> Two clarifications. One: When I referred to Mora being the best non-Ichiro batter in the AL, I was referring only to his batting average, and I stand by that.


Oh, I wasn't even referring to your comment, just that, in general, I think the MVP ought to go to the best hitter in the league, and that Mora doesn't meet that requirement. Also, batting average is a rather overrated statistic. In Mora's case, it doesn't matter so much, because he can still draw a walk, and has something like a .420 OBP, which is absolutely outstanding.

> Ramirez I definitely don't think is any kind of MVP - he's a hell of a slugger, sure, but that's his only trick. Defensively, the Red Sox would be stronger without him, and that obviously counts against him.

Well, see, baseball is about creating runs and creating opportunities to score runs. Ramirez has, by far, done that better than anyone else in the AL.

As for Ramirez's defense, the fact that he's not a standout shouldn't count against him. It's not like he's a butcher in the field: by whatever advanced defensive metric I choose to look at (and, of course, sabermetricians have a bear of a time with defense, anyway), Ramirez is an average OFer. Couple that with being the best bat in the league, and I can't see how he doesn't deserve MVP.

As for Sheff and A-Rod, I was looking at the Win Shares lists for those two. Win Shares being, if you don't know, the baseball geek stat to end all baseball geek stats, and Sheffield comes out as being worth more wins with his bat than anyone else in the AL. I have my issues with Win Shares, and I think here is where we find one. Sheff isn't the best bat in the AL.

A-Rod's value is higher because he plays Gold Glove defense at a *much* more difficult position, and is still a great bat. His defense doesn't make up the gulf between he and Ramirez, though.

That all said, I do think Mora merits discussion. He has put up an outstanding year. But I just think that Ramirez was better. :-)

> Ahh, thanks for saving me the trouble. I ran out of time last night before I could get this far, and now I don't have to. Which is even better, since I haven't been following rookies and would just be listing names of players that impressed me and hoping they were rookies.

Heh, the only reason I even know is because I'm a Jason Bay fanboy, being the diehard Pirates fan I am. If he doesn't win the NL ROY, I will be severly aggravated.


TOM