Tomorrow, when the powers that be announce their pick for the 2011 American League Most Valuable Player, the pressure will be on them to make the right decision and anoint former Anchorage Glacier Pilot Jacoby Ellsbury with one of baseball’s most prestigious honors.
The haters gonna hate. He was “only” 5th in the AL in batting average, “only” 5th in OPS, 3rd in runs scored, 3rd in hits, 5th in homers, 4th in steals. You can hear the naysayers’ naysaying — or read about it in many pundits’ dissertations about why they should bury Ellsbury in the voting behind Jose Bautista and Justin Verlander — about how he didn’t lead a single major offensive category.
Or you can look at the big picture. He was near the top of the heap in every major offensive category. If a .321 average, .928 OPS, 32 homers, 39 stolen bases, and .986 fielding percentage don’t say MVP, I don’t know what does. He’s already been honored as an All-Star player, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger; I think if you’re all of the above you’re pretty much the MVP. And the fact that he did it a year removed from losing nearly an entire season to injury — he was also named Comeback Player of the Year — only strengthens his case.
True, Verlander was awesome. That’s why we have the Cy Young, which he took home handily. But until a batter can win the Cy, I don’t think a starting pitcher should be allowed to sweep the awards.
Bautista? He’s a great player and definitely a top power hitter. But he’s not as quick on his feet as Ellsbury and, while he’s definitely capable on defense (at an easier position) his glove isn’t as good either.
Ellsbury will take some heat for being part of the Red Sox’ epic collapse, but big deal. They wouldn’t have even been close without his help, and he practically carried the team as they limped toward the finish line this year. Bautista’s Blue Jays weren’t even in the hunt. And as for Verlander, his single 7-runs-surrendered performance in the playoffs for Detroit hardly qualify him as a postseason success.
I’m not trying to talk trash about the other guys; in another year, they might be the lock. But when you have a guy in the running who excels in nearly every category, like Jacoby Ellsbury, I think the case is clear. If there is any justice in this world, Red Sox — and more importantly, Glacier Pilots — fans can rejoice when one of their own is honored as the American League Most Valuable Player for 2011.
jjack is an Alaskan exiled in Montana, except for the summers, when he makes his annual quest north in search of employment and awesome baseball. 
