50-50 Mauer/Tek. Didn’t realize I’d be the second voter… Whoops…

But Ben Zobrist also deserves mention

6.9 WAR

.284 BA? .382 OBP? .559 SLG? Youkilis has better all around numbers than this guy. The only reason he’s getting mention is because he was one of the biggest trades of the off-season to the team with the highest payroll. There’s nothing stunning about his numbers and he deserves it no more than Youkilis or even Jeter. Mauer is the true winner of this award but Teixeira’s name shouldn’t even be mentioned here.

If the offense is much better and one is a catcher, it should be no question. A catcher should win the award with 80% of the offense of a first baseman. Teixiara is about the 3rd best offensive first baseman and is slightly below average defensively by all defensive metrics besides the New York media “eye test.”

1)Mauer
2) Cabrera
3) Youk

With Youk able to move up to second if he continues on pace while still playing well at 1st and 3rd.

that it is always unclear what it rewards. We all probably think it should go to the player who helps his team the most (i.e. the leader in WAR). But many writers just think it should go to a power-hitting, “RBI guy,” on a playoff team with no adjustment for position or fielding ability. If the latter is the criteria, then Teix should win.

Otherwise, how could the writers be so obtuse? But seriously, hitting anywhere close to .400 is deserving of the MVP. Let’s look at it this way (and don’t shoot me for just using AVG, HR, and sample sizes:)
               AB HR HR per AB
Mauer: 370 25 14.8
Pujols: 425 39 ~10.9

Okay, yes, I know, Pujols is great, but he can’t win BOTH MVPs. Anyway, when you compare Pujols to Mauer, Pujols takes about 4 less AB per HR. By the way, Mauer has a better average by about 70 points. And he’s a catcher.

He’s been much more clutch than Mauer, and I believe should be considered.

but to say that Tex doesn’t even deserve mention is nothing more than bias from a Red Sox fan. I mean, he’s been clutch this year. He’s played gold glove defense. He’s going to end with 40 home runs and 120 rbi, and possibly a gold glove, and you say he doesn’t deserve mention?

And I have to say, Youkilis is NOT a better first baseman than Teixeira. It’s very close. I’d say it’s a toss up between the two for their gloves. Tex has more range, and Youk can play multiple positions. It’s a toss up between the two defensively.

I have to say that if the Red Sox had gotten Teixeira, then the MVP chants would have begun for Tex at Fenway Park weeks ago. Please guys, cut the bias and give it to the guy that deserves it. That person is Mauer, but to not give Tex credit and say he doesn’t deserve mention is ridiculous.

They’re not going to give him an MVP award for the defense he plays. They want a guy that HITS and plays defense, not just a great defensive first baseman.

i haven’t heard Sox fans mention this too much but what if Theo had signed Tex? i think that if Boston didn’t low-ball Teixiera and let him walk to the Yankees, then Boston would be the team with the six-game lead right now.

sure, no one could’ve predicted that Ortiz would fall off a cliff for the first two months, but still, you put Tex in the middle of that lineup and it changes things.

it’s by far the biggest mistake of the Epstein regime.

But I’d have to give it to Jeter with way he’s been playing. On another note, if VicMart keeps playing as well as he is, you can go ahead and throw his name in the mix (along with Youk).