Take your pick -- Pedroia or Youk for MVP?

I'd have to go with Pedroia - but that's not taking anything away from Youk, he was incredible. One "stretch" a season does not make, but it can define a season and when Pedroia hit clean-up for those 4 or 5 games and went 12 for 18 and essentially said, 'Hop on boys' I think that is when he got a lot of National attention and he really never let up. He had one cold stretch early on where his average dropped around .260 (maybe in May, early June?) but he was the most consistent player on that team. J.D. owned June, Youk had the 2nd half but I think Pedroia was the best all year.

It's close but it's Youkilis. His versatility in the lineup. His versatility in the field. His consistency from Game 1. His OPS. I love Pedroia. But if they were both FAs Youk would get more $$$ because he just brings more to the table.

MVP? Most Vaulable Pinhead ~ Manny.

Dustin Pedroia all the way! Youk is wonderful but there is something about the spark from Pedroia that seems to make things happen. And we all love rooting for the little guy with the big heart.

Youkilis, on the basis of the fact that he played all-star defense at two positions, otherwise, I don't see how you pick between him and Pedroia.

I'm going with Pedroia, but the versatility that Youk showed is, as you mentioned, understated. I'm hoping they both win it with a Tie, but think it's Pedroia. I'm interested in seeing if the split the Boston vote...

Youk. The fact he smacked Manny around in the dugout was the turning point in getting Manny out of the clubhouse. Youk spoke for all of the players when he put Manny in his place. On and off the field he was the MVP - but Dustin was a very close 2nd.

Justin Morneau will win the AL MVP. Guaranteed.

It's Youk. Pedroia is great and can the team excited and he is the "wonder puppy" but Youk has versatility in where he bats, where he can play in the infield, and the outfield, when called upon.

And...theo's tool (I don't even want to consider what that means) you need to get over it already!

Pedroia is the MVP and it isnt even close. His intensity, leadership and poise at such a young age is impressive. Remember back in April of 07 we are ready to throw him under the bus. What a turn around. That 10 game strech when we were in houston where he hit i think

You can't use the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger to make the case for MVP for Pedroia if those awards are given out after the MVP voting, no?

Homers. Just like Yankees fans rooting every year for Pay-Wad.

How about both of them?? How about a tie????

Sadly, it's a moot point. The two will split the "hometown advantage" and allow a third horse to win by a neck. My prediction is 1. Morneay, 2. Pedroia, 3. Youkilis, 4. KRod, 5. Manny (just kidding..)

it would be hard to just pick one but i would say that pedoria is the MVP because of the way he just hits hits hits hits and don't forget his clutch defensive skills.. and i wouldn't mind seeing pedroia hitting cleanup every now and then lol he did do pretty damn well

I love Pedey, but I'm not prepared to give any more MVP consideration based on "a good story" about a scrappy little guy. Also, an 18 AB streak is pretty minimal... Ryan Howard had a Babe-Ruthian final month and he's getting no chance in the NL. It's got to be Youkilis given his offensive numbers for the whole season plus his incredible Gold Glove flexibility that allowed them to absorb the loss of Lowell.

Pedroia is a rock star but in the end, Youk's defensive versatility in the field gives him the nod. Gold Club caliber first baseman and third baseman.

Very tough call but I go with Pedroia. To me it came down to that 6 week stretch right after the All-Star break. He had 12 games in a 20 game stretch with 3 or more hits. He hit everything, including outs, so hard. I don't recall a player being that hot for that long. Add that to the nearly flawless defense, SB's , clutch hits and he's my choice in a very close battle with Youk.

Pedroia he makes em go

I'm on the Youk bandwagon. His postion versatility clinches it for me. Both players have great stats in different categories. Youk's numbers in various RISP categories put him over the top.

My concern is that Youkilis and Pedroia will split the vote and a third player will get in.

