This week marked the last major showdown on America's political front until November's general elections, with primaries held in nine states, the District of Columbia, and ... the American League.
That's right. The team sport that is more concerned with the accomplishments of the individual — be they hitting streaks, career homers, or Hall of Fame qualifications — than either golf, tennis, or even auto racing, is already preoccupied with potential winners of its most coveted honor: league MVP. And, while the electorate's message was generally mixed at polls throughout the country this past Tuesday — with party hardliners and moderates each boasting a share of victory — voters were decisively pro-big market in their MVP selections.
Among Positional Players, front-running Derek Jeter capitalized on the growing momentum built by New York's second-half surge. The Yankees shortstop convincingly earned his party's nomination on Sunday after hitting in his 20th straight game. His win brings closure to a race that was hotly-contested for most of the season. Pollsters put both Twins catcher Joe Mauer and first baseman Justin Morneau, as well as White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, in the lead at various times during the summer. Mauer in fact led Jeter by five points (.348 to .343) going into the booth this weekend.
For Positional Players, hopes are high that Jeter's victory will restore stability to a party embroiled in controversy since last November. That's when Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez narrowly edged David Ortiz, the Designated Hitter candidate, in an Election Day victory oft challenged throughout the off-season and into the 2006 campaign.
Perhaps succumbing to the contentiousness, the incumbent Rodriguez did not seek reelection this year, citing a desire to spend more time with his bat and glove. His decision reportedly relieved party leaders, who regarded A-Rod's sub-.300 average and 23 errors as a deterrent in endorsing him for a third time. Jeter's rise has been particularly well-received in light of the potentially disastrous fallout of Rodriguez's lame-duck season.
In the Designated Hitters camp, last weekend's primary was more a contest of survival, as big-market slugger and endorsed candidate David Ortiz of Boston held off rivals Jim Thome of Chicago and Travis Hafner of Cleveland. Ortiz returned from heart palpitations in time to retain his leads in both AL home runs (48) and RBI (127). And, although his Red Sox have been in a post-all-star freefall, so too have the White Sox and Indians, thus neutralizing any political advantage that would have inured to his rivals under an available "contenders" platform.
Now, in the absence of a strong Pitchers candidate, the American League Most Valuable Player Award will be a traditional two-party campaign leading into the first week of November, pitting Positional Player candidate Derek Jeter against Designated Hitter candidate David Ortiz.
Even before the hot tubs were fired up after Sunday's games, the two candidates fired opening salvos in the first of a series of unannounced debates. Each contrasted his own credentials to those of his opponent in a collocated, media intervention forum sponsored by the Boston Globe that has become a favorite among baseball's electorate.
Ortiz drew the long straw and the Boston slugger, energized by his 48th homer earlier in the day, was not shy in his introductory remarks.
"I'll tell you one thing," he addressed mediator Gordon Edes of the Globe, "if I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBI, that's going to be a round number that no one else in the American League will have."
Jeter, dressed in his trademark pinstriped suit, could only shrug from the locker room at Camden Yards, where he had also homered on Sunday, but for only the 13th time.
"Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy," he continued. "The guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games."
"We're thinking about winning a division," Jeter rebutted. "We've still got something to play for."
Ortiz appeared to stiffen. "They give it to Alex one year, even though his team was in last place, so now they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it."
Jeter seemed unfazed. "No one here's focused on individual awards."
"Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you [in the Yankee lineup]," the determined Ortiz pressed. "Come hit in this lineup. See how good you can be."
"I don't have to hit in his lineup," was Jeter's only response.
After the heated exchange, both candidates took a moment to offer closing remarks. Ortiz was again first.
"I don't worry about the MVP."
"I'm not thinking about the MVP right now," Jeter agreed.
In their post-debate dissection, talking heads were quick to render a decision in favor of Jeter, whose calm demeanor they said came across to viewers more positively than Ortiz's attacking style.
"That rant may have just cost him the award," commented Jim Rome during his Rome is Burning segment aired on ESPN the next day.
Even the perpetually neutral Johnny Damon found broke with his longtime Boston friend. "I can't believe he would say something like that," he said in reference to Ortiz. Then, addressing Jeter's performance, "I'm going to choose my teammate, bottom line. I've seen the value of him here."
Voters better brace themselves for an autumn of mudslinging to come. Because, although September's here, November is far behind.
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