The Boston Red Sox went from two consecutive last-place seasons to being the front-runners in the American League East, and there are a few players who could be rewarded for it.
However, they might end up hurting each other’s chances instead.
David Ortiz and Mookie Betts both are in the running for the American League MVP award, but that might not work out for the Red Sox in the end. In fact, they could end up taking votes away from each other thanks to some close competition among the two of them, Jose Altuve, Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson.
This is how all five of those players looked before the start of Saturday’s slate of games. The AL ranking of each stat is in parentheses.
| Player | Runs | Hits | Doubles | Home Runs | RBIs | Average | OPS |
| Mookie Betts | 117 (T-2nd) | 207 (1st) | 40 (T-3rd) | 31 (T-16th) | 108 (5th) | .321 (2nd) | .908 (8th) |
| David Ortiz | 77 (36th) | 162 (20th) | 47 (1st) | 37 (8th) | 124 (T-1st) | .319 (3rd) | 1.040 (1st) |
| Jose Altuve | 102 (9th) | 206 (2nd) | 40 (T-3rd) | 24 (35th) | 94 (19th) | .338 (1st) | .935 (4th) |
| Mike Trout | 117 (T-2nd) | 166 (15th) | 31 (24th) | 28 (25th) | 95 (T-16th) | .316 (5th) | .992 (2nd) |
| Josh Donaldson | 118 (1st) | 155 (T-31st) | 30 (T-26th) | 36 (T-9th) | 96 (T-12th) | .238 (23rd) | .955 (3rd) |
Looking at those basic stats alone, both Betts and Ortiz are in pretty good standing in the AL MVP race. But if you’re a voter who gets to see both of them play all the time, who do you choose?
Ortiz’s status as a designated hitter likely will hurt him here. The rest of those players have Gold Glove potential along with their offensive numbers, so they’ll likely get the edge in any situation. But voters also could take into consideration that Ortiz is having a historic season as a 40-year-old, and then we’re back to square one. So, you can see how Betts and Ortiz might split votes between them, giving way for someone else to take the crown.
There’s also the fact that you can make a good case against both of them, too. The stats on the table are as basic as it gets. If you get into categories like park adjusted offense, for example, Donaldson’s standing gets higher. The fact that the Los Angeles Angels stink explains Trout’s lower RBI total. If you look at every last factor that goes into the decision, as many voters do, then things get a lot more complicated.
And then there’s the issue with the word “valuable,” which some people interpret literally and others look at as more of a Most Outstanding Player award. When it comes to value, though, do the Red Sox run away with the AL East without Ortiz? Do the Houston Astros even have a chance at the playoffs without Altuve?
Choosing the AL MVP won’t be an easy task. It’s probable all five of these guys will get a decent amount of votes. But between Betts and Ortiz, it likely will come down to the right fielder’s sheer athleticism against Big Papi’s intangible value, and that could send both of them home empty-handed.
Thumbnail photo via Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports Images
