Yankees

[mack 44]

By that rationale Sheff is the MVP of the Yankees.

[Jason Harris 31]

If Ortiz was still playing 1B people would be holding his poor fielding against him. I see no problem keeping that in the debate.

Canseco. Juan Gone. Giambi. None of those guys were known as strong fielders.

Now, Pudge was a great catcher in addition to the outstanding hitting he did in 1999, but the truth is Pedro was frickin' robbed. Two writers left him off the ballot completely, which was enough for him to lose. The other Sox starters were roughly .500 while Pedro had a 23-4 record. If that's not defining who is Most Valuable, I don't know what would.

[Jason Harris 31]

Ortiz isn't the mvp on his team, it's Manny. If there's no Manny, Ortiz gets junk, and he swings at junk more often than not.

Papi is the guy the Sox feed off. They survive and even thrive off Manny but, because Manny is too often 'Manny being Manny', they don't feed off him. They endure his low points -- not running hard, calling in sick, claiming his hamstrings hurt -- because his bat brings so much. Papi is the guy they look to in the clubhouse for laughter AND when they need a big hit.

Regarding the order, they started the season with Papi batting third and Ramirez batting fourth, then flipped them after about 35 games, but not for the reasons you might think. It wasn't for protection but because they finally came to the conclusion that Papi wasn't walking enough while batting fourth. He was trying to be the hero, since he felt the team needed him to be, as some of the hitters were having off years (Nixon, Millar among others.)

Now, there's no doubt Manny could be the MVP if he were more motivated. I read today that he had 9 homers and 19 ribbies the last twelve games. But the problem is Manny beats to his own drum and goes through too many periods where he just doesn't seem to care.

[Jim A 4]

God I love this time of year with the Yankee haters..its nice to be cared about again, the Sox were the only ones from 1981-94 who even knew they existed,

I was in Boston for about 10 days in September..articles on how Giambi must be on the juice again, papers making the NY Post look like the Washington Post...those Jeter/Arod sucks/swallows shirts..it was interesting for sure...

of course the Yanks had a chance to make the world right by taking them out over the weekend and having Cleveland win a game...then the world would have been right again :P ..it has saved me a trip home though...

God my TIVO is going to get a workout between the playoffs and start of hockey season...

[mack 44]

I'll take the Yankee haters coming out rather than all the Yankee "fans" that think the ship is sinking when they're not actually in first place. Back in the beginning of the season I wouldn't hear a peep from Yankee fans, but then they got in the race again and all of a sudden those damned hats started coming out again.

[Jim A 4]

Believe me Mack, Yankee fans hate the fair weather ones as much as you guys do....as somone who was born a stone's throw from the Stadium there was nothing worse than seeing people all of a sudden wearing the interlocking NY over the past 10 years when they were the same ones stepping on us in the 80's and early 90's...win or lose, they are my team..and even though I've been away for a few years, I'll always keep my ticket package

[mack 44]

It's annoying as hell. Worst part is I'm a Braves fan, so not only do I have to enjoy having my team bounced in the ALDS every year, Braves are probably the worst fans around. No one comes out to the games it seems. Worst moment at a game was being at game 1 against the Cubs a couple years ago and having more Cub fans there then Braves fans. Just pathetic.

[LegoDoom 0]

No doubt, Arod has the edge over the Latino Monster because of the field he plays. If Big Papi was to play some other postition he would be MVP, but hes getting paid to hit the ball and thats it. I think you will see Arod win MVP only because of the plays he makes a 3rd. Yes i am a Bo Sox fan but have to give it to Arod.

You will see Boston beat Chichago

You will see the Yanks be LA

You will see Boston go the distance with the Yanks, but still win

Boston will face Houston in the World Series

Did I miss something or did Boston find some new pitching? They don't have the arms to get to the series.

[mack 44]

I'd still have to take it over the Yankees' staff at this point. Granted it'd be about the same if they just put tees out there, but at least the Sox have Schilling and Boomer. The Yankees don't have one clutch starter, but then again Mo is unhittable in the fall.

[LegoDoom 0]

I'll take Unit, Chacon, and Mussina over the 4+ ERA starters of the Sox. And besides Timlin, who else is in Boston's bullpen?

[mack 44]

Hell if I know, but who's in NY's? An abused and over the hill Gordon? I think pitching as a whole is a wash, but I like Boston's bats.

[Chadd 916]

Flip a coin on that series. Whoever gets hot for a week, or at least gets decent performances from their pitchers will win. If the starters don't go the distance or get to the closers, anything can happen.

[LegoDoom 0]

Hell if I know, but who's in NY's? An abused and over the hill Gordon? I think pitching as a whole is a wash, but I like Boston's bats.

Rivera and Gordon are still better than anyone in Boston's bullpen. I don't really care who wins as I hate both teams, but I'd say the Yankees are the better team right now.

[mack 44]

Me too, I liken the AL to whiffle-ball but I can't see NY doing it. Intangibles count a lot to me and they're the team that couldn't win a clincher in 4 tries.

[A_Steeves12 0]

ill admit the sox need some pitchers. boomer might be the only one thats playing well. clement got rocked in the 1st inning today, so hopefully the can come cack in this game.

[mik3 1]

beep beep beep beep

[kovalchuk71 212]

14-2...DAMN...Big Papi needs to go eat a doughnut....

GO YANKEES

[mack 44]

This coming from a team that traded for Cecil Fielder.

[mik3 1]

This coming from a team that traded for Cecil Fielder.

And won the world series that year.

[mack 44]

Which has anything to do with that? Yeah...

[mik3 1]

Well, lets see. He hit .391 in the world series, I'd say Fielder had something to do with it.

[mack 44]

I meant the comment; don't be dense.

Great start by the bullpen, natch.