The chants have started, faint but evident, when Justin Morneau walks to the plate at the Metrodome — "MVP, MVP, MVP."

The first baseman hears it all, and the thought of fans believing he has been good enough to win the award for a second time makes him smile. What makes his manager smile is the way Morneau has put together his MVP-contending season — with fewer home runs (23 right now compared with 34 at the end of his 2006 campaign) and smarter at-bats against pitchers unwilling to give him much to hit.

"He's become a better hitter, if that's possible," Gardenhire said. "I know from an MVP year, what more can you do? But as far as learning the league and learning what they're trying to do with him. Justin uses the whole field now, he takes what they give him, and he's maturing as a player."

Second in the AL in runs batted in with 119, Morneau is one of just three American League players and four in the majors to have an average above .300, at least 20 home runs, more than 100 RBIs and more than 40 doubles. Aubrey Huff, Raul Ibanez and Lance Berkman are the others.

Boston's Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia have been named as possible MVP candidates, along with Chicago's Carlos Quentin (though his campaign has been tabled by wrist surgery) and Texas' Josh Hamilton.

Among that group — Youkilis, Pedroia, Quentin and Hamilton — Morneau has been the best with runners in scoring position, with the highest batting average (.377),on-base percentage (.475) and on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.131) in those situations through Tuesday.

Morneau has had 489 runners on base this season and has driven 19.6 percent of them in, second only to Hamilton's 21.6 in that group of five. Pedroia has driven in 14.9 percent of his men on base, Youkilis 18.4 and Quentin 19.1 (stats through Tuesday).

Morneau, who is batting .309 with a .384 on-base percentage, stopped short of saying he's a better hitter now than he was in 2006, but he did say this season has been his most consistent.

"That comes with experience, recognizing when there's an open base, or when they're going to come after me," he said. "You kind of learn that the more you get into those situations, learning when a single the other way is good enough to keep a rally going or drive that guy in when we need that run."

ibtdp

HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST SOMEONE IS MORE CLUTCH THEN DUSTIN PEDROIA THIS THREAD IS ZOMGLOLBBQ WORTHY!!!

With runners in scoring position, FACTS suggest Morneau is more clutch the Pedroia. It isn't an opinion. It is just the truth.

the means sarcasm buddy. we actually agree with you.

Right. I saw that after I responded.

yea, but i doubt justin morneau loves playing baseball as much as dustin pedroia.

Actually, Pedroia'a (fun * hits + walks) / at bats is almost a full percenatage point higher than Morneau's.

i think it's interesting that the home run derby is turning out to be a microcosm of the season. hamilton was amazing and blew his load in round 2, while morneau paced himself to winning the contest. today morneau asked to play in both games of the doubleheader and in the first inning drove in 2 rbi, putting him into a tie for league lead with the once uncatchable hamilton. if he does win the award, i hope some fucker from state farm doesn't call him jason.

man, the yankees must really SUCK this year....

At the all-star break I argued that a case could be made for DP to start the game and this has some how morphed into a fantasy league dork led movement to shit on DP. Wow, that fantasy league shit with everyone only considering offensive numbers has really ruined sports. How dare anyone suggest any intangibles. I guess we don't even have to watch the games, right? We can just look at stats; make it like a boring math class. yeesh.

dude, i agree with you. while pedroia's wife cooks him breakfast every morning, justin morneau cooks breakfast for his fiance every morning. and dinner, when he's around. this counts for something.

I've never heard him say it, but like every Canadian in the MLB, Morneau would probably rather be playing hockey.

Morneau finished the last ten games of the year in a 6 for 38 stetch with 1 RBI.
Could hurt his chances.

he already has one undeserved MVP Award for a year in which he wasn't even the most valuable player on his own team, why not make it two?

i'm trying to figure out why all of your posts seem so cuntish. hmm, what could the reason be?

morneau plays hockey? wow, that's grittier than anything dustin pedroia has ever done in his entire life.

dustin pedroia killed a goose with a baseball bat when he was just a baby