Buffalo News (New York)
December 13, 2009 Sunday
Dear Editor,
It is somewhat laughable how Yankees fans think Derek Jeter was robbed of this year's MVP. All Joe Mauer did was outhit Jeter, .365 to .334, outhomer him, 28 to 18, drive in 96 runs to Jeter's 66, have a .444 on-base percentage to Jeter's .406 and an on-base-plus slugging percentage of 1.031 to Jeter's .871 -- not even close. Yes, Jeter had a terrific season. Yes, he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. And yes, he has "looks, charisma and charm," whatever those things have to do with being a great baseball player.
If the writers are so "ignorant and jealous" when it comes to the Yankees, how is it that they voted Jeter as the American League Rookie of the Year, and the MVP of an All-Star Game or the MVP of a World Series? He might have been MVP of the Series this year if he had driven in more than one run and not struck out and hit into a double play in crucial spots in the ninth innings of games Four and Five.
If Mauer and Jeter had changed teams this year, Mauer would have won the World Series and Jeter wouldn't. But Minnesota would not have even made the playoffs without the great year Mauer had. The writers had it right when they voted the Yankees' Mark Teixeira second behind Mauer and Jeter third. Jeter wasn't even the most valuable player on his own team.
Richard Teetsel
Tonawanda
Dear Editor,
In typical fashion a Yankee fan states they "took the MVP award away" from Jeter because of jealousy. I might ask, does this writer's TV set turn to other stations besides YES Network or MSG? ESPN has a great show on a couple nights a week where teams occasionally play on their own show.
The other is, was Jeter even the MVP of his own team this year? Teixeira had an outstanding year. The other ignorant fact stated is "How valuable can they be, if they can't even get by the Yanks?" This is a season award, not postseason, and has no bearing on the playoffs. I will only list the stat categories in which Mauer outshined Jeter: Average .365 to .334, HRs 28 to 18, RBIs 96 to 66, BBs 76 to 72, OBP .444 to .406, OPS 1.031 to .871, SOs 63 to 96, Rs 107 to 94, 2Bs 30 to 27, and Errors 3 to 8. And Mauer missed the first 22 games of the season due to injury.
Now the last month of the season, Justin Morneau, Minnesota's other great, missed due to a bad back. Take away Teixeira or A-Roid and see if Jeter can lead them to a 32-11 record down the stretch to win their division. Plus Mauer played in every game but three at the most demanding position of catcher without his stats diminishing.
There were two robberies done here. First that Mauer wasn't unanimous and second is by the Yankees. Always buying the best players, all the time and inflating a padded Series title number. I say turn the station and see the other great players and teams. Plus, always remember 2004 and that colossal choke job.
Kurt Kaul
Elma
Dear Editor,
To all you Yankees haters out there, the question is: If you had the financial resources, wouldn't you want to build a winner? The Yankees donate to revenue sharing, so why do the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates struggle for a winner? It looks as though their share of the revenue pie is eaten up by an owner who puts it in his pocket. So remember two things: 1. The Yankees will never cheapen out. 2. In sports, it's all about winning.
Paul Mroz
Buffalo
Dear Editor,
Last week an individual wrote a letter complaining how Derek Jeter had the MVP award taken from him by Joe Mauer. The MVP is awarded to the player who is most valuable to the success of his team. Without Mauer the Twins don't make the playoffs.
If it were based strictly on stats, well, one could argue that Mauer did have the better season. Mauer isn't surrounded by big-name players in the Twins lineup like Jeter is with the Yankees. Jeter is simply not as valuable to the Yankees as Mauer is to the Twins.
And since when do "looks, charisma, charm and class" make up the "greatest baseball total package"? And, finally, you are just a fan. You do not know Jeter's makeup and personality.
Michael A. Measer
Buffalo
December 13, 2009 Sunday
Dear Editor,
It is somewhat laughable how Yankees fans think Derek Jeter was robbed of this year's MVP. All Joe Mauer did was outhit Jeter, .365 to .334, outhomer him, 28 to 18, drive in 96 runs to Jeter's 66, have a .444 on-base percentage to Jeter's .406 and an on-base-plus slugging percentage of 1.031 to Jeter's .871 -- not even close. Yes, Jeter had a terrific season. Yes, he's a first-ballot Hall of Famer. And yes, he has "looks, charisma and charm," whatever those things have to do with being a great baseball player.
If the writers are so "ignorant and jealous" when it comes to the Yankees, how is it that they voted Jeter as the American League Rookie of the Year, and the MVP of an All-Star Game or the MVP of a World Series? He might have been MVP of the Series this year if he had driven in more than one run and not struck out and hit into a double play in crucial spots in the ninth innings of games Four and Five.
If Mauer and Jeter had changed teams this year, Mauer would have won the World Series and Jeter wouldn't. But Minnesota would not have even made the playoffs without the great year Mauer had. The writers had it right when they voted the Yankees' Mark Teixeira second behind Mauer and Jeter third. Jeter wasn't even the most valuable player on his own team.
Richard Teetsel
Tonawanda
Dear Editor,
In typical fashion a Yankee fan states they "took the MVP award away" from Jeter because of jealousy. I might ask, does this writer's TV set turn to other stations besides YES Network or MSG? ESPN has a great show on a couple nights a week where teams occasionally play on their own show.
The other is, was Jeter even the MVP of his own team this year? Teixeira had an outstanding year. The other ignorant fact stated is "How valuable can they be, if they can't even get by the Yanks?" This is a season award, not postseason, and has no bearing on the playoffs. I will only list the stat categories in which Mauer outshined Jeter: Average .365 to .334, HRs 28 to 18, RBIs 96 to 66, BBs 76 to 72, OBP .444 to .406, OPS 1.031 to .871, SOs 63 to 96, Rs 107 to 94, 2Bs 30 to 27, and Errors 3 to 8. And Mauer missed the first 22 games of the season due to injury.
Now the last month of the season, Justin Morneau, Minnesota's other great, missed due to a bad back. Take away Teixeira or A-Roid and see if Jeter can lead them to a 32-11 record down the stretch to win their division. Plus Mauer played in every game but three at the most demanding position of catcher without his stats diminishing.
There were two robberies done here. First that Mauer wasn't unanimous and second is by the Yankees. Always buying the best players, all the time and inflating a padded Series title number. I say turn the station and see the other great players and teams. Plus, always remember 2004 and that colossal choke job.
Kurt Kaul
Elma
Dear Editor,
To all you Yankees haters out there, the question is: If you had the financial resources, wouldn't you want to build a winner? The Yankees donate to revenue sharing, so why do the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates struggle for a winner? It looks as though their share of the revenue pie is eaten up by an owner who puts it in his pocket. So remember two things: 1. The Yankees will never cheapen out. 2. In sports, it's all about winning.
Paul Mroz
Buffalo
Dear Editor,
Last week an individual wrote a letter complaining how Derek Jeter had the MVP award taken from him by Joe Mauer. The MVP is awarded to the player who is most valuable to the success of his team. Without Mauer the Twins don't make the playoffs.
If it were based strictly on stats, well, one could argue that Mauer did have the better season. Mauer isn't surrounded by big-name players in the Twins lineup like Jeter is with the Yankees. Jeter is simply not as valuable to the Yankees as Mauer is to the Twins.
And since when do "looks, charisma, charm and class" make up the "greatest baseball total package"? And, finally, you are just a fan. You do not know Jeter's makeup and personality.
Michael A. Measer
Buffalo
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