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Reactions: Pedro deserved MVP

Majority of users respond that Martinez deserved award

Posted: Thursday November 18, 1999 02:04 PM

Users think Pedro Martinez is the league's MVP, but are split on whether the Cy Young is enough of an honor. AP

CNNSI.com asked users whether they thought AL Cy Young Award winner Pedro Martinez should also be named MVP. The majority of respondents said that yes, Martinez is also the American League MVP. A sampling of the response follows:

MVP has always meant the most valuable player to the team -- without Pedro, there would have been no Bosox.
-- Adrian, Leicester

The Cy Young award is for pitchers. The MVP should go to a non-pitcher. Manny Ramirez has put up numbers that no one else has done for many years. He deserves to be the AL MVP.
-- Andrew, Lorain, Ohio

A pitcher can't help his team win every day, but a dominant starter can control the game every fifth day. How many games did Garciaparra and Jeter control? The bottom line for me is that Martinez had the most remarkable season of any player in the AL.
-- Dan Ezrow, Chicago, Ill.

The MVP means "most valuable." Someone who takes the field every four or five days should not be considered for this honor. Yes, Roger Clemens did it in 1986, but it was wrong then too. The MVP award should go to an everyday player who meant the most to his team. That means someone who produced in the batting order consistently. Someone who's defensive ability improved his team. This award should not go to a pitcher, not even a closer, nor should it go to a designated hitter, no matter how dominant he may have been. The man who truly deserves this award is Ivan Rodriguez. He produced day in and day out offensively, and kept runners from advancing on his pitchers. Manny Ramirez put up great numbers in a cushy spot in the lineup, but was a defensive liability.
-- Gaylen Anderson, Shakopee, Minn.

Owners obviously think pitchers are very valuable, because they (pitchers) are the highest paid players in baseball. Boston won when Pedro pitched, period. Pedro deserves it (what did Manny do down the stretch?).
-- David Evans, Boston, Mass.

Yes, Pedro should be the AL MVP. He was absolutely dominant this year. Typically, I'm with the crowd that says the MVP should go to an everyday player. However, I think there are exceptions -- Koufax in '63, Gibson in '68, and Martinez in '99. No other player was more valuable to his club in '99.
-- Jim Governale, Whittier, Calif.

At the start of the baseball season Sports Illustrated picked the Red Sox for 18th place in baseball. Far below the Angels, Dodgers and Orioles. They did not add power to the line up during the season. You can only point to pitching, and that has to be Martinez. I will agree that it is a tough call for a pitcher to be MVP, but once in a lifetime you get the exceptional and I guess this is the time.
-- George Carroll, citysearch

Pedro has every right to be the MVP. Not only did he have the stellar season statistically as everyone knows, but he also had great effect on days when he didn't pitch. The day before a Pedro start Jimy Williams could use his entire bullpen, knowing that he will get a minimum solid seven innings, and the day after, Williams has a fully rested bullpen to work with. So instead of only the 31 appearances he made having an effect on the Sox, he affected 93 games, and possibly even more. This gives him just as much right to win an MVP award as anyone else.
-- Alex Guiney, Boston, Mass.

Pedro Martinez' performance was just unparalleled, and there's no doubt that he is the only one contender and unanimous owner of the AL MVP award!
-- Samuel Almonte,

Pedro Martinez had a great year and will be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Without him the Red Sox would not have made the playoffs. However, he DID NOT single-handedly do the most for his team in 1999. Ivan Rodriguez was the all around best player this year (by far, in my mind). He is not only the greatest defensive catcher of all time, but put up Johnny Bench-like offensive numbers this year as well. Anytime someone hits .332 with over 30 homeruns, over 20 stolen bases, and over 100 RBIs they must be considered for the MVP award, but Ivan's defensive play makes the decision easy. Pedro, the best PITCHER in Major League Baseball sat out a big chunk of the season while Ivan was putting up Hall of Fame caliber numbers, clawing and scraping every single day to put the Rangers ahead. He is the one that makes Texas great and is the true Most Valuable Player of Major League Baseball.
-- Jacob Bossman, Sioux City, Iowa

That anyone questions Pedro's claim to the AL MVP is beyond me. He was obviously the most dominating force in baseball this season, meeting both MVP criteria: the best season and the most valuable to a successful team.
-- Brian Fairweather, Fairfax, Va.

Pedro is without a doubt the MVP in 1999. Think about what MVP is. It means Most Valuable Player (to his team, especially) and Pedro was exactly that. Without Pedro, the Red Sox would not have been where they were. No question about it. Give the Dominating Dominican the award he deserves and earned through hard work and patience.
-- Todd, York, Maine

The pitcher is a player on a team. Pedro Martinez was the best player in the American League this last year whether he played 30 games or 150 games. Period.
-- Tom, Seattle, Wash.

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