My pick would be Youk!
his versatility, intensity and leadership is unmatched in all of MLB.
I just hope one of them gets it, not Quentin, who I think will win it.
History shows me the writers have problems voting for Red Sox players for these type of awards (Beckett, Papi, Vaughn among others)...
good luck guys!!

pedroia all the way!

Youk deserves it more.

We are the luckiest team in the world to have this tough choice! I have to go with Pedey this year. Youk is amazing as well. Both these guys give 110% of every game they play.

Youkilis gets my vote. The value of him being able to step in at 3rd seamlessly is simply impossible to overstate.

With everything being equel(argue whatever equel would be in categories).

Pedroia scored 118 runs to Youkilis' 91, a margin of 27. Youkilis had 115 RBIs to Pedroia's 83, a difference of 32. Pedroia outhit Youkilis by .014 points, .326 to .312. Youkilis had an identical edge in on-base percentage, .390 to .376

Would have to go with Youkilis, due to movement in the batting order in the lineup 2-6, and in the field 1st to 3rd, adding on top of that the errorless streak at 1st base.

Pedroia previous awards(ROY, GG, SS) and stats cannot be ignored, but disagree with him being the underdog. Youkilis did it without the attention, day in day out getting the job done. Youkilis MVP just my two cents.

It's something to be said for Athlete's Performance Center in Arizona, when you think that Youk, Pedroia and Manny all trained there in the off season last year. Each one of them had incredible seasons and durability that lasted the whole year. I hope both Youk and Pedroia go back and take Jacoby and Lowery with them.

My heart is with Pedroia, but my head says Youk was more valuable --- due to his versatitlity and prowess at 2 positions. But I can't diagree with any of the above posts.

Youkilis, for not only his versatility in the order and Gold Glove play at two critical positions but also for his filling in for the team's MVP last year (Lowell). Pedroia may - may - be a better all-around player, but that's not what the MVP award is about.

Yooooouuuuuukk!

It's hard to pick one, but I think you have to go with Youkilis. The award is for the most valuable player - being able to play multiple infield positions at a high level, and bat well anywhere in the lineup is extremely valuable. Pedroia moved around in the lineup as well, and is as good as you can be defensively. But Youk also has the power numbers.

Youkilis. More power. More RBI. More Walks. Able to play 2 different positions. Can hit anywhere in the lineup.

Statwise, I'm going with Pedey. His VORP of 62.3 is in the Top 3 (4 spots higher than Youk's 55.8), with the other 2 being on non-contending teams. Dustin also has 100 more PA's than Kevin, which should not go unnoticed. Youk was versatile whereas Pedey was steady.

2008 AL MVP goes to Pedroukilis..no question about it!

Pedroia, but only because Youk failed to advance a runner in critical situations several times. For example: runner on second, no one out, late inning, one-run game. Every player on the team should be able to move the runner to third. Hit a grounder to the right side of the infield or lay down a bunt. but Youk seemed to be just swinging away and grounding to the left side of the infield. If that's what the bench signaled him to do, then I take it all back, but it seems like something an MVP should be able to do most of the time.

Clearly Pedroia -

DEBATE OVER !!!!

Manny should get it for his first half efforts

As much as I love Pedroia and his enormous heart, gotta go with Youk. He played all star defense at two positions and still produced great numbers offensively.

Youk cause he can play 1, 3, SS & catch, even RF. Very valuable!

I think Pedroia should win the MVP but I also thought Jeter would win it a few years ago. He got robbed because they wanted to give it to the power hitter, here are the numbers...

Jeter (in 2006)- .343 with a .417 OBP, 14 homers, 97 RBI's, 214 hits, 118 runs scored and 34 steals.

Pedroia (in 2008)- .326 with a .376 OBP, 17 homers, 83 RBI's, 213 hits, 118 runs scored and 20 steals.

Morneau had a slightly better season in 2006 when he beat out Jeter for MVP then he did this year but if you look at those numbers Jeter was better then Pedroia. They don't always get it right and I fear they will mess it up again this year.

