AL MVP?

Alex Rodriguez was considered basically a slam dunk MVP, but is was he really the only choice?

Lets Look at his basic stats, with a few others as well...
Runs HR RBI BA SLG SB
A-Rod 143 54 156 .314 .645 24
Magglio 117 28 139 .363 .595 4
Big Papi 116 35 117 .332 .621 3

Wow it seems pretty obvious here that he was the best, Right?

No, this is an obvious case of misleading statistics, I seem to have omitted a few things.
We Should Consider some things about the team each plays for with the players removed.
BA OBP SLG
New York .322 .355 .443
Detroit .278 .330 .442
Boston .274 .348 .425

So A-Rod's team was on base more often and was better able to drive in a runner.
So we can't use the runs and RBI. Well what's can we use?
H+BB 2b OBP
A-Rod 278 31 .422
Magglio 292 54 .434
Big Papi 293 52 .445

That seems to make A-Rod's lead disappear but by how much?

Well what can use to take all these factors in to account?

The Runs Created formula!
It will take into account both the difference in times on base and ability to drive in. It also negates the effects of each teams difference in ability.

There are many different versions of the formula, this is my favorite
RC=(Hits+Walk-Caught Stealing-Grounded into Double Play) X (Total Bases + .55 X Stolen Bases)/(Plate Appearances)

If you want you figure how a lineup made up of how just this player would do per game (27 outs) divide the Runs Created by a players ratio of (outs/27).

Lets see how they did:
RC RC/27
A-Rod 148.68 10.04
Magglio 143.86 10.25
Big Papi 143.29 10.54

Wait that doesn't solve anything! Why is A-Rod's RC highest but RC/27 is lowest?
I left something else out, A-rod had more at bats which also resulted in more outs...

So who's the best of Group?

Probably A-Rod anyway, but I just wanted to think it through first, after all isn't that whole point of learning anyway?