Can a Yankee win the MVP?

Even at this point -- even after Sheffield won the Fox Sports Cell Phone poll last Saturday (though at least a few worthy candidates were not even included) -- even after that guy at the anchor desk sitting next to that chick said it should be Sheffield -- even with Torre and Jeter and ARod spreading the gospel -- I still don't think it's going to happen.


If Sheffield does win the MVP, it would signal another shift in the jagged rationale of the voters:

1) Sheffield is a Yankee.

2) Sheffield is disliked by the press (at least prior to this season).

3) The Yankees win too many games, so Sheffield fails the all-important test, "Where would the team be without him?" The Yankees would still be in first place without Sheffield. But, then again, Ichiro won when his team won 116 games and ARod won when his team came in last place. So that rationale seems kind of dumb. Kind of arbitrary. Maybe they made it up so they wouldn't have to give the MVP to a Yankee in 1998.


I would also be forced to officially apologize to Mark M. of New Haven, Connecticut whose money I was so willing to take because I thought he was a sucka. Turns out, Felz might be the sucka. I'd gladly apologize to Mark M. if Sheff was actually awarded the MVP.

Sheffield would be the first Yankee to win it since Rickey in 1985 with his 146 runs scored, 80 stolen bases in 90 attempts, .314 batting average, 24 homeruns, 28 doubles, 5 triples, 99 walks, .419 on-base percentage, .516 slugging percentage ... wait a second, that's not right. I meant to say, the first Yankee to win the MVP since Mattingly in 1985. Not Rickey. What was I thinking?

For me personally? The obvious choice at this point is Miguel Tejada. But Sheffield might be second, which ain't too shabby. I haven't given it too much thought. Plus, there's still six weeks to go, and almost anyone can still win the MVP if they hit 30 homeruns in September and lead their team to a wild card.

At the very least, I am pleased that Typical Yankee Fan attitude towards Sheffield has universally turned for the better. The Daily News is also no longer publishing cartoons of Sheffield as a crybaby in diapers.