Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Baseball Writer's Cramp

In the wake of Dustin Pedroia's remarkable MVP year, one little annoying thing lingers on—like that kernel of popcorn that gets wedged between your teeth for a week after a really good movie at the concrete Cineplex at the end of the Mall (you know, like High School Musical 3). The annoying kernel of popcorn in question is one Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News—the guy who left Pedroia completely off his MVP ballot.

The first thing that should tip you off is that he's a baseball writer in Texas—kind of like being a Republican in the Obama "Team Of Rivals" Cabinet. You're nice window dressing, but superfluous. Nobody really cares. "MVP ballot? What's that? Who the 'Boys playing this weekend?" And yet, after hearing Grant's explanation of why he left Pedroia off the ballot (his OPS was four one-thousandths of a percent lower than Justin Morneau's), one has to raise the serious question of who should be eligible to vote on these things. Let's face it, the print media is quickly becoming the horse and buggy of the 21st Century. Would you really spend 75 cents to read Dan Shaughnessy's latest outrage? Even if you do like the CHB, you can check him out on Boston.com (damn, I hate plugging them). This Grant moron was probably on a scant few of the Rangers road trips and has no clue how indispensable Pedroia was on a day-to-day basis for the Red Sox. Not only were his numbers eye-popping (2nd in batting, lead the league in doubles, as many walks as strike outs, 20 of 21 stolen bases), but he was the de facto leader of the team.

The idea that, for example, Vin Scully can't vote on the MVP, but Evan Grant can is outrageous. So, MLB, let's re-think allowing anyone with a hack job at a two-bit print outlet getting a vote. Give it to people who know what they're talking about. You know, like Internet guys.

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