Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in AL MVP Voting, announced at 2:00pm today. The nearly unanimous choice for the award was Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer, who received 27 of the 28 first place votes. The other first place vote went to Miguel Cabrera, for some reason.

As fine a year as Tex and Jeter had, Mauer really deserved this award. I can’t think of anyone in the league more valuable than Joe Mauer is to the Twins. If you replaced Mauer with an average catcher, I’m not sure if the Twins win 75 games this season. If you replaced either Jeter or Teixeira with an average shortstop or first baseman, the Yankees still probably win 95 games and make the playoffs.

This might be one of the last chances Jeter has at the MVP award. As great as his season was this year, he’s showing signs of slowing down. His 30 stolen bases this year were a result of his smart baserunning and always knowing when the best time is to run. His one triple and low range factor at shortstop show his legs are getting a little heavier. He’ll be 36 next year and playing in his 15th full major league season.

Teixeira, on the other hand will only be 30 next season and still has plenty of time to win an MVP award. He led the league in home runs and RBI this season, and he makes up for the fact that he’s just a first baseman by winning a gold glove at the position. If he can avoid having the atrocious April he had this year expect to see him at or near the top of the voting in 2010.

Tags: derek jeter, mark teixeira, mvp, mvp award, new york yankees

Perhaps one of the most talked about free agents of the offseason is Cuban pitching prospect Aroldis Chapman, a flame-throwing southpaw whose fastball has topped out around 102 mph. The race seems to be between the Yankees and the Red Sox, both of whom have some advantages. The Red Sox signed Chapman’s friend from Cuba as a possible backup shortstop, while the Yankees have an almost unlimited amount of money to offer him. Judging by last season, we all know which advantage tends to win out in the end, hahaha.

Fans have yet to be impressed by Chapman, who had a so-so showing in the World Baseball Classic with an ERA over 6.00. Prices for 2009 Aroldis Chapman rookie cards are still quite cheap on eBay.

Tags: aroldis chapman, boston red sox, cuban pitcher, new york yankees, rookie card, rookie cards

In honor of the New York Yankees 27 World Series championships, here is every Yankees Sports Illustrated cover:

Tags: sports illustrated, world series, yankees

Bud Selig created the Hank Aaron Award to honor the best hitter in each league, with the hopes that it would someday hold the same status as the Cy Young and MVP awards. By allowing fans to vote on the award, Selig has ensured that it never will hold that kind of status. Derek Jeter was named as the AL recipient this season, despite the fact that he’s not even the best hitter on the Yankees.

I love Jeets, but he hit 18 home runs this season, less than 27 doubles, and 1 triple. That’s 46 total extra base hits. Yes, his average was great, but it wasn’t best in the league. It wasn’t even second best. Joe Mauer has Jeter beat in batting average by 30 points, and in on-base percentage by even more than that. And Mauer has better power numbers to go with it! Tex also had a fine season at the plate after a miserable April. His batting average was well below Jeter’s, but his power numbers were more than enough to make him the more feared run-producer.

It may seem sacrilegious to criticize an award given to The Captain, but an award that is clearly not earned will only blemish Jeter’s reputation and feed fuel to the “overrated” hecklers.

Tags: bud selig, derek jeter, hank aaron award, joe mauer