Youkilis deserves it more than anyone else including that great little 2nd baseman

gotta be the youkahhhhhhhhh

Pedroia... Its not as close as people think. You take away Perdioa and no one can step in to do even close to what he did. Take Youk away and I dont think it has the same impact considering Pedrioas ability to anchor the two hole and leadoff postions! Dont get me wrong, we all love Youk, but Pedrioa is just an animal......

Pedroia... Its not as close as people think. You take away Perdioa and no one can step in to do even close to what he did. Take Youk away and I dont think it has the same impact considering Pedrioas ability to anchor the two hole and leadoff postions! Dont get me wrong, we all love Youk, but Pedrioa is just an animal......

Wow, it's like asking to pick your favorite Seinfeld episode (which happens to be the one featuring Keith Hernandez). It is the true toss-ups of toss ups, but I'll have to give my nod to Youkilis because of the versatility factor of moving from first to third to ease the loss of Lowell.

To me the numbers battle is close, both between the two Sox and those two and the others. But the difference to me is an intangible one. Kevin Youkilis stood up to Manny Ramirez, a future first ballot Hall-of-Famer, arguing with him in the dugout on at least one occasion prior to Manny being traded into (inexplicably) the NL MVP race. Following the trade, the Red Sox won games at a ten percent higher rate, and scored about a run more per game. Certainly the way Pedroia filled in for Manny in the fourth hole served as a reminder to the rest of the country what RSN already knew, that we got a stud at 2B for the next several years, but in a game that plays almost every day for more than six months, being a leader counts for a lot, and Youkilis's guts earned him the award. (Quick footnote, how come nobody's mentioning Jason Bay's name? Obviously, knowledgable baseball fans recognize that you can't win an MVP in a third of a year, but that's not stopping a large percentage of the "punditry" at ESPN from championing the cause of TWO such NL candidates. So much for the Nor'eastern bias!!)

What a good problem to have...trying to decide which of your two players deserve the MVP more.

If someone said in the preseason that the Red Sox would have 2 MVP candidates how many people would've picked Youks and Pedroia? Its great having two home grown talents who play the game the way its supposed to be played. Two athletes you can tell kids its ok to look up to because of their hustle and determination. Thank you Kevin and Dustin!

Enjoyed your article -
Still getting used to the "new" numbers; question (typo ?) on Youks numbers
"(.390), third in slugging (.569), and fourth in OPS (.958)."
Should .390 +.569 = .959 = OPS

Youk. He very obviously gave up a second Gold Glove to move over and cover third.

As much as I love Pedroia, I've got to give it to Youk based on his ability to play two positions and excel defensively at both along with his ability to bat anywhere in the line up.
He eliminated the second half slides that have plagued him in the past and added the dimension of power and run production to his collection of skills.
He stayed healthy enough to remain in the line up while continuing to get on base and making himself a tough out.
What's the guy gotta do to get some well-earned respect, cure cancer, fix the financial crisis and bring about World Peace?!!
If he cured cancer, people would dis him for hurting Jimmy Fund contributions.
I mean, c'mon! Give Youk his props.

For the first time in the history of the Sox an actual dilemma! I can make a case for each of them,both are superior defensive players,both batted in the clean-up spot and were successfull,but in the end its going to be Youkilis in my mind for having to put up with the insulence of Manny.He kept the concept of team first when it would have been easier to lash out at the weasel. I could just has easily give the award to Dustin just based on heart,I think his career is just going to be off the charts. Good luck to both of them and oh don't worry the yankees press won't vote for either of them.

YOUK!!! I mean come on -they could've asked him to bat anywhere in the line up, play first, second, third and serve you a hot dog -and do it to perfection. He did three of the five in flawless fashion anyway....

Arod.

May the shorter man win!

YOOOOOUUUUUK!!!!

I'd go with Pedroia. He had killer hot streaks that tore teams up and generated wins. Plus he finished so strong. It's hard to believe Varitek was outhitting him in late May. They sure went different directions.

