Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site mb2c.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxr!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!mb2c!mlt
From: mlt@mb2c.UUCP (Mark L. Tompkins)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: AL MVP: My vote for...
Message-ID: <260@mb2c.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Sep-85 12:59:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: mb2c.260
Posted: Mon Sep  9 12:59:51 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Sep-85 05:15:45 EDT
Organization: Michigan Bell, Southfield, MI
Lines: 42

There has been an awful lot of discussion in recent weeks on the net about
who deserves the MVP in the NL this year.  Most of the discussion has cen-
tered around the question: Should a pitcher be allowed to win the MVP, since
the Cy Young was established for pitchers alone?  My feeling is this:
   * The MVP should be given to the player who contributes the most to the 
     success of the team in its drive for the pennant; hence, the winner 
     usually comes from a division winner or heavy contender.  Joe Blow who
     hit .380 for a cellar-dwellar doesn't stand a chance ( there are except-
     ions, though - Carew in 1977 ).  Position should be irrelevant to this
     award.
   * The Cy Young, obviously, should go to the pitcher who had the most
     outstanding season, regardless of his team's finish.
By these two criteria, then, a pitcher should be able to recieve both awards.
Such was the case for Willie Hernandez in '84; he had a truly amazing year as
an individual, and Detroit was looking at third place without his efforts.
Therefore, to alleviate this problem, I suggest the establishment of a new
award in each league to honor the player who had the most outstanding season
regardless of his team's finish; this award would be for everyday players only.
I would call this award the Player of the Year award, but I believe each league
already has this award; it just does not carry the weight of the other two.
In that case, why don't we rename this award the ... ( drum roll, please )
                           WILLIE MAYS AWARD
In my opinion, Mays was the best all-around player in history.  He could do
it all, and do it well. ( I can see another can of worms opening as I speak-
but hey, what's the net for? )  I feel this would do justice to the Guererro-
Gooden situation, and would have taken the heat out of the Guidry-Rice con-
troversy of 1978.  In the case of Guererro, he would get my vote for the Mays
award.  The MVP would be up for grabs, no doubt.  Willie McGee would without
question be in the running for both of these awards.
  
So you're probably wondering; what the hell has all this got to do with the
AL MVP???? Well, I'm getting to that.  My choice at this point can only be...
Don Mattingly.  Admittedly, the Yanks have many other players who are having
great years ( Winfield, Henderson especially ), but in the last two weeks he
has been the catalyst in the offense.  When the Yanks win the East, I predict
the vote will be nearly unanimous ( sorry, Jays fans ).
  
Comments, opposing viewpoints, and flames most welcome.
  
Mark Tompkins
  
P.S. Congrats to Pete Rose on TYing Cobb's hit record yesterday (9/8).