Jeter, Teixeira and Mauer Race for AL MVP

It’s the last day of August meaning there is one month remaining in baseball’s regular season.  Is it too early to start talking about regular season awards?  In some ways I say yes because a player can change our opinion of him if he has a stellar month and leads his team into the playoffs.  In other ways I say no because everyone else is making opinions and with over 3/4′s of the season over, we already know who is in the hunt for certain awards.  

The AL MVP is talked about most in New York because two Yankees are in the running for it.  Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira along with Twins catcher Joe Mauer are the three top contenders.  I would say it would be a big surprise if one of these guys didn’t win the award and most people have Joe Mauer winning it.  In 105 games, Mauer is batting .367 with 25 home runs and 79 RBI.  He is the “sexy” pick, if you will.  He deserves great consideration for doing what he’s doing and being a catcher on top of it.  Minnesota is 4.5 games behind the Tigers in the central and if the Twins can overcome the deficit and win the division, then there’s no question in my mind, the AL MVP is Mauer.  Not making the playoffs has not stopped voters from choosing a player.  A-Rod won it with a last place team in Texas, but come on.  A most valuable player has to be playing in the playoffs, no?

This leads into the case for Jeter and Teixeira.  Barring a major setback, the Yankees will be playing in October and these two guys are a big reason why.  Derek Jeter is as locked in as he has ever been in his career right now.  He is 35 years old and having one of his best seasons statistically.  He’s batting .335 and has only struck out 67 times.  August has been good to Jeter and if he remains hot in September, it’s going to be hard not to give him his first MVP.  

Then there’s Teixeira.  He’s batting .284 with 32 home runs and 101 RBI.  He has hit in the clutch all season blasting balls into the new Yankee Stadium’s upper deck.  His defense at first place has been phenomenal, something the Yankees were missing in the Giambi era.  

All three players are deserving and it may be too soon to decipher right now.  September can propel someone or set someone back.  Right now I’d have to give it to Jeter and it may be bias a little, I know, but Jeter deserves an MVP and Mauer’s team may not make the playoffs.  Tex is third in the running right now but could make a September push.  An MVP is nice to have but these guys would rather have a World Series ring to show for 2009.  Playing like an MVP gives a team a better chance at getting a ring.  If Jeter and Tex weren’t have MVP type seasons, then maybe the Yankees wouldn’t be in the position they are in.  I’m sure Jeter and Tex wouldn’t mind if Mauer received MVP honors and they received World Series rings.