Jeter won't return Papi blast [Forum Archive]

Quote:

Ortiz: I'm MVP, Derek unworthy
BY SAM BORDEN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
BALTIMORE - Derek Jeter didn't seem particularly moved by David Ortiz's argument that the Yankee shortstop's season isn't MVP-worthy because he's got so many talented hitters around him. A day after Ortiz said that Jeter should "come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be," Jeter responded succinctly yesterday.
"I don't have to do it in his lineup," he said. The captain shrugged when asked further about Ortiz's comments, saying, "I'm not thinking about the MVP right now. We're thinking about winning a division. We've still got something to play for." He thinks team first
He then added, "No one here's focused on individual awards."
At this point, that seems to be all that Ortiz and the Red Sox have left to focus on since they trail the Yanks by 10-1/2 games in the AL East. Ortiz began his remarks following Sunday's game in Boston by saying he didn't believe the Red Sox's collapse should affect his candidacy to win the MVP.
A year ago, he lost out to Alex Rodriguez; this year, his competition seems to be Jeter and White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, with several Twins (Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer and even Johan Santana) also in the mix.
"I'll tell you one thing," Ortiz told The Boston Globe. "If I get 50 home runs (he's got 48) and 10 more RBI (which would give him 137), that's going to be a round number that no one else in the American League will have. But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse. They're talking about Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, he's having a great season, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ballclub, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games."
Ortiz then praised Jeter before making his comment about how Jeter might fare if he hit in Boston's lineup instead of the Yanks'.
Johnny Damon played with Ortiz in Boston from 2002-05 and was surprised to hear of his former teammate's comments.
"It doesn't sound like Ortiz," Damon said. "I can't believe he would say something like that." Damon said he thought Ortiz was a "shoo-in" to beat out A-Rod last year but believes being a DH hurt him with the voters. He likes Jeter's chances this year. "I'm going to choose my teammate, bottom line," Damon said. "I've seen the value of (Jeter) here."

Originally published on September 12, 2006