I don't think it really matters who you think is 'better' or who had the better season between Pedro and Youk.... The two are so evenly matched that it wil surely split the vote; Neither is going to get the award. If I had a vote: I'd go with Youkilis. During the period Ortiz was down and manny MIA, it was Youk that truely carried the team. People forget that Pedroia also had a slow start of things this year where as Youkilis was wire to wire solid if not dominant at the plate. Considering the results in the post season as well, Youkilis gets the nod as well. Pedroia while having decent at bats, didnt' get the results or the numbers when things mattered in the second season. So while Pedroia and his diminuitive stature make his season the better story, Youkilis's stats make him the better player.

If it can't be a "dead-heat", must agree with Bob L and T Boston.... Batting skills and fielding skills are SO close.. it's the EXCELLENCE in VERSATILITY Kevin Youkilis brings to the table, which translates into the most compelling definition of VALUE.

MVP= Most Valuable Pedroia!!

Well, with all of this, neither one of them will probably win because even though Boston would only have two vote, I bet that they are splitting the rest of the votes and whoever would have been third will win. Those of us who have watched too much American Idol are well aware of this.

Pedroia....

Here's to Boston Fans nullifying themselves out!

Morneau for MVP!

never mind this b.s. talk!!!!!!..lets get some info from the bos globe sox writers on who we are signing!!!!!!!!..thats what concerns me--not some stupid award who no player gives a hoot about!!!!..just ask them...all they are concerned about is that MULA..baby..dineros...bling bling...they could care less about a stupid award---so red sox writers--lets get with the program...ARE WE GETTING TEX?????....except for amailie(and her thongs)..I dont care much for the others--mazz, was good witht he herald and on NE sports tonight--but has since , dropped a notch...BRING BACK GORDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..I see he works for yahoo sports night...that stinks...he was awesome!!!..a class act!!!.........peeeeeeeeeeeeeace out

Don't get me wrong, I love our guys, but someone please tell me why Joe Mauer isn't the most deserving - I know, chicks and MVP voters dig the long ball, right? - but when was the last time you saw a catcher win a batting title and a gold glove in the same year. Add a .400 OBP and his grit and leadership on an over-achieving team that nearly made the playoffs despite having traded away the best pitcher in the game and I think it's a clear choice. Morneau wouldn't have all those RBI's if Mauer wasn't smacking doubles and drawing walks ahead of him.

As much as I love Pedroia, I think him getting the Gold Glove was his consolation prize. Either way, I love having two AL MVP Candidates on the right side of the infield, but since Youk played first and third with great consistency and avoided the second half slump he's been known for I'm going with Yooooooooooouk.

Boston fans are idiots. What did Youkilis stand up to Manny about? Do any of you know?
Do any of you watch the rest of the league, either? Did any of you know the year Magglio Ordonez had? Or Joe Mauer? Or Josh Hamilton?

Or even the fact that A-Rod missed twenty five games, and still had better stats?

As to Manny, go ahead and say that he wouldn't have mattered. The reason we didn't have a third WS is because of the guy that ACTUALLY quit on the team--Theo

didn't have a third WS

According to Boras, the MVP (on incidentals) is Varitek.

It will be only the 2nd tie in MVP voting history. Youkilis and Pedroia both take home the MVP trophy!

Either one I would be happy

Pedey, man. The kids got all five tools honed and ready for more!

Pedroia is having an awesome start to his career and Youkilus plays both bases well, If you go by the numbers.....PEDRROIA hands down MVP!

This is like picking which one of your children you love more. Of course, most of us on here love em both. Id go with Youk just based on power numbers and over all body of work. But if its not one of these guys and instead goes to Morneau or Hamilton I may vomit in my cereal tomorrow.

Soooo Close and A very tough call, but in the end I would have to go with Youkilis, he produced wherever the Sox put him, clean up, 2nd, 3rd base, 1st base. Pedey would be my 2nd place though.

