What is an MVP?

It's an age-old question in sports. What makes a player the most valuable?

Is it being a great player on a great team? Is it being a great player on a bad team that would be even worse without his efforts? Or is it simply the best player in the game?

It's a tough question to answer. There are more gray areas when it comes to deciding who is most valuable than there are candidates in a given year.

The "Big MVP Debate" popped up again this week when Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia won the honor in the American League.

Some lauded it. Some panned it.

Count me among those who lauded it, even though — technically — Pedroia was not the most valuable player.

One could argue that the Red Sox would have made the playoffs had Pedroia chosen another line of work, such as becoming a jockey.

One could also argue he was not the MVP on his own team: Grizzly Adams-looking Kevin Youkilis anyone? How about Jason Bay ... for not being Manny Ramirez.

If you went strictly by the meaning of the words "most valuable," it would be hard to argue against a guy like Cleveland pitcher Cliff Lee, who was the starting pitcher in 30 percent of the Indians' wins this season.

The Twins, um, twin terrors JustinMorneau and Joe Mauer also merit consideration. Where would Minnesota be without either one of them? Probably in Charlotte, Las Vegas or San Antonio.

Yet, Pedroia won by an overwhelming margin because very rarely do voters follow the most valuable axiom.

And that's the way it should be.

The MVP should be renamed MPP for Most Productive Player.

No one was more productive than Pedroia — offensively and defensively.

His numbers were sick: .326 batting average, 213 hits, 54 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 17 home runs, 83 RBI and 118 runs scored.

He committed only six errors in a league-leading 733 chances.

All this from a dude who would need a step ladder to reach the cookie jar on the top of the refrigerator.

Plus, he has an uncanny resemblance to actor Giavanni Ribisi.

Yet few want to give him the proper respect.

The main argument against Pedroia was the MVP voting in the other league, as silly as that sounds.

Pundits argued that Pedroia is not the same player as Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, who was 15th in the NL MVP voting.

Critics claimed that Utley is a better hitter and better defensively than Pedroia.

The numbers don't support that proposition.

Except for home runs and RBI, Pedroia was superior in every other category. And don't forget the intangibles. Pedroia was the king of clutch.

As long as this award is misnamed, debates like this will rage.

What is an MVP? Who knows? What is an MPP? Dustin Pedroia.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.