Mike Greenwell--Bitter, justified, or both?

by runtru1 on Feb 17, 2005 3:54 PM PST

I'm sure y'all remember Mike Greenwell...that left fielder that gave Boston that one two punch with Ellis Burks...well he thinks that the 1988 MVP should now be his. Here's the story:

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=69018

What do you all think? Does he have a case, or do you guys think he's just another bitter Red Sox player frustrated with no championship rings?

I really think he has a point, but that award is pretty much Jose's...it was his 40-40 year.

Also, check out Greenwell's year end numbers. They look like an above average outfielder's All-star break stats in today's game!

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Not breaking the rules

I see Greenwell's point, but Jose didn't break baseball's rules. He disrespected the game and the fans, but he should keep the award. MLB ignored the problem and now the record book is forever suspect, but there shouldn't be any asterisks or after-the-fact awards. MLB has enough problems solving the problems it currently has without going back and trying to sort out the past.

"There is one word in America that says it all, and that one word is, 'You never know.'" -- Joaquin Andujar

by babittfan on Feb 17, 2005 4:11 PM PST reply actions

Greenwell

Greenwell has a point. Just put yourself in his position. You lose the MVP when it was obviously a pretty close race, because Jose's numbers weren't a lot better than Greenwell's. Then, year's later, the MVP winner says he cheated and obviously wouldn't have won the title without steroids.

by Randy Booth on Feb 17, 2005 4:30 PM PST reply actions

Remember, this was the first 40-40 ever!

...and if you compare the numbers, Canseco won this award by leaps and bounds: Canseco hit .307 with 42 homers, 124 RBI and 40 stolen bases to Greenwell's .325 with 22 homers, 119 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

I do feel Greenwell has a point, but a close race it was not.

by runtru1 on Feb 17, 2005 4:47 PM PST up reply actions

Not at all close

Canseco had 28 of 28 first place votes.

Relax alright don't try to strike everyone out. Strikeouts are boring besides that they're fascist. Throw some ground balls it's more democratic.

by devo on Feb 17, 2005 4:55 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, ... sure

So, what, should we also go back and award the Red Sox the 1988 A.L. pennant? That means the Kirk Gibson homer never happened, and maybe Roger Clemens really is a clutch postseason pitcher instead of Dave Stewart's little bitch.

Uh, I'll go with "bitter."

by River City Slim on Feb 17, 2005 5:11 PM PST reply actions

Greenwell

I'd file this under the bitter category, even though I see that Greenwell does have a point. Winning an MVP award would have been a big career move for Greenwell, bumping his salary up in later years (though being second in the MVP voting speaks loud enough on its own).

Anyway, 1988 was a long long time ago. There's nothing that can be done about any of that stuff now. Greenwell will come off as incredibly bitter if he keeps pushing stuff like that.

Go Beach.

by Dirtbag Pride on Feb 17, 2005 5:23 PM PST reply actions

Who's to say Greenwell wasn't also juiced

in 1988?

Just kidding...really.

by elephant man on Feb 17, 2005 5:46 PM PST reply actions

greenwell WAS juiced!

back in '85 he was 110 pounds...

by xbhaskarx on Feb 18, 2005 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

asdf

I don't think the MLB ought to go around changing awards retroactively, but I think Greenwell's anger is justified.

In fact, there's quite a lot of justifiable anger about the steroids scandal, and I'm glad to see someone in baseball is upset.

I'm sure there are plenty of players who really are clean (and were back then) who upset over this, and I'd like to see them speaking out more.

by Hegenberger Road on Feb 17, 2005 8:41 PM PST reply actions

Mike Greenwell!

As soon as I heard someone mention that maybe Canseco's MVP should be taken away, it was like--TRIVIA QUESTION--Who was the runner-up that year? I never would have guessed it was Greenwell.

Anywhoo, if you read his quotes, he doesn't sound bitter at all; he even shows some compassion toward Jose, mentioning they got along well as teammates on the Red Sox in the '90's. And he raises a pretty good point. The other admitted 'roid users aren't going to give up their MVPs. Giambi hasn't admitted using as early as 2000 when he won his, and it would be pretty classless to try to take away Caminiti's MVP, after his passing. But Jose admitted using 'roids, said they helped him win the MVP, and is thoroughly shameless about it.

Still, in the end, I think the award should stay with Canseco, only because baseball hadn't banned steroids in 1988, and so Jose wasn't cheating; not until later, when baseball did make 'roids illegal.

by rubin sierra on Feb 18, 2005 12:43 AM PST reply actions