2010 American League MVP Race (Week One)
April 12, 2010 · Baseball God · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
We are one week into the 2010 MLB season, and we already have some players burning up the base paths.
Each week, I will give my top 10 players vying for the American League MVP award. I will not have pitchers in this list, because they have the Cy Young award. Yes, pitchers can win the MVP award, but i will not include them on my list.
Top 10 after one week of play:
10. Franklin Gutierrez (Seattle): 12-27, .444 avg. Gutierrez had a career year last year, and he isn’t slowing up. Gutierrez is a great hitter who will be around .300 all year.
9. Rajai Davis (Oakland): 10-32, .313 avg. Davis has scored seven runs, stolen four bases, and driven in four runs. Like Gutierrez, Davis had a career year in 2009, but this year will be better.
8. Daric Barton (Oakland): 8-21, .381 avg. Barton is trying this year to make a name for himself, and so far, good job. Barton has driven in seven runs while scoring five himself.
7. Alex Gonzalez (Toronto): 9-26, .346 avg. Gonzalez, who is playing for his fourth team, is trying to prove why he belongs. He is tied for the league lead in home runs with four. Gonzalez is a very streaky player, so watch out if he is on.
6. Vladimir Guerrero (Texas): 12-24, .500 avg. What is there to say? Guerrero has started out blazing, trying to prove he still has it. Guerrero should be in MVP talk the rest of the year.
5. Dustin Pedroia (Boston): 9-25, .360 avg. All Pedroia has done to start the season is hit three home-runs and driven in seven. The former MVP is proving he is still one of the best in the game.
4. Paul Konerko (Chicago): 6-19, .316 avg. Konerko is in his 12th year with the White Sox and 15th in the majors. Konerko is just trying to prove he can still be a go-to guy. He has three home runs and seven RBI.
3. Vernon Wells (Toronto): 7-20, .350 avg. Wells is in his 12th season with the Blue Jays. He has four HRs, seven RBI, and seven runs scored in six games. Wells has struggled the past three years, so getting off to a good start is what he needs.
2. Miguel Cabrera (Detroit): 12-23, .522 avg. Cabrera has started this season on fire. He has two homers, eight RBI, and has scored six times. Cabrera is a force in the American League and will be in the MVP talk all year.
1. Nelson Cruz (Texas): 9-20, .450 avg. Cruz is the league leader in homers and RBI, and he is fourth in batting. He is having the best start of his career and is coming off a career year in 2009. The question will be, can he keep up this pace?
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