Archive for the 'American League MVP' Category

Nov 18

[AL MVP] Carlos Pena Repeats As 9th Most Valuable American Leaguer

American League MVP, Carlos Pena, Evan Longoria, Jason Bartlett Cork Gaines No Comments »

For the second consecutive season Carlos Pena has finished 9th in the American League MVP voting. Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox took home the award with 16 of the 28 first place votes. Evan Longoria and Jason Bartlett each received votes. Longoria placed 11th after being named the unanimous winner of the AL Rookie of the Year award. Bartlett, who was named the Rays’ team MVP, finished 18th.

Pena received a single third place vote and appeared on 13 of the 28 ballots. Longoria’s highest votes were two sixth place votes and he appeared on 12 ballots. Bartlett received a single 5th place vote, the only ballot he appeared on.

Pena’s 9th place showing in 2007 was the highest finish in the MVP voting in franchise history. The previous high was Aubrey Huff, who finished 24th in 2003. Carl Crawford finished 26th in 2006 and Jorge Cantu finished 27th in 2005, the only other Rays to receive MVP consideration.

Pedroia named AL MVP [MLB]
Carlos Pena 9th Most Valuable American Leaguer [Rays Index]

Nov 19

[AL MVP] Carlos Pena 9th Most Valuable American Leaguer

American League MVP, Carlos Pena Cork Gaines No Comments »

In March, Carlos Pena started the 2007 season as a non-roster spring training invitee that was just looking for a roster spot. At the end of March, Pena rode an awful spring training straight back to the minor leagues where he spent most of the 2006 season and many thought that it was just more evidence that Pena would never be the player that many thought he would become when he was one of the top prospects in baseball.

Fast forward one Greg Norton injury, six months and 46 home runs and Pena ended the season with a 9th place finish in the AL Most Valuable Player voting. It was, by far, the highest finish ever for a Devil Ray in the MVP voting, as were his two third place votes. In 2003, Aubrey Huff received two votes (a ninth and tenth place vote) to finish 24th in the voting. Last season, Carl Crawford received a single 9th place vote to finish 26th in the voting. The only other Devil Ray to ever receive a vote in the balloting was Jorge Cantu who received a single 10th place vote in 2005 and finished 27th.

Pena was named on 22 of the 28 ballots.

Another MVP for A-Rod, Pena ninth [tampabay.com]