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Around SBN: Which Players Will Join The 3,000-Hit Club?

MVP: Morneau of the Same

Crowd, chanting "MVP! MVP! MVP!"

Lynx_medium

via www.sportsbusinessnews.com

Voiceover: Two years ago, America elected Justin Morneau as its most valuable player. He promised to end corrupt Cooperstown politics, and to change baseball for the better.

Aagp161_justin-morneau-2005-studio-plus-posters_medium

via imagecache2.allposters.com

Voiceover: But has he lived up to those promises? Since 2006, Morneau has raised your ticket prices nearly 15%. In the middle of a recession, he's pushing working families out of their seats. Is that the change we want?

Sales_20chart_20w_20up_20arrow_03_medium

via www.l4solutions.com

Voiceover: And Justin Morneau has made baseball weaker at home. American League Home runs fell by 11.5% in just his first year of office. He wants less Big Papi, and more Alex Cora. Is that the change we want?

Large_acora_medium

via blog.masslive.com

Voiceover: And under Morneau, baseball has lost its international standing. He did nothing to stop the International Olympic Committee from banning baseball.

2364072295_23d94372bf_medium

via farm4.static.flickr.com

Voiceover: Justin Morneau won't fight for his sport. He won't even stand up to the Olympics. Is that the change we want?

[Cue Patriotic Music.]

Voiceover: Dustin Pedroia wants to make baseball stronger at home, and respected abroad. He wants to lower ticket prices for you and your family.

Sp1011_pedroia_10-11-07_ta7enbc_medium

via www.projo.com

Voiceover: Dustin Pedroia is the change we need. Justin Morneau is just more of the same.

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via www.foxnews.com

-This message paid for by the Million Voters for Pedroia.-

[Part III of a continuing series. Click to See Part I and Part II.]

Sources:
Higher ticket prices. 2006-07, 2007-08.
HR Data from retrosheet.
Baseball barred from 2012 Olympics.

Poll
Who should be the 2008 MVP?
Dustin Pedroia. Change we can believe in.
16 votes
Dustin Pedroia. A noun. A verb. And 5'7''.
29 votes
Justin Morneau. [Titanium chads that are not completely punched through will not be counted.]
67 votes
Ralph Nader. [I want to throw my vote away.]
8 votes

120 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 34 comments  |  1 recs  | 

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im afraid if the twins make the playoffs morneau pretty much has it clinched. He has like 40 more rbi’s than pedroia. And rbi’s are worth more than runs scored in the voters eyes. Its been a great season, but pedroia has cooled down just enough to make it unlikely he wins this thing.

by spinz on Sep 25, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions  

i just took a closer look and i really do think morneau has got it hands down. He is on pace to play in EVERY single game this season. And his ops is better, and he actualy has more like 50 more rbi’s, and he has just enough more homeruns…..sorry pedroia…

by spinz on Sep 25, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions  

I agree

funny & clever

"You know," Girardi said, shrugging his shoulders, "it didn't work."

( Joe Girardi on pitching to Manny Ramirez with first base open)

by MassGal on Sep 25, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions  

Funnier than the other two?

My last sig was too long, so my new one is: He who hesitates is a mediocre ambidextrious stupid person who thinks the Rays suck and stole Joe Maddon's shoes while thinking he was at a baseball game but was at church.

by BoSox415 on Sep 25, 2008 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions  

Please, neau mor MVP awards for the Canadian hitter

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Sep 25, 2008 3:33 PM EDT reply actions  

Absolutely terrific post, had me laughing my guts out. Best post ever.

Forever Red Sox, screw all those pink-hatted babes, 'got no family, 'got no friends, 'got no life--RED SOX I LIVE FOR THIS.

by RedSoxUltras on Sep 25, 2008 3:43 PM EDT reply actions  

lol loved the Nader reference. 0157H7 you are a genius. Good work

Forever Red Sox, screw all those pink-hatted babes, 'got no family, 'got no friends, 'got no life--RED SOX I LIVE FOR THIS.

by RedSoxUltras on Sep 25, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions  

very interesting

And very refreshing that you Red Sox fans are not being over the top in your bid to have Pedroia named MVP. Clearly Pedroia has a better supporting cast with Lowell, Youk, Bay, and Papi. While Morneau has Mauer,……who in my opinion should get some consideration as well.

by LouieTheLip on Sep 25, 2008 4:49 PM EDT reply actions  

Two McCain style ads, One Obama style...

How long until the AAPR style ads?

Remember when we were kids and we mixed sodas together and called them "suicides"? It was OK though, because Dr. Pepper was always there.

by bdalebs on Sep 25, 2008 4:57 PM EDT reply actions  

It's not really Obama-style.

Mentions of “change,” yes, but the line “stronger at home and respected abroad” is from Kerry’s campaign. And I think Obama’s campaign ads are much less fast-and-loose with the truth than this one is.

Assume you mean AARP, right?

by 0157H7 on Sep 25, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yes. Damn my inability to type properly.

I was referring to the “more of the same” stuff.

