Rodriguez bests Ortiz for A.L. MVP
NEW YORK – Alex Rodriguez showed slick fielding counts, winning his second American League Most Valuable Player award in three seasons by defeating David Ortiz of Boston in a vote that rewarded an all-around player over a designated hitter.
Rodriguez, in his second season as the New York Yankees’ third baseman, received 16 first-place votes, 11 seconds and one third for 331 points from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in balloting announced Monday.
Ortiz, the DH for the Red Sox, got 11 firsts and 17 seconds for 307 points. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero received the other first-place vote and had 196 points in third.
“I think defense, for the most part, being a balanced player and also saving a lot of runs on the defensive side, I think was a major factor here,” Rodriguez said. “To me, defense is foremost. It’s always been. The White Sox showed us this year pitching and defense wins to this day.”
Voting was done before the start of the postseason, when both the Yankees and Red Sox were eliminated in the first round. Rodriguez hit .133 with no RBIs in a five-game loss to the Angels. Ortiz batted .333 with a home run as the defending champion Red Sox were swept by the Chicago White Sox.
“I would certainly trade his World Series championship for this MVP trophy,” Rodriguez said, thinking back to Boston’s 2004 title. “That’s the only reason I play baseball. It’s what I’m consumed to do right now.”
Rodriguez hit .321 with an A.L.-high 48 homers, 130 RBIs and 21 steals, breaking Joe DiMaggio’s 68-year-old Yankees record for home runs by a right-handed hitter (46). A-Rod also won the award in 2003, his final season as the Texas Rangers’ shortstop before he was dealt to the Yankees.
He didn’t think the award would end criticism that he doesn’t perform in the clutch or isn’t a winner.
“We can win three World Series, with me, it’s never going to be over. I think my benchmark is so high that no matter what I do, it’s never going to be enough, and I understand that.”
Ortiz batted .300 with 47 homers, a major league-leading 148 RBIs and one steal.
“He is the one special player right now, like Barry Bonds, who can change the game around simply with his batting,” Rodriguez said.