And your AL MVP through August 2nd is...

[cowboysrule48]

Yeah but do you really think Longo will have another terrible month, I could see Longo hitting around .290 with 35 hr this year. All he needs to do is get hot again.

Unless Zobrist starts to slump, Evan will not catch him in OBP, SLG, OPS. The only reason he has more HR is because Zobrist wasn't even starting everyday until May.

 

[dutchj16]

Don't get me wrong as a Rays fan I love having Zobrist bat cleanup but I think Longo will have a better overall year with his defense and his offensive numbers will surely surge.

 

[andyduke86]

Longoria is easily more valuable because of his defensive play. Zobrist is an average defender at best. Plus I bet Zobrist comes back down to earth down the stretch.

 

[cowboysrule48]

Longoria is easily more valuable because of his defensive play. Zobrist is an average defender at best. Plus I bet Zobrist comes back down to earth down the stretch.

I would disagree there. Zobrist has played very well at second base in the absence of Aki. If anything the Rays are a better team since Aki's injury, and that is because of Zobrist. I don't know how you can just expect him to come back down to earth when he hasn't hit a slump all season.

 

[BGSRCGUY]

Don't get me wrong as a Rays fan I love having Zobrist bat cleanup but I think Longo will have a better overall year with his defense and his offensive numbers will surely surge.

Mvp's don't have 3 hr 8 rbi months... That was June.

 

[Brett Keith]

Actually, according to FanGraphs.com, Zobrist is above average in RF, about average at SS, and the top defensive 2B in the AL, although he's a little short of qualifying, but that's been the position he's played the most this year by far. Take into consideration his production and the value of his versatility, that's a damn good MVP candidate, better than Longoria at this point.

 

[andyduke86]

Actually, according to FanGraphs.com, Zobrist is above average in RF, about average at SS, and the top defensive 2B in the AL, although he's a little short of qualifying, but that's been the position he's played the most this year by far. Take into consideration his production and the value of his versatility, that's a damn good MVP candidate, better than Longoria at this point.

Defensive stats can be/are misleading. From watching them just about everygame, he's about average defensively. He's nowhere near as good as Aki.

 

[cowboysrule48]

Actually, according to FanGraphs.com, Zobrist is above average in RF, about average at SS, and the top defensive 2B in the AL, although he's a little short of qualifying, but that's been the position he's played the most this year by far. Take into consideration his production and the value of his versatility, that's a damn good MVP candidate, better than Longoria at this point.

Defensive stats can be/are misleading. From watching them just about everygame, he's about average defensively. He's nowhere near as good as Aki.

I didn't say he was as good as Aki, but he is above-average. What I was saying is for him to be able to step up and and excel at the position while continuing to hit as well as he was off the bench is more valuable to me than Longoria has been this year. Then when/if Aki comes back in Sept, he can move to RF and get rid of the platoon. His offensive numbers are ahead of Evan's enough to outweigh the defensive side.

 

[Brett Keith]

Actually, according to FanGraphs.com, Zobrist is above average in RF, about average at SS, and the top defensive 2B in the AL, although he's a little short of qualifying, but that's been the position he's played the most this year by far. Take into consideration his production and the value of his versatility, that's a damn good MVP candidate, better than Longoria at this point.

Defensive stats can be/are misleading. From watching them just about everygame, he's about average defensively. He's nowhere near as good as Aki.

Eyes can be misleading.

 

[KOBEARODLT]

anybody who thinks longoria is mvp must be blind...morneau is MVP

 

[bigalexx]

If it wasn't for injury, Torii Hunter would be in this conversation.

 

[Austin]

Morneau easily if the season ended right now.
He's leading the AL in homers and rbi while hitting .309.
Mauer would be a close second.
I'm not a Twins fan, but I hope the M&M brothers stay together for a long time.

 

[jarcar]

I'd say Morneau but it is hard to ignore Mauer.

 

[MallCopKJ]

Josh Reddick.

 

[KC37]

It'll be Teixeira, because Morneau and Mauer will split votes...again.

I go Mauer, but there are people who will hold it against him that he was out for a month.

 

[bradical]

Ichiro.

On pace for 250+ hits. Gold glove on lock. Possible 40 SB. Oh, and he is batting .364.

 

[mredsox89]

Youkilis has to at least be in the discussion. Hitting .313, on pace for 30+ and 100+, with an OBP over .400 and an OPS over 1.000. Not necessarily the MVP right now but he is right up there with the rest

 

[KC37]

Ichiro.

On pace for 250+ hits. Gold glove on lock. Possible 40 SB. Oh, and he is batting .364.

If Seattle were competing, I'd completely agree with you. He might make Top 5 as a nod to the season, but with candidates on contenders, he's going to have to do something above and beyond to get noticed.