It's a toss-up between lugo and timlin, each special in their own way...

Dustin Pedroia deserves the MVP. Youkilis deserves the RAT of the year award. When he realized management was loosing patience with Manny, and that his own value was growing by the game, he decided to push Manny's button, and divide the team.
He's a goody two shoes rat type, who will destroy this team.

While both guys' numbers are fantastic, Youk is MVP by virtue of 2 things: (1) taking over the cleanup spot once Manny was traded, and (2) moving to 3rd when Lowell was injured. Both Manny's trade and Lowell's injury could have doomed the Sox. But because of the way Youk stepped up and delivered in both cases - in addition to his intensity, consistency, and lteam-eading HRs and RBIs - he is the MOST VALUABLE player..

Morneau was in good shape but choked in September when his team need him the most:

September totals: 2 HR 21 RBI .243 BA .298 SLUGGING.398 OBP

He was particularly futile in the last week, as I recall (he was on my fantasy team).

Dustin Pedroia deserves the MVP. Youkilis deserves the RAT of the year award. When he realized management was loosing patience with Manny, and that his own value was growing by the game, he decided to push Manny's button, and divide the team.
He's a goody two shoes rat type, who will destroy this team.

Pedroia in a tough decision over Youk. He did it from April-September with no prolonged slump. He played a gold glove level second base and he even excelled at the cleanup spot. He was the catalyst for the team the entire year.

Youkilis. More true power than Pedroia while just as good defensively.

I'll take Youk. He plays 1st, 3rd and left. I think he could be Varitek's understudy to become the BoSox future catcher in another year. He's got the skills, work ethic and attitude.

As someone said above, my heart says Pedey but my head insists it's Youk. How many of Pedroia's runs scored were a result of Youk's RBIs? Youk has the production numbers (from all over the order) and the invaluable feat of changing positions in mid-season. GaryLeDuc: if OBP and Slugging are both rounded up, then the OPS will appear to be a point low. Also: if memory serves, the Youk v Manny dust-up started when the Man-Child pushed YOUK's buttons over Youk's behavior following a poor AB (slamming bat in rack, huffing around the dugout, etc.).

Posted by Gary LeDuc November 17, 08 02:00 PM:
>Enjoyed your article -
Still getting used to the "new" numbers; question (typo ?) on Youks numbers
"(.390), third in slugging (.569), and fourth in OPS (.958)."
Should .390 +.569 = .959 = OPS
Youk's #'s
OBP: 0.389694042 (rounded up to .390)
SLG: 0.568773234 (rounded up to .569)
OPS: 0.958467328 (rounded down to .958)

Pedroia will be league MVP for being a leader in multiple offensive catagories (hits, doubles, runs), second in BA (.326) with well over 100 AB over Mauer's .328.

"This year, in the entire major leagues, only one player had at least 175 hits, 75 runs scored, 75 RBI, 15 home runs, and 20 stolen bases while winning the Gold Glove"

Playoffs don't count towards the vote

Pedroia-To be that charged up for 162 games and to be willing to put a whole team on your back, when you're that size. Let's face it Youk had a breakout year but it could be a career year. Pedroia's done it twice in a row, is a gamer and puts a charge into the club house and the team.

mvp is the person who made it possible for both to play on the same team

This will probably wind up like Maris/Mantle back in '60 and '61; 3 or 4 votes may separate these two from first and second place. Should be an interesting decision for the sportswriters. I feel Pedroia will take it because of one incident, and that was when Youk got into it with Manny. Being MVP means bringing team chemistry, and Pedroia brought it just a little more than Youk. That may cost Youk a vote or two. Can there be a co-MVP?

Youk had a fantastic year and elevated his status to big time star despite all of the distractions. Pedroia on the other seemed to be possessed by some indescribable force this year, as he at times single handedly willed the team to win. What we saw out of Pedroia in 2008 was what we all want to believe baseball is about. Great statistical years are relatively common place, but true MVP's demonstrate a consistent ability to do the the incredible. Dustin Pedroia had that kind of a year.

