Notes From the Clubhouse: Kevin Youkilis Becoming a Darkhorse MVP Candidate

Our MLB editor provides weekly dispatches from major league games in Notes From the Clubhouse.

The Red Sox don't worry about individual awards. They don't even like to talk about them out of fear that it might distract them from the task at hand, winning a third World Series in five years. That's probably part of the reason why they've been baseball's most successful franchise in the past decade.

If Kevin Youkilis finishes with a bang, they might have to start.

The player once dubbed "a fat third baseman, who couldn't run, throw or field," in Michael Lewis' "Moneyball" is having quite the season. He entered play Thursday with 24 home runs, 88 RBI and a .321 batting average. He ranks in the top 10 in those categories as well as on-base percentage, slugging average, OPS, total bases, doubles, triples and walks.

He might not look like an MVP. He certainly doesn't act like one, grinding hard in every at-bat and taking every out personally in a manner ex-Yankee Paul O'Neill would be proud of, but like it or not, he's a serious contender for the award with under six weeks to go in the season.

"It's been fun to watch," says Dustin Pedroia of Youkilis' season. "He's been the biggest part of our offense."

"He's growing into his power," says Jason Varitek. "He's always been a really good hitter."

"That doesn't interest me, the MVP stuff," says Boston manager Terry Francona. "He really wants to win. He's been a huge part of what we do."

Youkilis echoes Francona's compartmental approach to the season. "Some days are better than others," he says of his breakout season. "You go out there and try to have a good at-bat every time."


Francona says that Youkilis' intensity has gotten the best of him in recent seasons, particularly in the second half. His career OPS is more than 100 points higher in the first half of the season. "He's always gonna be emotional," says Francona. "But I think in the past he kind of wore himself down."

That hasn't happened this year, and it's part of the reason he has a compelling MVP case.

Three days after the Red Sox traded Manny Ramirez, Francona slid Youkilis into the cleanup spot -- Manny's spot for the better part of 7 1/2 seasons in Boston -- and he's taken off, hitting .365 with 13 RBI and 10 extra-base hits in 14 games. He's also played all over the diamond because of an injury to regular third baseman Mike Lowell.

That type of versatility and performance when his team has needed him most could endear Youkilis to voters, particularly if the Red Sox overtake the Rays in the AL East.

From a purely statistical standpoint, Youkilis might not even be the most valuable player on his team. Pedroia has been nearly as good with the bat and plays a much tougher defensive position. On the other hand, we know the MVP voters have a clear preference for the narrative -- for a good story -- when they fill out their ballot.

That's why you see mostly players from contending teams considered for the award, and why you hear silly notions like CC Sabathia or Francisco Rodriguez for MVP this time of year.

Who has a better story than Youkilis?

Josh Hamilton certainly does, but the Rangers are going nowhere, seemingly knocking him out of the race. Cast off by the Diamondbacks this winter, Chicago's Carlos Quentin also might, and he's largely been a better hitter than Youkilis too.

But Youkilis has been a "huge player for us," says Francona. "We need him."

He's done everything his manager has asked of him defensively. He's also taken over for the great and powerful Manny Ramirez, protecting David Ortiz on a nightly basis, and allowing newcomer Jason Bay to ease into the feeding frenzy that is baseball in Boston, without the additional pressure of replacing Ramirez directly in the lineup.

Not bad for a "fat third baseman" who supposedly had no baseball skills other than a terrific batting eye.