At the All-Star Break, Adrian Gonzalez was a near lock to be the American League's Most Valuable Player. He sported a .354 BA, had 17 HR and 77 RBI, and was the driving force behind the Red Sox recovery from a 2-10 start to the top of the A.L. East.
Since then, his status as the MVP favorite has evaporated as Justin Verlander of the Tigers and Curtis Granderson of the Yankees have become the favorites. The main reason for that has been a slight second half slump (.323, 10, 39) and a horrible September for his team which has placed their once secure playoff spot in jeopardy.
However, I don't think Gonzalez has been completely eliminated from the MVP discussion.
With six games to play, the Red Sox Magic Number is 4 but they are still fighting off the Rays and Angels for the A.L. Wild Card. I believe that if Gonzalez goes on a tear over these last six games and drives the Red Sox into the playoffs, he can win the MVP.
Gonzalez went on one of these tears in late August when the Red Sox were in Texas to play the Rangers. The Red Sox took 3-of-4 from the Rangers due to the 5 home runs that Gonzalez hit in the wins. At the time, the Red Sox had the best record in the A.L.
Let's say that Gonzalez hits 7 or 8 home runs and drives in between 12-15 runs in this final stretch of the regular season and the Red Sox take control of the Wild Card and enter the playoffs with momentum.
He would win the batting title (he currently leads the A.L. at .341), the RBI title (he is 3 behind Granderson today with 116), and finish with between 34 and 35 home runs. Those are MVP numbers.
Most importantly, he would have led his team to the postseason at a time when they were slumping and nearing the brink of a historic collapse.
That is what an MVP does.
So, Adrian, do you have it in you?
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