Good post! Even though you do not think Ortiz is the MVP you see how Jeter gets the nod due to who he plays for/with. Three different guys on that lineup with over 100 rbi's Yeah real hard to hold that team together. These guys are mad the Yankees choked yet again. Typical Yankees fans. Not to mention the guy is a "decent" pro ss? This is supposed to be the MVP. Every single stat I laid out was accurate. Yet they tell me I know nothing haha. Then they argue no MVP should come from a non playoff team. Well tell that to Arod on the last place rangers a few years back Jeter is a great player.He is not the MVP tho. I would love to see him play for a team that wasn't absolutely stacked. I bet you anything his numbers wouldn't be as good. Like effin said. Ortiz is the Red Sox. Jeter is just one of the MANY superstars. You take Ortiz out of that lineup even when the Sox are at full strength it is a huge blow. You take out Jeter and the Yanks are still absolutly stacked.
Let's see Ortiz in a poor line-up too. Ortiz is a beast, but Manny Ramirez is top 5 hitter in all of baseball, at least. Ramirez is a sure Hall-of-Famer, and if not for his protection in the line-up, Big Papi would not be getting pitches to hit very often. Especially late in the game in crucial situations, like those 13 game winning hits. Could easily be 1 or 2 game winning hits, and a lot of walks. Or strikouts if he wasn't patient enough, like a Bonds or Giambi.
I am not hating on Ortiz. Yes I hate him since he is so F*cking good for the Red Sox, and always semms to produce against the Yankees. And I would love to have him be the Yankees' DH, hitting to the short right-field porch. But he would not be anywhere near as good without Manny. Bonds or Pujols would kill a relative to have Manny Ramirez hitting behind them. Ryan Howard could challenge either Maris' non-enhanced record and Bond's HGH aided record with Ramirez inserted behind him in the lie-up. And Ortiz would still produce in NY because he would have enough protection, and enough people getting on base in front of him. But he would not have anywhere near the same production in a week line-up.
I do respect David Ortiz. I would say with great confidence that he is natural, as well as Ryan Howard, and Travis Hafner. Ken Griffey might be the only other one who could naturally hit 50 homers. Pujols and A-rod are probably natural, but I wouldn't be shocked if they were on.
And Jeter still has above average range at short. Not to mention he has had the best arm at short for the last decade. An absolute cannon, that enables him to make plays no one else can, throwing out fast runners from deep in the hole.