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This reporter's first-half MVP

Email|Link|Comments (4) Posted by Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff July 13, 2008 02:14 PM

We had a pre-game discussion on NESN on whom the league MVP would be at this juncture.

My vote would be Josh Hamilton. At .314, 21 homers and 95 RBIs, it's hard to imagine anyone else. You like to pick an MVP on a contender, but Texas started the day three games over .500 and still has to be considered in the race. Ian Kinsler is certainly a consideration with his league-leading .333 average. Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Manny Ramirez would be the Sox choices. A-Rod is a Yankee candidate.

As for Sox MVP, I'll go with Pedroia. I think he's the heart and soul of the team. He ignites rallies, and has had some big hits consistently through the first half of the season.

While there's a lot of sentiment for Toronto's Roy Halladay to start the All-Star Game for the AL, you could certainly make a case for Cliff Lee with 12 wins on a bad team and Justin Duchscherer, who leads the AL in ERA and has 10 wins. Halladay is a favorite of many players who admire his grit and determination.

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4 comments so far...

Did Pedroia just tie the Red Sox record for hits before the All Star break?

Posted by Tommy Ryan July 13, 08 02:40 PM

wow... no love for Drew...

Posted by Simonus July 13, 08 02:43 PM

If you had to wager on one pitcher to win one regular season game, you would choose Halladay. If you had to wager on a closer, you would choose Mariano Rivera. Some other guys are having good years, but they don't have the consistent excellence (including this half year) that these two guys have demonstrated.

Posted by dd lang July 13, 08 05:26 PM

With all due respect, Nick, it is absurd that you would not name J.D. Drew in your list of Red Sox 1st Half MVPs. Drew is by far the MVP for this team, but I can give you Pedroia. But I have to question what team you're watching if you actually think that Ramirez and Youkilis have been more important to this team during the first half of the season.

In 81 games entering today, Drew has 63 runs scored, 17 HR, 55 RBI, 52 BB, .304 BA and a projected UZR of 19, with the league position at RF at 4. And he has a .984 OPS, which means he's probably one of the Top 5 to 10 hitters in all of MLB this season. And he plays a terrific RF.

Did he deny you an interview request? Ask your friend J.P. if he'd rather have J.D. or Vernon Wells.

Posted by Genco July 13, 08 08:10 PM