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."
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