AL MVP ballot

This made the print edition today, but may not have made it online. So for those who have asked (and there are one or two who know who you are), here it is:

Times baseball writer Marc Topkin was one of 28 BBWAA members to vote for the AL MVP award. His ballot:

1. Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
2. Joe Mauer, Twins
3. Josh Hamilton, Rangers
4. Frankie Rodriguez, Angels
5. Jason Bartlett, Rays
6. Carlos Quentin, White Sox
7. Justin Morneau, Twins
8. Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
9. Carlos Pena, Rays
10. Grady Sizemore, Indians

Comments

[Rob]

Bartlett ahead of Morneau? What a joke.

[Louisville Slugger]

I am a Rays fan
Pedroia is good
Bartlett is good too.

[Jeff]

This vote was politically based. I think he felt backed into a corner knowing there was going to be scrutiny over the team MVP vote.

I will give Marc credit for being consistent, however, he has compromised himself on what his job should be. It shouldn't be about political backscratching and justifying your job or someone's award! It's obvious this was done to justify the team MVP vote. Ok, then, why didn't Marc then go out and campaign for more votes for Jason then?

He is a nice player, no doubt. But Marc, you are lowering yourself in my eyes and in a lot of others eyes. Just ask Boof Bonser.

[Jason Bartlett?]

Every other voter disagrees. This isn't the All Star game or little league where every team needs to be represented.

Feel free to make up a nice little MVP of the Rays trophy and give it to whomever you like.

Jason Bartlett had an OPS+ of 82 (100 is league average) 82!!! He doesn't belong anywhere near the top 10 for MVP.

[that cuban guy]

dude....MVP-most VALUABLE player. Its not about the best player of the season...if thats true, then I believe Josh Hamilton should've won. Jason Bartlett is certainly not MVP worthy, but he was the MVP of our team. Without him we wouldn't have made it to the WS and his composure both on and off the field gave the younger guys someone to follow. He should definitely be on the ballot.

[Jason Bartlett?]

Jason Bartlett fifth for MVP of the AL? That has to be a joke right. Or was it some typographical error? If you actually thought Jason Bartlett was the fifth best player in the AL you should at least have your voting privileges taken away and probably should stop watching baseball all together because you obviously know nothing about the sport.

[Dave]

What happened to Josh Hamilton after the All Star break? Didn't he have roughly 95 RBI's at the break?

[Gene]

Mark, I think this looks pretty good actually! We could do nothing with Pedroia during the regular season, which is what this is based on. Every game I saw the Sox play, he was in the middle it. Keith, it is MVP, not MOP, and the voters are from all over the country. How can you say this is NE bias? Gus, JB is the major reason why our infield defense improved over last year. He was our most important off season addition and next to Evan, our best new player.

[Gus]

Topkin's continued support of Bartlett should get his BBWA memership pulled. Idiotic. Again, he was the 4th most valuable member of his own infield. He missed a lot of games due to injury. He was nice at the plate for the last two months, but managed 1 HR. His defense was solid, but not Gold Glove.

To vote him ahead of guys 6-10 just makes him look like the biggest homer going.

[Keith]

Pedroia is a ridiculous MVP choice. I'm a Rays fan, and even I wouldn't argue that Pena deserves the MVP, but look at the numbers and you'll see that he has better stats than Pedroia (except for the batting average). Pedroia is a good ballplayer, but incredibly overrated. He won the Gold Glove at his position, but he's probably the 2nd best defensive 2nd baseman in the AL East -- Aki's more consistent and has the same range. Youklis was the Red Sox' MVP (I hate Youklis, but let's be honest about this). So how can a guy who isn't even the MVP of his team be the MVP of the league? I'll tell you why - - idiotic NE-biased journalists.