well we certainly did enough statistical analysis between pujols and jones... so why not do it with a-rod and pappi. first thing to throw out is the "he's carrying his team" factor... both players are surrounded by all-star caliber hitters. so let's not even discuss that.
alex rodriguez...
150games, 563 at bats, 113 runs, 180 hits, 26 doubles, 1 triple, 45 homeruns, 120 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, .320 batting average, .419 on base percentage, .609 slugging percentage
with runners in scoring position...
.291 average, 9 homers, 72 RBIs
with runners in scoring position, 2 outs...
.291 average, 5 homers, 32 RBIs
"close and late"
.296 average, 4 homers, 12 RBIs
in september...
.321 average, 5 homers, 15 RBIs
bonus
--a-rod is a leading candidate for the AL gold glove at third base
negative
--has purple lips
david ortiz...
148 games, 559 at bats, 114 runs, 169 hits, 38 doubles, 1 triple, 46 homeruns, 140 RBIs, 1 stolen base, .302 batting average, .397 on base percentage, .621 slugging percentage
runners in scoring position
.345 average, 7 homers, 85 RBIs
runners in scoring position, 2 outs
.370 average, 5 homers, 33 RBIs
"close and late"
.331 average, 10 homers, 31 RBIs
september
.358 average, 10 homers, 22 RBIs
bonus
--uncanny ability to get the big hit in the big game
negative
--is a DH
so there ya go... stat wise, advantage ortiz. if ortiz played the field, he would be the clear choice for MVP. but many voters will hold the fact that he's a DH over him... so frankly, i give him only a slight edge over a-rod if the MVP voting ended today.
if the yankees overtake the red sox and win the AL east, a-rod will win the MVP by a very small margin. if red sox wins the division, ortiz will win by a comfortable margin.
and in an unrelated stat... i was absolutely shocked to see that david ortiz, who hangs right over the plate and is putting up beastly numbers, has been hit by a pitch exactly one damn time all season. fancy shmansy a-rod, on the other hand, with his open stance, very much not hanging over the plate, has been hit by a pitch 15 times.