posted September 2, 2008 at 15:15 EST in MLB Props
Is AL MVP Race for Second Place?
by BetUS Staff
With just weeks remaining in the 2008 MLB regular season, BetUS MLB Sportsbook bettors can increase their overall MLB seasonal bankrolls with this entertaining wager on the outcome of the 2008 American League MVP finish.
While several players make viable candidates to win the AL MVP award this season, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton may have sewn up the award during the annual mid-season break with his, now infamous, Home Run Derby display at the 2008 MLB All-Star contest in which he hit a whopping 18 consecutive home runs.
While Hamilton is the clear favorite, nothing is set in stone as of yet and several other players could make a huge push to take home the MVP hardware before the conclusion of the regular season.
Here is a look at the 2008 AL MVP award odds followed by each player’s 2008 batting statistics and my brief analysis selection on which player will ultimately win the award.
2008 Batting Statistics
Games –AB-Runs-Hits-2B-3B-HR-RBI-SB-CS-BB-SO-SAC-AVG-OBP-SLG
Josh Hamilton +200
Texas Rangers - 132, 531, 85, 156, 29, 4, 30, 117, 7, 0, 53, 104, 0, .294, .358, .533
He’s got the numbers and the All-Star image is still in everyone’s mind!
Justin Morneau +400
Minnesota Twins - 137, 520, 83, 162, 39, 3, 21, 108, 0, 1, 67, 71, 0, .312, .388, .519
Morneau, the 2006 AL MVP has a shot – if the Twins win the AL Central.
Ian Kinsler +550
Texas Rangers - 121, 518, 102, 165, 41, 4, 18, 71, 26, 2, 45, 67, 7, .319, .375, .517
What a player Kinsler is. Too bad he’s not going to beat out his own teammate.
Alex Rodriguez +750
New York Yankees - 116, 431, 88, 132, 31, 0, 29, 81, 16, 2, 52, 97, 0, .306, .394, .580
Rodriguez is struggling in a big way – and the Yankees are going to miss the playoffs.
Carlos Quentin +1200
Chicago White Sox - 129, 476, 96, 138, 26, 1, 36, 100, 7, 3, 66, 79, 0, .290, .396, .576
I like Quentin a lot this season and he’ll get his share of MVP votes this season, but won’t win it.
Jermaine Dye +1500
Jermaine Dye - 127, 486, 85, 145, 35, 2, 32, 84, 3, 2, 35, 86, 0, .298, .350, .576
Dye has been very solid, but not MVP-like this season.
Manny Ramirez +1500
Boston Red Sox - 100, 365, 66, 109, 22, 1, 20, 68, 1, 0, 52, 86, 0, .299, .398, .529
Manny’s in the NL now, so it’s not gonna’ happen people.
Evan Longoria +2000
Tampa Bay Rays - 104, 381, 56, 106, 27, 2, 22, 71, 7, 0, 43, 102, 0, .278, .352, .533
Longoria is certainly a leader for Tampa Bay but doesn’t have the individual numbers.
J.D. Drew +2000
Boston Red Sox - 107, 364, 78, 102, 23, 4, 19, 64, 4, 1, 78, 79, 0, .280, .408, .522
Drew has been very good this season but is not even Boston’s MVP.
Joe Mauer +2000
Minnesota Twins - 121, 440, 83, 141, 26, 2, 8, 66, 1, 1, 73, 42, 1, .320, .413, .443
It’s too bad Mauer has to beat out his own teammate to win this award.
Francisco Rodriguez +2500
Los Angeles Angels - 64, 0, 2, 2, 53, 5, 2.47, 0, 0, 58.1, 42, 18, 16, 29, 67, 4, 6
Give Frankie the Cy Young award if you like, but the MVP is for hitters if you ask me!
Grady Sizemore +2500
Cleveland Indians - 131, 522, 83, 142, 31, 5, 31, 83, 35, 4, 88, 105, 0, .272, .385, .529
Too little – too late!
Kevin Youkilis +2500
Boston Red Sox - 124, 469, 82, 149, 36, 4, 24, 94, 3, 4, 47, 93, 0, .318, .388, .565
‘Youk’ is on fire right now, but isn’t the most popular player on his own team.Carl Crawford +3000
Tampa Bay Rays - 107, 443, 69, 121, 12, 10, 8, 57, 25, 7, 30, 60, 0, .273, .319, .400
Crawford is the unequivocal leader of the young Rays, but doesn’t have the individual numbers.
Mariano Rivera +3000
New York Yankees - 55, 0, 5, 5, 32, 1, 1.46, 0, 0, 61.2, 37, 10, 10, 6, 70, 4, 1
No postseason in New York rules Rivera out – sorry!
Milton Bradley +3000
Texas Rangers - 110, 365, 72, 119, 29, 0, 22, 73, 4, 3, 76, 100, 0, .326, .448, .586
Bradley has been incredible this season but has too much competition -even on his own team.
Miguel Cabrera +5000
Detroit Tigers - 134, 520, 66, 150, 31, 2, 29, 104, 1, 0, 48, 103, 0, .288, .347, .523
The Tigers are a big-time disappointment even if Cabrera is not!
Field +550
Analysis: While Josh Hamilton’s batting average has taken a big dip in the second half, his production hasn’t decreased much at all and this award is clearly his to lose. Unless Hamilton totally tanks in September, he should win the AL MVP award easily, though things could get interesting if the Minnesota Twins win the AL Central and either Justin Morneau or Joe Mauer go bonkers at the plate.
Besides, it looks like it’s going to be nearly impossible to get the image of Hamilton blasting those mammoth All-Star home runs out of anyone’s mind.
MLB Free Picks: 1. Josh Hamilton, 2. Joe Mauer, 3. Carlos Quentin