Remember when we were kids and we mixed sodas together and called them "suicides"? It was OK though, because Dr. Pepper was always there.

by bdalebs on Sep 27, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

Oh, and in that last picture of Morneau, doesn’t he look a lot like Matt Damon? (who, might I add, is a Red Sox fan)

by Randy Booth on Sep 25, 2008 5:11 PM EDT reply actions  

Huzzah for him!

You don’t have to support the local teams. I don’t like Brady anyways – Big 10 sucks.

Remember when we were kids and we mixed sodas together and called them "suicides"? It was OK though, because Dr. Pepper was always there.

by bdalebs on Sep 27, 2008 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

The BBWAA vote is a joke.

Whether or not Pedroia wins it doesn’t mean he was more or less valuable than Morneau this year. He clearly was.

Here’s my top five, if anyone cares:
Sizemore
Lee
Halladay
Mauer
Pedroia

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 25, 2008 5:23 PM EDT reply actions  

In that order?

Remember when we were kids and we mixed sodas together and called them "suicides"? It was OK though, because Dr. Pepper was always there.

by bdalebs on Sep 25, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions  

The MVP's got to be Lee

I’m sorry for both Pedroia, Mauer and Morneau who are also great players. I don’t even think that Pedroia is the Sox MVP. I think that has to be Youkilis.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Sep 25, 2008 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions  

Lee? No way. For a pitcher to win the Cy and MVP, he’d have to be much, much better than any other pitcher in the league AND be on a very good team.

by Randy Booth on Sep 25, 2008 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

Lol, my bad

I meant Quentin, not Lee. Because of the other Carlos. :)

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Sep 25, 2008 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions  

It matters

But there are no clear winners. I believe it’s between 5 guys, really: Mauer (my MVP, btw), Morneau, Quentin, Pedroia and Youkilis. Sizemore and Lee had very good season, but they team was never ever on a playoff race, so it’s hard for them to be THE most valuable player of the year.

Mother---- him and John Wayne!

by MerryGoByeBye on Sep 26, 2008 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm ignoring the BBWAA's stance on what makes a pitcher an MVP candidate

He has been more productive, helping his team win more games, than most everyone in the AL. If your criteria are different, then fine.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 26, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm not sold on Sizemore in the Top 5

He’s not even the MVP of his own team, Lee wins that by a landslide. And also I really don’t think that you should be considered if you’re the second most valuable on a team that was out of playoff contention in June.

Man do I hate Longhorn fans, well except for the ones that actually went there.

by mystman995 on Sep 25, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

Heh thats how i felt about k-rod for mvp, lee should get it before him too. Lee should be a litmus test for this mvp race, ask yourself does so-and-so deserve it more than lee(who wont be getting it)?

Its funny though i think if the indians made the playoffs lee mightv taken the mvp and cy together.

by spinz on Sep 26, 2008 3:11 AM EDT up reply actions  

a landslide?

just eyeballing some quick measures:

VORP: Lee leads 75 to 65, but Sizemore’s about +10 runs in center field
Justin’s stats: Sizemore leads 77 to 66 runs (as of September 5th)

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 26, 2008 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions  

If Morneau, why not Youk??

I am not advocating Youk, but Morneau has NOT had a better year than Youk. Consider:
Youk: 143 532 28 113 .314 .392 .568 .960
Morneau:159 608 23 129 .306 .378 .510 .888

Morneau is weaker in every offensive category save RBIs, where he has benefited from 15 more games. He is also weaker in the field at the same position. Hmmm…?

by Buzzy on Sep 26, 2008 10:29 AM EDT reply actions  

Unfortunately

the BBWAA aren’t as smart as you are. RBIs are probably the leading category for them.

by 0157H7 on Sep 26, 2008 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

This time the writers' preference for a scrappy lil white scrapper with scrapperoonie qualities

can also be matched with excellent statistics, in the scrappy personage of Dustin ‘Scrappy “The Scrapper” Doo’ Pedroia, He’s going to win. I feel it in my water. It won’t even be the worst decision the BBWAA make this year.

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Sep 26, 2008 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions  

What will be the worst decision?

Cy Young to Mike Mussina?
MVP to Manny Ramirez?

by 0157H7 on Sep 26, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions  

Investing in property

"no1 has time to read your long comments, are you writing a book?"

by britsoxfan on Sep 27, 2008 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

If Youk, why not Morneau????

Morneau is just as good of defensive first baseman as Youk is. Morneau has a slightly higher fielding percentage and a much high range factor.

Think about the supporting cast that Boston has? Its alot better than the Twins. MVP isn’t about the best stats all the time, with that said, I think Mauer is the most indespensable player in the American Leauge, thus should get major consideration for MVP; but it is unlikey that he will get it.

by ahope on Sep 28, 2008 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions  

no, Youk is a much better fielder. look at the zone ratings

and Youk’s batting line is better: .390 OBP .569 SLG to Morneau’s .375 OBP .502 SLG. accounting for home park, Youk’s OPS+ is better 145 to 135.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Sep 29, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions  

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