Marty Lurie Talks San Francisco Giants Baseball
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Who will Be AL MVP?


So much will be decided over the next two weeks of the season.

Post season awards. Playoff teams.

The most significant of all the postseason awards is Most Valuable Player.

Why is the MVP more important than the outstanding pitching award?

A position player contributes to his team’s success on a daily basis. A starting pitcher works every five days, a reliever every two to three days at best over the course of the 162 game season.

The MVP is the player who if removed from the team changes the squad from a championship team to an also ran.

My MVP must be a carrier, a difference maker, not just a contributor to the cause.

In the American League certain players stand out. Here are the contenders:

Click below for more!Yankees Derek Jeter:

Why: On his way to batting title. When Yanks took charge in August he led the way. Shortstop is the key defensive position.

Why not: Yanks have best line up in baseball. NY might win with Ben Zobrist playing shortstop.

Twins Justin Morneau:

Why: Lefty hitter is the “man” in the Minnesota line up. When Morneau found his stroke, the Twins made their move. Hitting behind Michael Cuddyer has turned Cuddyer into a force as right fielder gets pitches to hit.

Why not: Not only impact player on Twins. Spray hitting teammate Joe Mauer has hit .345 since April. Late season melt down by Twins pitchers might keep Twins from the playoffs.

A’s Frank Thomas:

Why: A’s took off in May with Thomas leading the way. He is the carrier in the A’s line up. Two-time MVP has been there before. The A’s offense is not much without big Frank.

Why not: Designated hitter doesn’t play the field. Took until late May to shake the rust from two year layoff. Where does he play if the A’s make the World Series? Can’t run very well.

White Sox: Jermaine Dye:

Why: Having career season after being MVP of the ’05 World Series. Stepped up after Jim Thome slowed down by injuries.

Why not: Has help in the line up from sluggers Paul Konerko and Thome. Without Dye, Sox still would be in the hunt. All of a sudden cold in September, the month that makes legends.

Angels Vladimir Guerrero

Why: Carries the anemic Los Angeles offense. Angels made no mid season moves relying on Bad Vlad to be the difference maker. Right fielder has done all he can to keep the Halos in the race.

Why not: Angels need 170 games to catch the A’s. This year his fielding and base running lapses more numerous.

Tigers: Jim Leyalnd

Why: His leadership only thing keeping Tiger players and fans sane as the team continues to gasp for air.

Why not: Only active players eligible for this award.

Unless Justin Morneau or Jermaine Dye hit like Hall of Famers over the next two weeks, Jeter is my MVP.

Who will survive in the AL Central?

Minnesota is a much better team at home than on the road. Twins play in Cleveland today, then it’s off to Boston and Baltimore before finishing season at home against KC and the ChiSox. Twins pen is starting to falter when it counts. Francisco Liriano experiment a disaster.

Tigers helped themselves with addition of lefty swinging Matt Stairs. Joel Zumaya’s wrist tendinitis is a major concern for Leyland. Healthy dose of Orioles and Royals pitching will help the Tigers score runs.

ChiSox are finally getting big games from starting pitchers. Last three games of season in Minnesota will determine their fate.

I say the Tigers and White Sox make the playoffs nosing out the Twins at the end.

What should the A’s do with Rich Harden, their hard throwing righty? I’d put him in the ‘pen ala the Angels and Kelvim Escobar in ’05. If healthy, Harden’s power arm in relief would be a dynamite weapon for the A’s in October.

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