Pedroia Wins AL Most Valuable Player Award
Dustin Pedroia was named the American League Most Valuable Player on Tuesday. Pedroia garnered 16 of 28 first-place votes and finished with 317 points. In a tight ballot that saw 5 different players earn first place votes, Pedroia beat out his own teammate, Kevin Youkilis, who finished 3rd; two Minnesota Twins’ players – Justin Mourneau (2nd) and Joe Mauer (4th) and record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (5th). In fact, Pedroia was even left off one voter’s ballot, with Youkilis and Morneau the only 2 players who appeared on all 28 ballots.
At 5-foot-9, Pedroia has had to battle obstacles all throughout his playing career, even in Little League. But ever since his arrival at the big league level, Pedroia has done nothing but excel. Pedroia was named the 2007 AL Rookie of the Year and he helped his Red Sox win the franchise’s 2nd World Series Championship in 4 years in 2007 with his good fielding and clutch hitting. By winning this year’s AL MVP Honors, Pedroia becomes only the 3rd player to ever win the Rookie of the Year Award and MVP Award in consecutive seasons (the Phillies Ryan Howard did so in 2005 and 2006 and the Orioles’ Cal Ripken, Jr. did so in 1982 and 1983). Only two players have ever won both awards in the same season – Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 and Fred Lynn in 1975. Pedroia also becomes the first second baseman to win the award in the American League since Nellie Fox did so way back in 1959.
Pedroia played in 157 games and amassed 653 at-bats. He batted .326 and had an on-base percentage of .376. He hit 17 home runs, drove in 83 runs, stole 20 bases and only struck out 52 times. He also led the AL in hits, doubles and runs scored. With injuries to key players all throughout the season, he and Kevin Youkilis played major roles in helping the Red Sox win a wild card berth in the AL and advance all the way to Game 7 of the ALCS before bowing out to the Tampa Bay Rays on the road. His $457,000 salary last year was a “bargain” for the Red Sox organization, and unlike many other players who are usually considered for MLB’s highest honors, Pedroia did not have a bonus clause in his contract for winning the award. I’m sure that will change in his next contract negotiations.
As for the other AL contenders, each player had some amazing stats.
Morneau won the award in 2006 and received 7 first-place votes in the 2008 contest. He hit .300 on the season, knocking out 23 home runs and driving in 129 runs. The Twins reached a one-game playoff with the White Sox at the end of the season, but fell short of reaching the playoffs when they lost that Monday afternoon in September. Morneau received a $75,000 bonus for his MVP finish.
Youkilis had his best year in the Major Leagues. He received 2 first-place votes, hitting .312 with 29 home runs and an incredible 115 RBI’s. Without either him or Pedroia, the Red Sox would not have made the playoffs in 2008. Youkilis received a $25,000 bonus for his MVP finish.
Mauer also received 2 first-place votes. Mauer hit .328, but had only 9 home runs with 85 RBI’s. Mauer received a $25,000 bonus for his MVP finish.
White Sox slugger Carlos Quentin, who did not play the last month of the season due to a broken right wrist in an act of frustration after an at-bat, actually finished in 5th place, 17 points ahead of Rodriguez. Quentin was leading the AL in home runs with 38 when he injured his wrist.
Rodriguez set a Major League record with 62 saves and received 1 first-place vote.