This hardly matters in the grand scheme of things, but does anyone else feel like they got the ALCS MVP call wrong? To be sure, both guys had an outstanding series:
A-Rod: .429, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 8 BB, game-tying shot in the 11th inning of Game 2;
Sabathia: 2-0, 1.12 ERA, 16 IP, 12 K.
But so often these calls are storyline things, aren’t they? If you told me before the playoffs began that Sabathia was going to have two strong starts in the ALCS that wouldn’t have necessarily surprised me as much as if you told me that A-Rod was going to be a close to dominating offensive force. A-Rod’s emergence as a postseason stud and clutch performer has to be the biggest story of the series, doesn’t it?
I’m not going to lose sleep over it, but it seems that a co-MVP was at least in order.
UPDATE: According to Cot’s, A-Rod would have received $150K if he had been named the ALCS MVP. That’s a lot of money for you and me, but it’s pocket change for Rodriguez. Still, I wonder how many of the MVP voters knew, off the top of their heads, that he was going to be out that dough based on their vote . . .
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- Joe - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:13 AM
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Agree with Craig.
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- Joe S - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:17 AM
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Totally agree, you cannot take away CC’s performance, that being said Alex played ball. He was consistant and a force in the lineup. Who else did they intentionally walk?
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- john - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:22 AM
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you got it right a-rod plays every game as good as cc was they should have given it to a-rod
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- Brenda - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:23 AM
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Rodriguez and Sabathia should both shared the award.
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- George Santana - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:42 AM
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Puh-Leeze…let this adoration of the bullies of the Bronx stop! The comments here both by the writers and the fans make it seem like the Yankees deserve to be in the World Series!! THey don’t! Anytime you throw a billion dollars at a team, sprinkle in some drugs and you get the Yankees…it is sickening to read and hear all this crap about how great they are etc. Thankfully, the majority of real MLB fans hate the Yankees because they can see the team for what they are, overpaid, egotistic spoiled little boys. The real MLB heroes of the past must be turning over in their graves when they see these “hi fives” and other Little League antics the Yankees are so good at doing…it cheapens the game and makes them look silly.
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- Shelly - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:49 AM
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George,
Don’t hate the players, hate the play……………….
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- C Garcia - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:51 AM
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I personally think they should have made it Co-MVP’s .. It’s been done before .. Both were the reasons the Yankees made to the World Series ..
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- Bronx Fan - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:52 AM
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I definitely agree that the award should have been shared, but CC was a horse too. They really could not have gone wrong either way, but sharing would have been very awesome.
@George Santana- are you serious? The Yanks were killed for so long that they weren’t playing like they loved the game, that they were just in it for the money, and now they are enjoying each other and the game and “real MLB fans” are killing them for it? Puh-leeze yourself. Get a grip and understand the Yankees were better than the Angels and Twins, and outplayed them to boot. You, and all Yankee haters just wish your ownership and management would do the same so you could win also. By the way, do you really think the stars of your favorite team aren’t “egotistical, spoiled little boys?” If so, go meet some of them, I bet they aren’t all choirboys either, and while you’re at it, check their supplement history too.
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- Don - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:53 AM
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George S must be a losers fan,, maybe a Mets fan or a Angels fan perhaps….Get over yourself George and take it like a man….
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- Robb - Oct 26, 2009 at 9:54 AM
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Something smells fishy here. A Rod play all 6 games, performed well above all the other Yankee players and was instrumental in all their wins. CC pitched admirably in 2 games and watched the others from the dugout. These voters did a huge disservice to A Rod. At the very least, it should have been co MVP’s. Was it a little discrimination because of the early season bad publicity??
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- saul j - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:03 AM
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Of course A rod should have won some things are just obvious!
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- comeonman - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:09 AM
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George Santana, GET A GRIP, YOU SOUND RIDICULOUS AND OBVIOUSLY
YOU ARE A MISERABLE PERSON, YOU ARE A LOSER!!!
EVERYONE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE A YANKEE FAN, BUT
TO MAKE IDIOTIC COMMENT’S WITH NO SUBSTANCE IS
NOT AN INTELLIGENT WAY TO MAKE A ARGUMENT.
CO-MVP’S MAY HAVEBEEN APPROPRIATE, THEY BOTH
PLAYED HUGE AND CAME OUT WINNERS.
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- Rojo - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:10 AM
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Tough call. Don’t forget Mark Teixeira. Without his defense you have to question the outcome. Of course you don’t win an MVP on defense alone. As for George Santana, what are you delusional? If money were all it takes, why haven’t the Yankees won a WS since 2000 and played in one since 2003? They have good players playing well, in spite of their manager. Get over it and enjoy the game!
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- Harry Bottom - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:18 AM
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I think some of the Angels qualify for MVP… if it wasn’t for some spectacular errors, the series could have been very different
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- Cannuck - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:25 AM
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I feel bad for A-rod, but thats the consequence of being tied to steroids. He carried them, picked them off the mat how many times, but gets overlooked, go figure….
