We’ll be following the MVP and Cy Young Award candidates in both leagues as a regular weekly feature here at Sports Chat Place. Here are the leaders for American League Most Valuable Player as of the week of July 18, 2011
1) Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox- The Red Sox are in first place in what most consider the toughest division in baseball and Gonzalez has been a huge reason why. Aside from having a good glove, Gonzalez leads the A.L. in batting average at .343 and RBI’s at 78.
2) Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays- If Bautista were on the Yankees, Red Sox, or really on a stringer contender he would have a stronger case but he should still be a factor down the stretch. Bautista is third in the American League in batting average at .332 with 31 homers and 66 RBI’s all while being walked an A.L. high 77 times.
3) Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees-While it looks like the Yankees have been getting it done with smoke and mirrors for the most part this season, it’s been Granderson who has stood up to be counted and who has been the difference maker they thought he would be when they went out and got him. Granderson has 26 home runs, 70 RBI’s, scored 85 runs, and he’s stolen 18 bases.
4) Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers-Move a few of the categories around and Beltre and Granderson have really similar numbers and their teams both being post season contenders, they will get the extra look. Beltre has 75 RBI’s, 20 home runs, and 27 doubles, near the tops in the Junior Circuit.
5) Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers-We are so used to seeing big production from Cabrera it’s easy for it to go unnoticed sometimes. Cabrera is hitting .311 with 63 RBI’s and 20 home runs and he’s been walked 30 more times than Gonzalez at 68 times and he’s struck out 17 less times.
6) Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox- While Konerko has the numbers to be considered in this group, his team is going to need to help him out by winning games and contending so he makes some news and some noise. For the season thus far Konerko has 22 home runs, 69 RBI’s, and a .310 batting average.
7) Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians-With the Indians coming from nowhere, Cabrera has come from nowhere as well and to make him fly even further under the radar there are two other Cabrera’s in the Tribe’s starting lineup. This Cabrera is batting .292 with 60 RBI’s and 17 home runs with 114 hits.
8) Michael Young, Texas Rangers-Young doesn’t have the power numbers that most of the players in this group have but he does have all of the other numbers and he’s been the straw stirring the drink in Arlington. While Young has just eight home runs he’s hitting .320 with 63 RBI’s.
9) David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox-Personally I have a problem making a guy who just hits the MVP but if there is anyone who can maybe make an argument its Ortiz. Big Papi is hitting .294 with 19 home runs and 58 RBI’s this season.
10) Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox-Yet another Red Sox player in the mix and he may not be the last to enter this list before the season is done. Ellsbury has been the spark that ignites the Boston offense with a .316 batting average, 123 hits, 70 runs scored and 54 RBI’s,and he’s stolen 28 bases; all decent numbers for a lead off guy.
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