Jeter runner-up in AL MVP Award voting
11/21/2006 6:24 PM ET
Jeter runner-up in AL MVP Award voting
Yankees shortstop finishes 14 points behind Twins' Morneau
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter has been picking up his share of hardware this offseason, but he missed out on the crown jewel of awards on Tuesday, as Justin Morneau captured the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
Jeter finished with 306 points to Morneau's 320, receiving 12 first-place votes to Morneau's 15. Jeter also earned 14 second-place votes, a fourth-place vote and a sixth-place vote.
"To really appreciate the kind of work he does, you have to see him on a regular basis," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "We've had players who have come over from different organizations, and after a month or so, they've come to me and said, 'I always knew he was a good player, but I never realized how good he was.'"
Morneau received eight second-place votes, three third-place votes and two fourth-place votes. The only other players listed on all 28 ballots were Boston's David Ortiz, who finished third, and Chicago's Jermaine Dye, who finished fifth. Oakland's Frank Thomas, who came in fourth, was named on 26.
Jeter, a seven-time All-Star, ranked second in the American League with a .343 batting average and 118 runs scored, fourth with a .417 on-base percentage and sixth with 34 stolen bases. Jeter also drove in 97 runs out of the No. 2 spot in New York's lineup.
"When he knocks in a run, it's different than when a home run hitter does it," Torre said. "A home run hitter can get himself two or three quick RBIs, where Derek, for the most part, is knocking them in one at a time."
Jeter came through when his team needed him to this season, batting .381 with runners in scoring position. That ranked second among all American League players with at least 100 such at-bats, trailing only Texas' Michael Young, who hit .412. Mauer hit .360 with RISP, while Dye hit .351, Morneau .323 and Ortiz .288.
"It was the closest call of any MVP race in recent memory, but to me, the deciding factor was Jeter's average with runners in scoring position," said Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record, who listed Jeter first on his ballot. "He showed a unique ability to handle pressure."
Jeter also topped Morneau, Ortiz and Dye in hits, runs, doubles, batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases.
"While I know that voting for these awards is primarily based on differing opinions and statistical debates, it's also part of what makes baseball such a great sport," Jeter said in a statement released by the Yankees.
"Having said that, I'm flattered and honored to have been considered for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. I want to congratulate Justin Morneau on this well-deserved honor. He is a special player, and I suspect this won't be the last time you will hear his name mentioned when awards are being passed out.
"You've heard me say it a thousand times, but winning the World Series for the New York Yankees continues to be my main focus. There is no individual award that can compare with a championship trophy, and I look forward to working towards that challenge again in 2007."
The fact that the Yankees essentially wrapped up the AL East in August with their five-game sweep of the Red Sox may have hurt Jeter. Morneau and the Twins fought until the final weekend of the season to win the AL Central, which apparently swayed some voters.
"I thought both had great years, in different ways," said the Newark Star-Ledger's Ed Price, who listed Jeter second on his ballot. "I voted Morneau first because his team was in a closer race, and I thought the way he played when the Twins got hot and got back in the race made him more instrumental to his team's finish."
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jeter became just the fifth player in the past 75 seasons to hit .340 or higher, drive in at least 90 runs and steal 30 or more bases in the same season. The others were Larry Walker (1997), Ellis Burks (1996), Willie Mays (1958) and Jackie Robinson (1949).
"To play at that kind of high level all year, it's very difficult to do," Torre said. "He means so much to our team."
Jeter, who was named the MVP of the 2000 World Series and All-Star Game, would have been the third player to win those two awards in addition to a league MVP award. Brooks Robinson (1964 AL MVP, 1966 All-Star MVP and 1970 WS MVP) and Frank Robinson (1961 NL MVP, 1966 AL MVP, 1966 WS MVP, 1971 All-Star MVP) are the others.
Since the end of the season, Jeter has picked up several awards, including the AL Hank Aaron Award, the Silver Slugger and his third consecutive Gold Glove.
The second-place finish is the best of Jeter's career. He came in third in 1998, behind Juan Gonzalez and Nomar Garciaparra. Jeter also finished sixth in 1999, but hadn't placed higher than 10th since then.
This is the fifth straight season in which a Yankee has finished in the top three of the MVP vote. In 2002, Alfonso Soriano finished third behind Miguel Tejada and Alex Rodriguez. The next year, Jorge Posada came in third, finishing behind A-Rod and Carlos Delgado. In 2004, Gary Sheffield placed second behind Vladimir Guerrero, while A-Rod captured the award as a Yankee in 2005.
Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle won three MVPs apiece, while Roger Maris won two. Other Yankees winners were Lou Gehrig, Joe Gordon, Spud Chandler, Phil Rizzuto, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly and Rodriguez.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.
