Get Used to Second Place.

Big Papi drops the gap-toothed teddy bear act and ruins any hope he had for the MVP:

"I'll tell you one thing," Ortiz said. "If I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBI [which would give him 137], that's going to be a round number that no one else in the American League will have."

137 might be a prime number, but it's definitely not a round number.


No great mathemetician, Ortiz also proves to be no great logician:

"All depends on who makes the playoffs," he said. "Dye is having an unbelievable season, an incredible year. Konerko, too."

"Morneau, he's having a great season, but in Minnesota, there's no publicity. I bet you nobody knows who he is."

Okay, if you say so.

But if it all depends on who makes the playoffs, you're probably out of the running.


"Don't get me wrong -- [Jeter's] a great player, having a great season, but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup," Ortiz continued. "Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be."

I agree. Ortiz has a point. But I also think Ortiz hurt his chances by missing a couple of weeks, even if it's through no fault of his own. Same goes for Pujols, Beltran, Hafner, etc.


Not the biggest problem with Ortiz's candidacy, though.

He just blew the whole thing by asking for it, by admitting he wants it, by acting like he cares about it. Your team is ten games out. You're supposed to say you're not interested in individual awards.

If you go to the reporters and beg for the MVP? You'll never get it. The reporters place humility above all other characteristics.

Three weeks ago, you were everybody's favorite player. You were Superman. You were the Clutchest Player of All Time.

Now we don't like you anymore.