Papi Robbed
David Ortiz deserved the AL MVP award. Plain and simple. He carried the Red Sox team through the season. Their pitching staff stunk. Their defense was questionable at best. Yet, they always knew that if they were within a few runs going into the ninth inning, Papi would win the game for them. He was their best player, and their heart and soul.
I seriously doubt the same could be said for A-Rod. If the Yanks were up six, then I’m sure Yankees’ fans knew that A-Rod would get a big hit, but if they were down and needed a clutch hit, would A-Rod get it? I know Jeter, Sheff, or even Matsui are better clutch hitters than A-Rod. Rodriguez wasn’t even the most valuable player on his team. Jeter provides the leadership, the heart, better defense, etc. Sheff is a better, more terrifying hitter. A-Rod, just as he did in Texas, posts big numbers when they aren’t necessary.
Papi was the best player at his position. Let’s face it, if the AL wants to have a DH in every lineup, then it should be considered a position. Just as AL teams are killed when they have a subpar defensive player at a position, teams get killed for having sub-par hitters at the DH spot. He should stop being hindered for not playing defense when every team in the American League has the exact same position in the lineup that Papi plays.
