I think Pedroia will win AL MVP.

I think Youkilis will be second.

I didn't do much research. Just a hunch.

According to Tom Singer, the favorites are Francisco Rodriguez and Josh Hamilton.

I think one of these so-called "favorites" will not crack the top five.

As for the lunacy of Rodriguez's MVP qualifications:

"K-Rod had a hand -- or, rather, a right arm -- in almost two out of every three Angels wins."

Pedroia scored 118 runs and played in almost every game.


"His record of 62 saves wasn't the result of greater use -- he appeared in a similar number of games each of the prior four seasons."
We agree. It was just a statistical fluke because his team happened to play in a lot of close games. His save% was under 90%, if I remember correctly.

"Rather, as manager Mike Scioscia pointed out, it was owed to the amazing number of situations begging for his specialty that presented themselves."

Statistical fluke.


"The Angels won 63 games by one or two runs; K-Rod saved 51 of them, and he picked up the victory in two others."

No mention of the blown saves or the losses.


"No one else in the league, obviously, has directly affected as many team wins."

Dustin Pedroia scored 118 runs and played in almost every game.

"By definition, no one else has been as valuable."

True.

Except for Pedroia, Youkilis, Hamilton, A-Rod, Mariano, Mussina, Mauer, Morneau, Sizemore, Bradley, Kinsler, Ordonez, Cabrera, Quentin, and probably Carlos Pena, too.