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- Judy J - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:36 AM
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CC – he deserves the recognition. A-Rod – deserves recognition. I sincerely do believe it was because of the controversy this year that MLB did not award him a MVP co with Sabathia. He must be very disappointed. But then, the World Series is a bigger platform. Let’s hope A-Rod keeps hitting those A-bombs out of the park – good incentive to say the least.
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- Jessica - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:42 AM
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Puh-leeze right back to you…can’t imagine what team you are a fan of. The Yankees had the only players to come forth and be honest about what they did in an era where many players took performance enhancing drugs. Sure they have a hefty payroll but they perform all the same. If they didn’t then thats something to talk about. Continue being a Yankee Hater! Sad you have nothing better to do than complain that a deserving team made it to the WS. They played their hearts out and Im proud to be a Yankees Fan! GO YANKEES!!!
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- KimG - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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I hate when pitchers get MVP awards. They don’t play every game in the series so I think it’s a crock. A-Rod played every game and if he sat out half the games they wouldn’t even consider him the MVP. It makes no sense. The Yankees had to win four games, and played six. They need to have a separate award for pitchers. I hate the Yankees.
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- Pilothawkeye - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:48 AM
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While I do agree with most that the awarding of Co-MVPs would have been nice, I am of the opinion that MLB is not yet ready to embrace A-Rod’s personal exploits due to his steroid problems. We all know that in a short series good pitching will always beat good hitting, which is something that Yankees have been all too aware of over the past 6 seasons. Did A-Rod throw up MVP quality numbers? Absolutely! Did Tex pound some serious leather? Most Definitely! Given the performance of the middle relievers in this series, I for one am glad that CC pitched so deep and well in his two games. That intangible is probably why he was given the MVP. My opinion of course.
Now, in response to Mr. Santana’s comments.
#1 – They are totally out of line and
#2 – He needs a life!!!
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- Greg - Oct 26, 2009 at 10:57 AM
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Ahhhh, I’m guessing Georges team was at home during the playoffs. Haters use to bother me but now it’s fun listening to them whine.
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- Talex - Oct 26, 2009 at 11:11 AM
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A-Rod was such a presence in every game that he threw the Angels pitchers off from what they wanted to do; if he wasn’t hitting a homerun or getting a scorching base-hit, he was walking and making pitchers throw around him. Sabathia was brilliant, but A-Rod deserved the MVP and by a wide margin.
And P.S. – George Santana is a lazy baseball fan. The Yankees didn’t throw a billion dollars at their team. They had 85 million come off their books last year and they signed 3 top players following all the rules that apply to everyone in baseball.
When the Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels and Cardinals sign top free agents it’s A-Okay, but when the Yankees do and win then it’s the same old refrain from sore losers like yourself: the Yankees buy players and World Series. Oh, they don’t buy players when they have the top payroll and lose. But if they sign free agents and win it’s “they buy players and they take steriods.” Get a life! Last year the Yankees had a higher payroll and didn’t even make the playoffs.
When they win the World Series there is nothing any loser like yourself can say that won’t be sour grapes. Root for your team and shut up! They play the games for a reason. Because nothing is a given and nothing can be bought (see the Washington Redskins).
When the Red Sox spend 150 million and win the World Series or the Dodgers spend 130 million and win or the Angels spend 120 million and win or when the Diamondbacks win with all high priced free agents it’s never even mentioned. So get a grip.
This Yankee team is one of the most fun teams to watch in every way in a long while. Try being a baseball fan and learn to enjoy it instead a someone with no life and no self-esteem and not an ounce of grace when your team is out of it.
The best team will win; and it’s usually not the team that spends the most–do some research and find out!
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- jbird - Oct 26, 2009 at 11:24 AM
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Regardless of who was MVP there is one thing for sure. Joba Chamberlain was the unsung hero of class. He has this irreverence that reminded me of Babe Ruth with his dirty flat billed cap. I enjoyed his pitching.
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- Lawrence - Oct 26, 2009 at 11:28 AM
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A Rod deserved it!. But if they really wanted someone than A-Rod – Mariano was even more dominant than CC and appeared in twice as many games.
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- Elizabeth - Oct 26, 2009 at 12:03 PM
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I don’t think ANYONE who starts the baseball year with an admission of steroid use is deserving to be sitting on any team, much less winning an MVP award. Shame on the baseball commissioner, shame on Steinbrenner, shame on Girardi and anyone else still permitting this bum A-Rod to play. Who gives a rats as that he’s a stellar player. I know plenty of them who didn’t get the breaks that are a 100 times better than A-Rod. Who gives a rats ass that he’s banging celebrity booty. In a quest to win the title @ whatever cost, we’ve just told kids to get themselves celebrity putty tang and break the law by taking steroids. Real nice.
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- Francois - Oct 26, 2009 at 12:08 PM
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George Santana, You are a sore loser and the other comments directed to you hit the bull’s eye. I beleive that A-Rod should have been the sole recipient of Americam league championship MVP award but we unfortunately live in a politically correct world where awards are given to people to make a point. Look at this year’s noble peace prize recipient. What a joke. Go Yankees!
