``I don't worry about [the MVP]," he said after his two-run home run in the sixth inning, off Royals lefthanded reliever Andy Sisco, helped the Sox to a 9-3 win yesterday over Kansas City, ending Boston's improbable -- and lethal -- five-game losing streak against the team with the worst record in baseball.
``All I like to do is have a good season," he said. ``If I have a good season, that's my MVP."
But as Ortiz continued to share his thoughts on the topic, it became increasingly apparent he believes Boston's fall from playoff contention shouldn't disqualify him from MVP consideration, not when he is a virtual lock to lead the AL in home runs and is odds-on to lead in RBIs as well.
``I'm right there," he said, ``but I'm not going to win it. They give it to Alex [Rodriguez] one year, even though his team was in last place, so now they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it. They gave it to Alex that year because of his numbers. But they always have a reason to vote for whatever, so that's why I don't worry about it."
Rodriguez won his first MVP award in 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers, who finished last in the AL West even though Rodriguez hit 47 home runs and knocked in 118 runs while batting .298. Rodriguez actually had better numbers the year before, hitting 57 home runs while knocking in 142 runs, leading the league in both categories, but finished second to Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada, the difference, of course, being that A-Rod's Rangers finished last and Miggy's Athletics went to the playoffs.
Rodriguez, incidentally, is the last AL player to hit 50 or more home runs in a season. Now it is one of his Yankee teammates, Derek Jeter, who is receiving considerable support in this year's MVP race. But he wouldn't get Ortiz's vote.
``I'll tell you one thing," Ortiz said, ``if I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBIs, that's going to be a round number that no one else in the American League will have [Ortiz has 127 RBIs after driving in two yesterday].
