New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter fired back at David Ortiz two days after the Boston Red Sox designated hitter said he deserved the American League MVP award.

“I’m not thinking about the MVP,” Jeter told reporters. “No one’s focus here is individual awards. We’ve still got something to play for this season.

“Everyone has an opinion. That’s what makes the debate so interesting. I don’t know if you can make one general statement that applies to everyone or every year.”

Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon, who played with Ortiz on the Red Sox from 2003-2005, is going with Jeter.

“I got to see Derek do his job this year, and he’s come up with clutch hit after clutch hit and played a Gold Glove type of shortstop,” Damon said. “So I’m going to pick my teammate.”

Ortiz said that the Red Sox dropping out of the playoff chase should not disqualify him.

"I'll tell you one thing," Ortiz said Sunday, ESPN said. "If I get 50 home runs and 10 more RBI [which would give him 137], that's going to be a round number that no one else in the American League will have.

Michael Dwyer / AP The Red Sox's David Ortiz wears a pair of sunglasses with built-in headphones before the start of the game against the Royals on Sunday.

"But they'll vote for a position player, use that as an excuse. They're talking about [Derek] Jeter a lot, right? He's done a great job, he's having a great season, but Jeter is not a 40-homer hitter or an RBI guy. It doesn't matter how much you've done for your ball club, the bottom line is, the guy who hits 40 home runs and knocks in 100, that's the guy you know helped your team win games.

"Don't get me wrong — he's a great player, having a great season, but he's got a lot of guys in that lineup," Ortiz continued. "Top to bottom, you've got a guy who can hurt you. Come hit in this lineup, see how good you can be."

Ortiz reminded ESPN that Alex Rodriguez won the MVP in 2003, even while playing for the last-place Texas Rangers, when he hit .298 with 47 home runs and 118 RBI.

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"I'm right there," he said, "but I'm not going to win it. They give it to [Rodriguez] one year, even though his team was in last place, so now they can't play that BS anymore, just because your team didn't make it. They gave it to Alex that year because of his numbers. But they always have a reason to vote for whatever, so that's why I don't worry about it."

Ortiz said he would vote for the White Sox's Jermaine Dye or Paul Konerko, or the Twins' Justin Morneau, ESPN said.

"All depends on who makes the playoffs," he said. "Dye is having an unbelievable season, an incredible year. Konerko, too. Morneau, he's having a great season, but in Minnesota, there's no publicity. I bet you nobody knows who he is."

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