Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is no 2016 MVP
By Rick McNair
The Red Sox David Ortiz is having a season for the ages, but he is not the MVP this season.
The drums are beating for eliciting attention for Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz to be considered as the American League Most Valuable Player – a title he most certainly does not deserve.
The basis of my opinion is twofold. The first is prejudices against his assigned role as a designated hitter. A DH is viewed as an incomplete player whom circumstances have placed into a category crudely defined as “one-dimensional.” The second is the field of competition.
Ortiz will get his rewards such as another Silver Slugger Award and some real traction in the MVP vote. Somewhat of a personal contradiction, but if I had a vote on the MVP ballot Ortiz’ name would appear – just not in the top slot, which I would ceremoniously hand to Mookie Betts. Ortiz would most likely after deep contemplation with my dart board be around fourth on my ballot. And my assumption is that exactly what voters will do.
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Ortiz’s exceptional season came at a most inopportune time to capture an MVP recognition since several “complete” candidates litter the selection possibilities. A Houston fan could counter my Betts provincialism with Jose Altuve and a Jays fan could put forward a repeat for Josh Donaldson. If it was the Best Player Award then Mike Trout would get the trophy.
Ortiz simply is absent in the field and defense gets deserved recognition. My favorite – Betts – has contributed extensively to his potential vote total with some rather glorious catches and spectacular throws. There are some nice fielding metrics numbers that build up his baseball WAR, be it whichever one you choose as your WAR bible.
MVP’s do have a way of being influenced by their defensive contributions. Even the occasional MVP who is a bit laggard in the field still has the fact that he contributed – minutely as it may be – to at least pretending to play defense. Most, however, are competent defenders who also happen to have some real ability to pulverize with the bat.
Ortiz suffers from being relegated to the DH slot and that may be unjust, but to me it is not. Over the full schedule, it is a significant factor and that reduces my base feeling about awarding Ortiz an MVP. I will also state that when Ortiz has gone on the field with a glove in hand, he is no slouch or Dick Stuart. Ortiz is a smart player with reliable hands. The downside is quite obvious – he moves like a three-legged tortoise.
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If Ortiz was in the National League this season with the same level of accomplishments, he most certainly would get the honor. Ortiz – in my jaundiced view – handles the first base mitt with a skill level that surpasses another former MVP in the NL – Ryan Howard. But Ortiz is in the AL and has a plethora of other candidates to surpass and he simply does not have the defense portion added to his résumé this season.
Time to segue into several awards that Ortiz is a possible winner and hopefully will add to his ever-expanding trophy collection. The American League Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP may just see Ortiz bagging one or both. That has been accomplished in the past and both would be a fond farewell present – far better than a surfboard so graciously presented by the San Diego Padres.
The next award would be one distributed to members of the team and that is a ring. Ortiz would have his fourth ring and you have to go back a hundred years to find another Red Sox player who can make that statement.
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The ultimate award for Ortiz will be the Hall of Fame. This is an absolute first ballot lock. DH or not Ortiz deserves it and will get it.