Yankees' 'A-Rod' captures baseball's American League MVP award

New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, whose 48 Major League Baseball home runs this season were an American League record for third basemen, was named Most Valuable Player in a vote announced on Monday.

Playing for his hometown team, Rodriguez hit .321, drove in 130 runs, scored 124 times and led the league in homers to capture the American League award for the second time, edging Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz.

"This is an 'A-Rod' day in New York," Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said. "On behalf of our devoted New York Yankee fans, I look forward to great things for many years from 'A-Rod' as a Yankee."

Voters from the Baseball Writers Association of America gave Rodriguez 16 first-place votes and 331 points overall to 11 first-place votes and 307 points overall for Ortiz.

Rodriguez, whose homer total was the most by a right-handed hitter in club history, helped the Yankees' 200 million-dollar lineup finish 95-67 to capture an eighth consecutive AL East division title.

"I'm very happy for Alex," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "This is a very proud moment for him. I'm very pleased with the year he had. Alex helped us win so many games both offensively and defensively and he continues to improve."

Rodriguez also captured AL MVP honours in 2003 with Texas despite the Rangers finishing last in the AL West division that season.

Ortiz was trying to become the first designated hitter to capture the award. Such hitters only replace pitchers in American League lineups. National League pitchers must bat for themselves.

Ortiz batted .300 with 47 homers and 148 runs batted in, most in the major leagues. The Red Sox also went 95-67 but lost the division to New York in a tie-breaker and like the Yankees were ousted in the first playoff round.

Vladimir Guerrero of the Los Angeles Angels received a first-place vote but finished third in the balloting.

The National League MVP award winner will be announced on Tuesday.

In Baltimore, Maryland, Rafael Palmeiro escaped perjury charges after denying under oath he took steroids and then testing positive. The controversial first baseman could not escape being cut by the Baltimore Orioles.

Cuban-born slugger Palmeiro and outfielder Sammy Sosa, who also denied taking steroids in a Congressional hearing, will not return to the Major League Baseball club, Orioles vice president Mike Flanagan told the Baltimore Sun.

"At this point, we are heading in a different direction," Flanagan told the newspaper.

Dominican star Sosa, who turned 37 Saturday, and Palmeiro, 41, both have said they want to play next year. Sosa is only 12 home runs shy of 600 for his career. But both endured disappointing 2004 seasons and will be free agents.

Source: China Daily