Jeter runner-up in AL MVP Award voting
Yankees shortstop finishes 14 points behind Twins' Morneau
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter has been picking up his share of hardware this offseason, but he missed out on the crown jewel of awards on Tuesday, as Justin Morneau captured the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
Jeter finished with 306 points to Morneau's 320, receiving 12 first-place votes to Morneau's 15. Jeter also earned 14 second-place votes, a fourth-place vote and a sixth-place vote.
"To really appreciate the kind of work he does, you have to see him on a regular basis," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "We've had players who have come over from different organizations, and after a month or so, they've come to me and said, 'I always knew he was a good player, but I never realized how good he was.'"
Morneau received eight second-place votes, three third-place votes and two fourth-place votes. The only other players listed on all 28 ballots were Boston's David Ortiz, who finished third, and Chicago's Jermaine Dye, who finished fifth. Oakland's Frank Thomas, who came in fourth, was named on 26.
Jeter, a seven-time All-Star, ranked second in the American League with a .343 batting average and 118 runs scored, fourth with a .417 on-base percentage and sixth with 34 stolen bases. Jeter also drove in 97 runs out of the No. 2 spot in New York's lineup.
"When he knocks in a run, it's different than when a home run hitter does it," Torre said. "A home run hitter can get himself two or three quick RBIs, where Derek, for the most part, is knocking them in one at a time."
Jeter came through when his team needed him to this season, batting .381 with runners in scoring position. That ranked second among all American League players with at least 100 such at-bats, trailing only Texas' Michael Young, who hit .412. Mauer hit .360 with RISP, while Dye hit .351, Morneau .323 and Ortiz .288.
"It was the closest call of any MVP race in recent memory, but to me, the deciding factor was Jeter's average with runners in scoring position," said Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record, who listed Jeter first on his ballot. "He showed a unique ability to handle pressure."
Jeter also topped Morneau, Ortiz and Dye in hits, runs, doubles, batting average, on-base percentage and stolen bases.
"While I know that voting for these awards is primarily based on differing opinions and statistical debates, it's also part of what makes baseball such a great sport," Jeter said in a statement released by the Yankees.
"Having said that, I'm flattered and honored to have been considered for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. I want to congratulate Justin Morneau on this well-deserved honor. He is a special player, and I suspect this won't be the last time you will hear his name mentioned when awards are being passed out.
"You've heard me say it a thousand times, but winning the World Series for the New York Yankees continues to be my main focus. There is no individual award that can compare with a championship trophy, and I look forward to working towards that challenge again in 2007."
The fact that the Yankees essentially wrapped up the AL East in August with their five-game sweep of the Red Sox may have hurt Jeter. Morneau and the Twins fought until the final weekend of the season to win the AL Central, which apparently swayed some voters.
"I thought both had great years, in different ways," said the Newark Star-Ledger's Ed Price, who listed Jeter second on his ballot. "I voted Morneau first because his team was in a closer race, and I thought the way he played when the Twins got hot and got back in the race made him more instrumental to his team's finish."
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Jeter became just the fifth player in the past 75 seasons to hit .340 or higher, drive in at least 90 runs and steal 30 or more bases in the same season. The others were Larry Walker (1997), Ellis Burks (1996), Willie Mays (1958) and Jackie Robinson (1949).
"To play at that kind of high level all year, it's very difficult to do," Torre said. "He means so much to our team."
Jeter, who was named the MVP of the 2000 World Series and All-Star Game, would have been the third player to win those two awards in addition to a league MVP award. Brooks Robinson (1964 AL MVP, 1966 All-Star MVP and 1970 WS MVP) and Frank Robinson (1961 NL MVP, 1966 AL MVP, 1966 WS MVP, 1971 All-Star MVP) are the others.
Since the end of the season, Jeter has picked up several awards, including the AL Hank Aaron Award, the Silver Slugger and his third consecutive Gold Glove.
The second-place finish is the best of Jeter's career. He came in third in 1998, behind Juan Gonzalez and Nomar Garciaparra. Jeter also finished sixth in 1999, but hadn't placed higher than 10th since then.
This is the fifth straight season in which a Yankee has finished in the top three of the MVP vote. In 2002, Alfonso Soriano finished third behind Miguel Tejada and Alex Rodriguez. The next year, Jorge Posada came in third, finishing behind A-Rod and Carlos Delgado. In 2004, Gary Sheffield placed second behind Vladimir Guerrero, while A-Rod captured the award as a Yankee in 2005.
Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle won three MVPs apiece, while Roger Maris won two. Other Yankees winners were Lou Gehrig, Joe Gordon, Spud Chandler, Phil Rizzuto, Elston Howard, Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly and Rodriguez.
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
© 2001-2006 MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.
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