My AL MVP Ballot

1. David Ortiz
2. Justin Morneau
3. Johan Santana
4. Travis Hafner
5. Joe Mauer
6. Frank Thomas
7. Derek Jeter
8. Jermaine Dye
9. Carlos Guillen
10. Grady Sizemore

Like I said in the comments of Cuckoo for Jeter Puffs 2, the award really should go to Travis Hafner. Who cares if he doesn't play defense. He still ends up with more overall value to the team than people who play premium defensive positions and do it well (Sizemore, Guillen, Mauer) or not well (Jeter). But since Hafner got injured and missed significant time (for the 2nd straight year), he gets knocked down a couple of spots. So therefore, I am at a tossup between Ortiz and Morneau. While Ortiz has better stats, he does have Manny protecting him (for most of the season), while Morneau has to rely on Torii Hunter. The only reason writers are ignoring Ortiz this year is because the Red Sox didn't finish in the playoffs, which is hardly his fault.

Reasons the Red Sox tanked in August/September:
1) Josh Beckett sucking
2) Every other RS starter getting injured at some point during the season
3) A very weak powerless RS lineup
4) injuries to the aforementioned pitchers, and Trot Nixon, Coco Crisp, Wily Mo Pena, Jason Varitek, Alex Gonzalez, and Manny Ramirez during the season.
5) A terrible (sans Papelbon who was eventually shutdown) bullpen.

Not the reason the Red Sox tanked in Aug/Sept.:
1) David Ortiz's performance in Sept/Oct. (AVG/OPS/HR/RBI/BB)

August: .276/1.112/10/16/25
September: .292/1.146/7/16/26

Granted the HR/RBI numbers are down because he got walked so many times with no protection behind him when Manny was hurt. But you're going to tell me that averaging 8.5 HR/month; 16 RBI/month and OPS'ing 1.129/month (which leads to season averages of 51 HR, 96 RBI, 1.129 OPS) isn't valuable or doesn't help your team win or i.e. is one of the main reasons why your team stopped winning. Ridiculous.

Santana could possibly be several spots lower. I don't have a problem with him being anywhere from 2nd-10th.

I only have Mauer 5th because he plays catcher, and plays it very well offensively and defensively. Yes, he won a batting title as a catcher which is great and amazing, but that doesn't make up for the fact that 71% of his hits are singles. When he hits a single, a run is only created when Morneau (or during the last 3 weeks of the season Hunter) drive him in. Whereas when Morneau comes up and homers, he still creates a run even if Mauer isn't on base. Frank Thomas really should be ahead of him in terms of overall value to one's team, but Thomas's statistics weren't good enough to justify him in front of a good defensive catcher.

Next, we have Jeter. I've already written extensively on why I don't think Jeter should be MVP. 8 All-Stars and 2 former MVP's providing lineup protection with subpar defense and the best closer of all time, yet a #2 singles hitter is the reason they win. 'Nuff said.

8-10 are really interchangable. Sizemore and Guillen definitely get defensive points over Dye but Dye did OPS 1.006. Granted Dye has lineup protection of Konerko and Thome though (but still he doesn't have 8 other All-Stars protecting him). Pretty much anyone from #4-#8 could be switched without any major complaints from me. But I do think Guillen and Sizemore had underappreciated seasons.