Is Manny Ramirez Major League Baseball's MVP?
Red Sox/Dodgers Slugger Spent Season in American & National Leagues
Oct 2, 2008
In the 2008 season, Manny Ramirez played his first 100 games of the season with the Boston Red Sox. At the trading deadline, however, Boston traded their best hitter to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where Ramirez played the last 53 games of the year with the Boys of Summer. Because he had limited time in each league, Ramirez is not expected to place very highly in MVP voting in either the American or National Leagues. However, if one takes a look at Manny's entire season, it becomes pretty clear that he was the Most Valuable Player in the Major Leagues during the 2008 season.
What Makes a Most Valuable Player?
There are no official qualifications for MVP voting. Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) simply rank whom they believe are the ten most valuable players in each league, and each surely has a slightly different definition of what constitutes "most valuable." But some things are clear.
First and foremeost, if a player is going to win an MVP award, he must produce on the field. Secondly, it helps if the player plays well down the stretch. Third, it is a big plus for any player in the mix if his team makes the postseason. Finally, there are the intangibles: clutch hitting, presence in the locker room, an ability to change the game. Ramirez scores well in just about every one of these categories.
Production
No one can chanllenege the fact that Manny Ramirez produced on the field in 2008. He hit .332, an average that was third best in the Major Leagues. Manny also swatted 37 home runs, tied for fourth most in all of baseball. He also ranks third best in the big leagues. Manny also ranks fourth in on base percentage, second in slugging, and third in OPS. The man had a great year at the plate.
Play Down the Stretch for a Playoff Team
Manny was, far and away, the best hitter in baseball duirng the last two months of the season. In his final 53 games, all played with the Dodgers, Ramirez batted .396 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI. His performance helped a light-hitting Dodgers team turn it around. Before Ramirez arrived from the east coast, the Dodgers were 54-55 and three games out of first place. But with Manny the Dodgers went 30-23 and finished in first place in the National League West.
Intangibles
The only factor weighing against Ramirez is his attitude. I mid-July, Ramirez sat out a key game against the Yankees, claiming he was unable to play. Many believed that by sitting out such an important game, Manny was sending a message to ownership to picj up his $20 million option for the 2009 season or trade him to another team. According to the Boston Red Sox, every player on the team voted to trade Ramirez. That can't be a good thing.
On the other hand, since he has been in Los Angeles, Ramirez has been a perfect citizen. He's also made the hitters around him better. Even Joe Torre likes him. So, as bad as he was (allegedly) for the Red Sox, Ramirez has been good for the Dodgers.
In all of Major League Baseball this season, only Albert Pujols had the statistics and makes an impact on the game like Manny Ramirez. However, the Cardinals finished in fourth place while the Dodgers won their division. Manny should therefore get the nod ahead of Albert.
Of course, this is all fictional, which is too bad because Manny Ramirez, a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer, should win at least one MVP in his brilliant career.
