Do you think Joe Mauer should have been MVP for 2006?

Answer 1

A baseball question in late December -- you're my dream girl! :)

With that, unfortunately, my answer must be NO.

Mauer had a great year for the Twins and he is no doubt an excellent player, perhaps one the top two or three catchers in the AL. He had a .347 average, .471 Slugging and a whopping .936 OPS. He isn't bad defensively either, with a .996 fielding percentage. Still, it was a tough year for AL superstars and while Mauer was very, very good I think I'd put him in third place, at best.

Answer 2

It's very simple. No. After the All-star break, when each team was making their stretch-run for the playoffs, Mauer's numbers weren't even close to either Morneau's or Jeter's. In fact he only batted .311 in the 2nd half compared to .342 by both Morneau and Jeter. He also had the fewest runs scored, RBI's, SLG and OPS of the three. See stats below. The first line is Mauer, the 2nd is Morneau and the third is Jeter. I think it was a toss-up between Morneau and Jeter, with the edge going to Morneau b/c of the 130 RBI's on the year. Either way, Mauer isn't even close.

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB K SB CS AVG OBP SLG OPS
64 235 40 73 14 3 6 39 41 24 1 2 .311 .409 .472 .882
76 292 50 100 20 1 11 57 28 35 2 2 .342 .399 .531 .930
73 298 60 102 20 1 9 45 27 51 16 3 .342 .405 .507 .912

Answer 3

To the 2 guys above. Look at stolen bases, and the position they play in the field. This is saying that Jeter definately had a shot at MVP and probably performed better than Justin Morneau. JETER IS NOT OVERRATED. That is the most rediculous thing i've ever heard. How can u possibly overrate a person with his amount of world series rings, his career batting average (.317) and his skill at shortstop. Ok so anyway. I think Joe Mauer should have got MVP. He's a great catcher and had the best batting avg in MLB. I think he'll have plenty more shots at it though. He's going to be a true superstar

Answer 4

Good question. Mauer was a better candidate than his teammate Morneau was, that's for sure. Mauer should have the Twins MVP yet baseball writers gave the AL MVP to Morneau over Mauer and Jeter. Makes no sense at all.

Answer 5

Nope. Morneau's numbers were better. Anyone who says Jeter should have won it, since when does a guy with 14 HRs and under 97 RBI win MVP. That's rediculous especially with Morneau hitting 30+ and driving in 130. Come on. I hate how Yankee fans automatically think they have the best player in the league at every position even though thats not even close to true. Morneau all the way. (Oh and no Papi either, BoSox didn't make the playoffs.)

Answer 6

I would have given it to Mauer over Morneau but Twins MVP is stil Johan Santana, the leagues MVP deserved to go to Jeter but whats done is done.

Answer 7

Well as far as value goes, there is no way the A's would have made the playoffs without Frank Thomas last year. Mauer did a lot, but he would not have been a difference maker without Morneau and vice versa.

Answer 8

No... I think Jeter should have been MVP because he had a high batting avg., he has a lot of RBI's for a #2 hitter, he showed leadership and he led the Yanks to the playoffs.

Answer 9

This year was the closest MVP race to me. I think he's deserving, and thus I believe he can be one of a handful of people who "deserves" it. So it could have been any few people and I would have accepted either. As long as it wasn't anyone who obviouly didn't earn it.

Answer 10

No. Justin Morneau was voted MVP by the Sportswriters and so be it.