Pedroia is MVP; Morneau, Mauer finish in top four

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: November 19, 2008 - 7:23 AM

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Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who batted .146 over the final 16 games of the regular season, finished second to Boston's Dustin Pedroia in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award, which was announced on Tuesday.

Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis was third and Twins catcher Joe Mauer was fourth.

Whether such a poor finish after five-plus months of consistency should cost Morneau is up for debate.

Morneau's overall numbers -- a .300 average, 23 homers, 129 RBI, .374 on-base percentage and a .348 average with runners in scoring position -- would be envied by most hitters.

But his final two-plus weeks of the season, in the heat of a playoff race during which the Twins lost a one-game playoff to the White Sox, likely hurt his case. His .146 average down the stretch included a 1-for-24 skid to end the season. He hit only two homers in September and none after Sept. 9.

"You know more about the voting process than I do,'' Twins GM Bill Smith said.

Pedroia became the first second baseman to win the award since Nellie Fox in 1959. He received 16 first-place votes as he outpointed Morneau 317-257. Morneau received seven first-place votes.

Youkilis finished third with 201 points and Mauer was fourth with 188 points.

What the vote confirmed even more is that the Twins' M&M boys are one of the best 1-2 punches in the game.

Morneau and Youkilis were the only two players to be named on every ballot. Mauer, who edged Pedroia to win the AL batting title, was the only catcher to receive a vote -- even receiving two first-place votes among those cast by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

"They both have achieved a lot early in their careers,'' Smith said. "The exciting thing for us is that there are a lot more things to come.''

It's the third time two Twins players have finished in the top four in MVP voting. Tony Oliva and Harmon Killebrew finished second and third, respectively, in 1970 and Zoilo Versalles and Oliva were 1-2 in 1965.

Neshek has surgery

Twins reliever Pat Neshek had surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow Tuesday.

The surgery was performed in the Twin Cities by team physicians Dr. John Steubs and Dr. Dan Buss. Neshek will wear a soft cast for 10 days before being fitted with a hinged brace. He will miss the entire 2009 season.

Neshek missed most of 2008 while recovering from a partial tear of the same ligament. He was working out in Fort Myers, Fla., earlier this month when he suffered a complete tear.

Etc.

• Pitcher Ryan Dempster and the Cubs agreed on a $52 million, four-year contract that includes a player option to 2012.

• The Mariners will name Oakland Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu their manager today.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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