season with easily the top team in the league, and now they are four games off of the division leader. Right now, Morneau isn't a candidate and shouldn't be, but if the Twins make the playoffs then he definately should be considered (assuming he doesn't fall off). If the Red Sox make the playoffs, nobody will blink. They already had one of the top teams in the league, then go out and get Loretta, Lowell, Crisp, Beckett and a few more. They are expected to make the playoffs, but now it looks like they are going to stumble in. Basically the same story with the White Sox. If the Twins or Blue Jays make the playoffs, it will be overcoming tremendous odds and exceding just about all expectations. I would say a player leading a team like that with slightly lesser numbers is more deserving of the honor, especially if they are not a DH.

I think Ortiz is probably more valuable to his team than Thome. If Chicago didn´t have Thome, yeah their offense would downgrade, but by how much? They´d still have Konerko, Dye, Iguchi, Pierzynski etc. They might not be best in the league like they are currently but they´d be pretty damn good. If Boston didn´t have Ortiz, where the hell would they be? Manny would get walked 200 times and they´d have guys like Loretta and Lowell to carry their offense. Neither team has great pitching this year (What?? The five 20-game winner potentials aren´t great???) and have been carried by their offense. I think an Ortiz-less Boston might not be over .500 and a Thome-less Chicago would not be hit that significantly. That´s what I ask myself when voting MVP--which playoff team would be the most fucked with the loss of one player?

As far as Morneau goes, Santana, Nathan, and Liriano are more valuable to the Twins IMO.