Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox won his first MVP, just one year after winning AL Rookie of the Year, besting Justin Morneau of the Twins by 60 points. Pedroia was named first on 16 of the 28 ballots. Morneau got 7 first place votes, Kevin Youkilis and Joe Mauer got 2 each, and Francisco Rodriguez got the other one.
Perdoia is the first Boston player to win the MVP since Mo Vaughn in 1995.
Odd argument I'm hearing post vote is that Cliff Lee should have won MVP because it was a mediocre group of hitters.
I say that Cliff Lee had a very good year, but not a great year like Pedro's 1999 season so its not a good enough argument to vote Lee over other position players like Mauer.
Is he the smallest MVP ever? I think he's a little shorter and probably lighter than Little Joe. Did Bobby Shantz win an MVP? I think he was pretty small.
Pedroia is listed in B-R as 5'9". Bobby Shantz, the 1952 MVP is listed as 5'6". Phil Rizzuto, the 1950 MVP is also listed at 5'6". Joe Morgan is listed at 5'7".
I am appalled that Morneau finished second.
I say that Cliff Lee had a very good year, but not a great year like Pedro's 1999 season so its not a good enough argument to vote Lee over other position players like Mauer.
Morneau is the very definition of a league-average first baseman, and the MVP voters love them some overrated first basemen. See also: Howard, Ryan.
Is he the smallest MVP ever? I think he's a little shorter and probably lighter than Little Joe. Did Bobby Shantz win an MVP? I think he was pretty small.
From what I hear there's no way Pedroia is actually his listed height.
http://tinyurl.com/5tnk4q
Also, Pedroia was in Arizona on his way to work out with Andre Ethier when he got news of winning the award.
http://tinyurl.com/6b2kfl
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