Did East Coast Bias Help Dustin Pedroia Win The AL MVP Award?

  Earlier this week, Red Sox second basemen Dustin Pedroia was awarded with the AL Most Valuable Player Award. Once news of the selection was made, sports writers and radio personalities across the country, mostly from Boston and Minnesota, began chiming in. There were those who staunchly defended the pick, those who couldn't believe a Dallas Morning News writer left Pedroia completely off his ballot, and those who felt Justin Morneau was robbed of his second American League MVP Award. Pedroia, in his third year, was the backbone of the Boston Red Sox through their struggles, the Manny saga, and towards the end of the season. He was the table setter for the lineup and was a clutch performer throughout. But, looking at the statistics, the total games played, and the rosters on both teams, as much as Pedroia was "worthy" of this award—he surely didn't "deserve" it. If you compare the statistics of Pedroia to those of   his teammate, Kevin Youkilis, they aren't even comparable. ... (link)