Meh-VP

Drawing slightly more than half of the first-place votes cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Dustin Pedroia yesterday won the 2008 American League Award. He beat out 2006 MVP Justin Morneau and Red Sox teammate Kevin Youklis, who finished with 257 and 201 points, respectively.

Pedroia is obviously a good player. Earlier this month, he picked up the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger awards. He also led the league in hits, runs and doubles (Hello, Green Monster). He plays hard every game and is, I imagine, a pretty hard-core douche. Teams need players like him. He makes things happen. And I fully expect him to inherit Jason Varitek's giant "C" (really, it should be BIGGER) when Tek signs with another team this winter. 

Still, I’m underwhelmed. Call me old-fashioned, but 83 RBI is pretty lame for an MVP, even if the player in question is a second baseman and bats in the 2-hole. I just prefer gaudier numbers, like the stats National League MVP Albert Pujols put up this year, which, admittedly, prejudices me from getting behind Pedroia as AL MVP. 

But don't take my word for it. Here are, without further comment, Pedroia’s MVP numbers stacked up against Pujols' and the numbers of the AL runners-up.

Pedroia
.326/.376/.493 17 HR 83 RBI 122 OPS

Pujols
.357/.462/.653 37 HR 116 RBI 190 OPS

Youklis
.312/.390/.569 29 HR 115 RBI 143 OPS

Morneau
.300/.374/.499 23 HR 129 RBI 137 OPS