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Jeter comes in close second in AL MVP race

Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, who batted .321 with 34 homers and 130 RBIs, was named American League Most Valuable Player on Tuesday. The first baseman received 15 first-place votes, which put him ahead of Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, who received 12 first-place votes. The closest race in five years ended 320 to 306. The Twins` starter Johan Santana received one first-place vote, and David Ortiz or the Boston Red Sox, league leader in homers and RBIs, came in third in the balloting, although he did not receive any first-place votes.

In only his second full season in the Major Leagues, Morneau, 25, a Canadian, waited until the second half of the season to excel. Since June 9, when his team was 11 1/2 games out of the division lead, Morneau batted .364 and the Twins went 70-33 to win the division. His contribution to his team`s success was a major factor in many voters` eyes, and was preferred over Jeter`s role in his team`s success, in spite of the Yankees` shortstop`s best numbers this decade, batting .343 with 14 homers and 97 RBIs.

Like Jeter, Morneau too had help. Teammate Mauer won the batting title and Johan Santana won the Cy Young award. Jeter congratulated Morneau, and repeated his usual statement emphasizing winning the World Series is his main focus. ?There is no individual award that can compare with a championship trophy, and I look forward to working towards that challenge again in 2007,? he said.