Does A-Rod deserve the MVP?
by Gerry Fraley, The Dallas Morning News

    (KRT) DALLAS—One mean, nasty and altogether unlikeable player stands between Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez and the American League Most Valuable Player award: Ty Cobb.

   Because of Cobb, the award is not based only on statistics. Because of Cobb, the Rangers’ dismal last-place showing in the AL West taints Rodriguez’s performance.

   A history lesson:

   In 1910, automobile manufacturer Hugh Chalmers said he would award a new car to the AL’s top player, with batting average the only measure. Detroit’s Cobb led throughout the season, which displeased his peers. Cobb was considered the most disliked player in the league for his hair-trigger temper and rugged playing style.

   Detroit did not play on the final day of the season. Cleveland’s Napoleon Lajoie, Cobb’s closest pursuer, had a doubleheader against the St. Louis Browns. To let Lajoie win, the Browns played comical defense.

   He tripled in his first at-bat as a St. Louis outfielder fell down. The Browns infield played back in Lajoie’s next seven at-bats, and he bunted each time. The 8-for-8 day gave Lajoie the batting title at .383, one point better than Cobb.

   The farce ended the concept of performance-based awards. The MVP went through several changes until reaching its current form: voting by two members of the Baseball Writers Association of America in each league city; 10 spots on each ballot and a sliding points scale in which a first-place mention is worth 10 points and a 10th-place mention brings one point.

   If this were a performance-only contest, Rodriguez would be the favorite.

   Tampa Bay manager Hal McRae said Rodriguez “shouldn’t be mentioned in the same sentence with the guys that are on winning ballclubs” but endorsed him as player of the year.

   “You can’t be that valuable when you’re on a last-place club,” McRae said.

   Rodriguez said “I’m proud of what I’m doing,” but he will let the voters decide. For him to have a good chance of winning, several things must happen during the season’s final days. This is Rodriguez’s to-do list entering Tuesday’s play:

   Catch Roger Maris

   Roger Maris lost the major league homer record in 1998, but he still holds the AL mark with 61. Only one other AL player has hit 60 homers: Hall of Famer Babe Ruth in 1927.

   Rodriguez began Tuesday’s play with 55 homers, most in the majors.

   A strong RBI showing also helps. Banks led in 1958-59, and Dawson led in 1987. Ripken finished fourth in his MVP season. All drove in more than 110 runs. Rodriguez began Tuesday’s play leading the majors with 134 RBI.

   Finish strong

   The Rangers on Friday opened a three-game series at Oakland. They are scheduled to play their final nine games against the Athletics and Anaheim, teams fighting to determine who will win the AL West and who must enter the playoffs as a wild card.

   Both clubs win with pitching. Rodriguez can leave a strong impression with the voters.

   Make the plays

   Defense does matter in the MVP voting. Rodriguez began Tuesday’s play with the fourth-best fielding percentage among front-line AL shortstops. Baltimore’s Mike Bordick led, but he also had 179 fewer chances than Rodriguez.

   Root for others

   This is “one of those years when there’s not just one guy,” Rodriguez said.

   The more names the better for Rodriguez. A large field helps him because it spreads out vote appeal.

   There are vagaries to the MVP voting and not just because two votes will be cast in the state of Florida.

   Boston’s Ted Williams won the triple crown in 1942 but finished second in the MVP voting to New York Yankees’ second baseman Joe Gordon. Williams won the Triple Crown again in 1947 but lost by one point to Yankees’ outfielder Joe DiMaggio. Mel Webb, of the Boston Globe, did not include Williams on his ballot because of a grudge against him.

   The two Seattle voters in 1996 had a professional relationship with Rodriguez, but neither listed him first. Rodriguez lost to Rangers outfielder Juan Gonzalez by three points.

   Blame it on Ty Cobb.