With less than a dozen games remaining in the Major League Baseball regular season, the biggest question in the American League is: Who will win the American League MVP award?The leading candidates are the Red Sox' Manny Ramirez and the New York Yankees' right fielder Gary Sheffield. Who deserves it more, Sheffield or Ramirez? I will say right now that my vote goes to Ramirez. There's no reason to keep you in suspense. Here are the numbers just for comparison: Ramirez has compiled a .309 batting average, 42 home runs and 125 runs batted in, while Sheffield has produced a .294 average, 36 home runs and 119 runs batted in. Ramirez's numbers place him first in the American League in home runs, third in RBI and first in slugging percentage. These are not monumental disparities, but there is a fairly significant difference in their numbers. Their on-base percentages are virtually tied; however, what separates the two sluggers the most are their respective slugging percentages. Sheffield's is at .546 while Ramirez boasts a robust .614.

Anyone can look up those numbers and conclude that Ramirez has had the stronger season. The MVP award is not, however, simply given to the most productive player of the year, but rather the most valuable player. When comparing each player's value to their respective teams, one would have to give Ramirez the edge. The Red Sox were a team decimated by injuries in the first half of the season, as they lost star players Trot Nixon and Nomar Garciaparra for significant amounts of time (Garciaparra was traded to the Chicago Cubs in July).

But Ramirez helped carry the Sox offensively. With the exception of a slow start after the All-Star break (thank you Sports Illustrated for the cover jinx), Ramirez has been virtually unstoppable the entire season. He has not been on the disabled list once all year, and despite having some so-called "Manny Moments" in the field, he has not been a defensive liability. Just ask Yankees' second baseman Miguel Cairo. Take Ramirez off the Red Sox and they probably at the very least have to trade for another slugger because they just don't have a potent enough lineup to be competitive. Chances are they would fall short of making the playoffs, let alone finish atop the American League East division.

Now take Sheffield away from the Yankees and that lineup is not exactly what one would call weak. With a team stacked with names such as Hideki Matsui, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams and Jason Giambi, they are bound to be playing in October even though some of these players have had sub-par seasons.

Sure there are other candidates besides Sheffield and Ramirez. David Ortiz, Ramirez's bash brother in Boston, has certainly put up MVP-type numbers. However, he has played a small number of games in the field, which will certainly hurt his chances. The Anaheim Angels' Vladimir Guerrero has put up strong numbers, but not quite as strong as the other three players; and playing on a team that will probably not reach the postseason only hurts his chances of winning more.

Ramirez hits virtually the same against left-handed and right-handed pitchers and hits well at friendly Fenway and on the road. Sheffield's average, on the other hand, is nearly 50 points higher at Yankee Stadium than on the road, and is nearly 25 points higher against southpaws than against right-handed hurlers. Both players haven't exactly had Septembers to remember, and I cannot take into consideration the final week of the season. All in all, both players have had MVP-worthy seasons, but Ramirez deserves it that much more.