2009 MLB Awards : AL MVP

This really boils down to Mauer vs. Teixeira, right?  Mauer has the superior averages and Teixeira the superior totals.  My initial feeling is that it should go to Mauer, though he admittedly is coming up a little short for the Twins during the stretch run.

1. First look their situational hitting: Teixeira vs. Mauer (scroll to bottom); Mauer has superior averages in all situations (except, interestingly, when leading off the inning, and Teixeira comes close to Mauer's numbers when no one is on base) and simply doesn't get as high a percentage of at-bats with runners on to drive in as many runs as Teixeira.
   
   
2. Also look at the pre/post All-star splits.  Teixeira was merely human in the first half, and had a great second half -- so great, in fact, that his second half numbers are almost as good as the numbers Mauer averaged all season.
   
   
3. Finally, Yankee fan Phil gives his blessing to Mauer getting the MVP.  So there you have it.