Why Ortiz is AL MVP

By Seth Needle, Boston

David Ortiz deserves the American League Most Value Player Award. Period. Yes, Alex Rodriguez has incredible numbers, there's no denying that. But, as the title states, the award is for most VALUABLE player. As I write this response, Ortiz has three game-winning home runs in the last nine days. And not just any three games, three games in the home stretch of a pennant race, two against a team that the Red Sox have fared incredibly poorly against in the 2005 season.

I've heard the argument plenty of times. David Ortiz does not deserve the award because he is primarily a DH for the Red Sox. To me, this argument is absolutely ludicrous. Why should Ortiz's season be overlooked just because the Red Sox already have a (or even two or three) legitimate option(s) at first base?

In addition, defense is not an aspect highly rated when considering MVP candidates anyways. Andruw Jones has been arguably the best center fielder in the National League for the last couple years, yet his name has never been mentioned in any conversation until this year, when his power numbers are finally up. Instead, Barry Bonds has taken home the last four straight MVPs -- playing a very mediocre left field -- because his offensive numbers are mind-boggling. Ortiz himself put it perfectly -- if defense is so important, then why hasn't a gold glove winner hitting .230 ever won the award?

To overlook David Ortiz this season would be ridiculous. Last season, his contributions were overlooked as well, mainly because he split a lot of MVP votes with Manny Ramirez. Well in case you haven't noticed, Manny has not been Manny at all this season, going through several prolonged offensive slumps. But who was providing the power during those times? Yep, you guessed it. Big Papi. The Red Sox are threatening to become the first team in a long, long time to lead the majors in runs scored for three straight seasons.

Just checking, but how many years has Ortiz been with the Red Sox? Oh, right -- three. Ortiz lead the AL in home runs and RBIs, and hit .300. And is there a better time to be hot than in September? Ask Vladimir Guerrero, whose scorching September last year got his team into the playoffs (where who other than Papi beat them) and earned him the AL MVP. Ortiz has homered 16 times in his last 30 games. Not a bad September.

Again, the MVP is given to the most VALUABLE player. Take him away from the Red Sox this season and you would effectively eliminate any notion of a repeat. How valuable is David Ortiz to the Red Sox? Ask Scott Shields, or Josh Towers, or Pete Walker. Or B.J. Ryan, or Paul Quantrill, or Jarrod Washburn.

Why A-Rod is AL MVP

Jason Karmelek, Brighton

Alex Rodriguez is possibly the hardest player to like in all of baseball not named Barry Bonds.

Blessed with amazing skills, a tremendous contract, and the looks of that guy we all hated in high school who dated anyone he wanted and drove the cool car, he's easy to hate. Most people look at A-Rod and don't see a man, but a walking pile of cash who slaps the ball out of fielder's hands, wears designer sunglasses on the playing field, and carries himself like a man who knows he's good.

However, a player's personality is not what we're talking about here. Hate him or just dislike him, A-Rod is simply the best player in the league and the most valuable player there is. This does not mean Ortiz is not the most valuable player on the Red Sox, but look at the Yankees. Their pitching was atrocious and their offense alone kept them in it. And who has been their best offensive player? A-Rod.

With such a horrendous pitching staff, you could argue that defense becomes even more important, and who is their best fielder? A-Rod, and at one of the most important and difficult defensive positions. No doubt Ortiz has been more clutch, and while that is valuable, that alone does not make him the MOST valuable. Scoring the winning run in the third inning is really just as valuable as doing the same in the ninth, albeit less dramatic.

Many men much smarter than I have argued fairly successfully that being clutch is little more than luck, being in the right place at the right time. If you're an elite player, you're bound to deliver in a clutch spot at some point, some years more often than others. So, given their similar numbers and discounting the "clutch factor", we have a player whose only job is to hit, and who does it extremely well, versus a player who hits with similar results and who plays outstanding defense, and on top of that does so every day, and can even steal a base when asked.

Ortiz's statistics, personality, and flair for the dramatic make you want to pick him. Everyone likes the guy. I like the guy, and I'm a Yankees fan. The man ripped my heart out last year, threw it on the ground, stomped on it, picked it up and put it back in my chest just so he could do the same thing again, and I still like him.

But when you truly, objectively, look at the whole picture, Alex Rodriguez has got to be the Most Valuable Player.