Pedroia or Youk? flip a coin. pedroia wins.

although Youk had a great year, hitting, playing firts and third base, but I still say Pedroia.

Youk !! Numbers and defensive abilities are something we can use to argue a case for either player. But this team (and it's season) was teetering on the edge, and needed a new leader to step up and say enough is enough to "Manny being Manny." I'm sure nobody on the team appreciated Manny faking injuries and being slow to come out of the dugout to defend his teammates, but it was Youk who made it clear that it was unacceptable. Without that rallying cry that Youk led the charge on, this team doesn't make the playoffs.

The Little General gets it.Both are big with the glove.Both have strong comittment and desire.Pedie is a little better with the bat and better on the base paths....You can't question eithers heart.......But,I say Pedie.........maybe because he's the little one and little players (like Berra) deserve the title,when the chance comes along...Why does it always have to be the big bat?......It's great to see this happen and that's one of the reasons why it will

I have a lot of respect for Youk but it's PEDROIA all the way for MVP this year 2008 season.

Mazz,
More a question than a comment, but isn't it usually the case when two players on one team content for the award, they cancel each other out? Morneau trumped Mauer recently, but that seemed an easier call because of his rbi's. Maris trumped Mantle in '60, because he was the new element on a team that had lost the year before with Mantle. When Maris won in '61, it was a no-brainer for hitting 61 HRs.
And back in '55, when I was a boy in Brooklyn, Campinella trumped Snider because of his contributions as a catcher and the Duke was only the 3rd best centerfielder in NYC. This match-up between Pedroia and Youk seems more evenly matched, as your case for each - and the comments so far - makes clear. I just hope one of them nabs it, but I think the MVP due to the split voting on these two will land elsewhere.

"This year, in the entire major leagues, only one player had at least 175 hits, 75 runs scored, 75 RBI, 15 home runs, and 20 stolen bases while winning the Gold Glove:"

As if this cherry-picking weren't crazy and useless before, you had to add "while winning the gold glove" ?
This is a lame, non-indicative "use" of stats that only serves to mislead.

That said, my vote is for pedroia over youk based mosltly on vorp which takes posiion into account.

"Pedroia scored 118 runs to Youkilis' 91, a margin of 27. Youkilis had 115 RBIs to Pedroia's 83, a difference of 32. " I feel this is a flawed comparism because it does not show runs produced. If you add runs scored + rbi - home runs (because a home run is a rbi and a run scored, therefore you count it once this way ) you will see that Dustin Pedroia's 118+83-=184 runs produced is 5 runs higher than Kevin Youkilis' 91+115-27=179. Higher batting avg, more runs produced, more steals, and gold glove defense all point to Dustin Pedroia being the al mvp.

bush is an idiot, has always been an idiot and always will be; is frankona going to follow suit?

From first to third, are you kidding? Has to be Youk. The guys amazing. Love Dustin but Youks "the man".

CO-MVP WOULD BE NICE LIKE THEY DID IN THE NBA WITH STOCKTON AND MALONE

This is so tough...to pick between two great players and both Red Sox at that. I'd be very happy for anyone of them. GO SOX!

The team is all that matters. These individual awards should mean nothing to anyone except the palyer and their agent at contract time.

They both had great years and would be very deserving of the award. I would personally give the edge to Youk. The problem I see with either of them winning it is that they are gonna split the votes of the people that would vote for a Red Sox.

Pedroia amazes me constantly. His timely hitting, great plays in the field, and of course his total commitment to the game. If there is one player I would want my son to model himself after, it's Dustin. Take nothing away from Youk, but I'd give it to Pedroia

I'd bet anything I have that says, both would have been happy for the other and both would trade that award for another World Series Title.

For the record, my vote was for Youk, followed by DP.