The Sommer Frieze

Expect it to be Joe Mauer. Mauer set a new record for catchers this year by hitting .365 while winning his third batting title.

Update: Mauer did win the MVP today, and it was almost unanimous. Only one writer (from Seattle) didn’t put Mauer first on his ballot. That writer had Miguel Cabrera first. Nice point by Sam Borden at LoHud about how valuable Cabrera was during that last fateful week which saw the Tigers blow the AL Central.

Mark Teixeira finished as the runnerup. I’d like to know who only placed Teix 8th on his ballot. Say what? Derek Jeter finished 3rd, and I’d like to know the three writers who had him less than 7th. Goodness gracious the airheadedness of the sportswriters who did that.

A-Rod finished in a tie for 10th.

For Teixeira, it’s his 2nd top-10 finish for MVP voting. He finished 7th in 2005.

For Jeter, top-10 finish # 7. He finished 2nd in 2006, 3rd in 1998 and this year, 6th in 1999 and 10th in 2000, 2001 and 2005.

For A-Rod, Top-10 finish # 9. He won 3 times, 2003*, 2005 and 2007. Runnerup in 1996 and 2002* (asterisks for those you-know-what Texas years). Third in 2000.

Also getting consideration were Mo (14th), Cano (T-17th) and CC (20th). Mo finished 9th in 2004 and 2005. It’s funny. Mo got more MVP points than CYA winner Zach Greinke. When you look at MVP points, no pitcher had more than Mo.

CC finished 6th in MVP voting last year.