Straying from the Norm: An Interesting AL MVP race... Finally

The dictionary defines an MVP as the player judged to be the most important to the sport, or team. For as many years as I can remember, the American League MVP voting hasn't been the most thrilling of outcomes. Dating back to 2001 we have seen a "rookie" in Ichiro win the title, as well as three titles from Alex Rodriguez. Throw in Tejada, Morneau, and Vladdy and you basically have the last seven years in a nutshell. This year, it's all different. There many names that have been thrown out there for AL MVP but here are the ones that need that extra focus. One of these five men will win the award this year. For three of them it will be their first, and for a couple, room will have to be made for yet another trophy.

To any who are wondering why Cliff Lee or K-Rod didn't make the list, Im just not a big believe in pitchers winning an MVP award, unless their statistics are absolutely mind boggling. The pitchers have their award, and the batters have theirs. Though Cliff Lee was pretty damn good...

5. Carlos Quentin [36 Homers, 100 RBI, 138 Hits, .288 average]

The numbers for Quentin can't be ignored. However the stats were only through 130 games. After fouling off a pitch, hepunched his bat, resulting in the breaking of his wrist. Even after missing the last month and a half of the season, he ranks 11th in RBI, 2nd in HR, and is mild at best with his 138 hits. While the numbers are impressive, I believe that he ruined his chance the second he decided to let his anger get the best of him. While it was still a very impressive season, he just doesn't have it to push him over the remaining four.

4. Alex Rodriguez [35 Homers, 103 RBI, 154 Hits, .302]

Each and every season, you can go ahead and pen Alex Rodriguez’s name as a candidate for the American League MVP. This year his stats are once again very good and he’s especially hot as of late. While A-Rod has once again continued to perform to standard [though not the New York Media's], I'm not sold on him winning it this year. While he is leading in AL Slugging Percentage, he falls to 8th in RBI, and wasn't even in the top 3 on his own team in hits. The home run dominance continued however, as he finished 3rd in the league in that category, but I don't forsee it being enough this year for the future Home run king.

3. Justin Morneau [23 Homers, 129 RBI, 187 hits, .300]

Not only are Justin Morneau’s numbers very good, he was on a winning team that wasn’t supposed to be a playoff contender. He finished the year 6th in hits, and 2nd in RBI but falls to 25th when it comes to average. The biggest thing that Morneau had going for him is that he is the true definition of MVP. Without him and teammate Joe Mauer, the Twins don't come anywhere near the post-season. While the Canadian posted another tremendous statistical year, the trophy isn't in his future, and unfortunately for Twins fans, neither are the playoffs.

2. Josh Hamilton [32 Homers, 130 RBI, 190 Hits, .302]

"Jamilton" had a Cinderella story if there ever was one. He was without a doubt the clear cut favor to win the award going into the All-Star break but kind of fell off a little soon afterward. He finished 11th in average, led the league in RBI, and finished 8th in home runs. The one problem I have with Hamilton is the fact that he couldn't really keep his numbers up for the entire season. It would have been very hard to continue to do so, I feel that a stronger second half campaign would have given him a lock to win the title. If Josh has anything going for him, it's the fact that he is the kind of player who will come back next season and make an even stronger run at the coveted award.

1. Dustin Pedroia [.376 OBP, 54 Doubles, 213 hits, .326]

As a Yankee's fan, putting Pedroia on the top of my list hurts just a little bit but there is no way I can force myself to put him anywhere else. He finished 2nd in the AL in batting average and lead the league in doubles. He also racked up 213 hits, good for second in the AL. You may wonder however why there re no RBI or Runs number listed above. Well... They weren't exactly Pedroia's bread and butter so to speak. What WAS his bread and butter were multi-hit games, which Pedroia had 51 of. It's impossible to avoid the numbers however and I believe that this years MVP award belongs to the toughest 5' 9'' player to ever pick up a bat... All 180 pounds of him.

Honorable Mentions

There were of course some players who I feel were honorable mentions in most of the statistical categories. Including Joe Mauer, Cliff Lee, Francisco Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera and Kevin Youkilis.

I hope that I have given most of you some valuable input as to who are the leading contenders for the American League Most Valuable Player. But the sports writers have proved me wrong plenty of times, and the last thing I would be is surprised to see someone not even appearing on the list snipe an MVP trophy.

But then again... Isn't that what makes America's Pastime so interesting and enjoyable?

Written by, Edited by, and Developed by Travis Rand, Bleacher Reporter MLB Baseball