Teammates Think Highly of Lofton, Even If He Doesn’t

Kenny Lofton, the Cleveland Indians’ three-time All-Star center fielder and Gold Glove winner, is having an MVP kind of year, but don’t try and tell him that.

“MVP?” Lofton says with a look that suggests the reporter is crazy for even raising the possibility. “That’s not for me to say.”

Lofton won’t even say this season, his fifth with Cleveland since being stolen from Houston for catcher Ed Taubensee and pitcher Willie Blair in 1991, is his best.

“In ‘94, my stats were better,” said Lofton, who finished fourth in MVP voting last year. “My on-base percentage is down this year.”

Maybe so, but his numbers aren’t bad.

Despite missing eight games with hamstring and rib injuries, Lofton is leading the league in hits (165), multi-hit games (55) and is on his way to a fifth consecutive stolen-base title with 57.

He is fourth in runs scored (95) and fourth in outfield assists (nine). He already has equaled career highs in home runs (12) and runs batted in (57).

If Lofton won’t build a case for himself, his teammates gladly will.

“I compare him to Michael Jordan,” Omar Vizquel said. “To me, he’s the Michael Jordan of baseball the way he can dominate a game. Whether it’s bunting, throwing a guy out at the plate, stealing a base or hitting a homer.”

Lofton hears the comparison and immediately knows the source.

“Omar, right?” Lofton said. “That’s just a word people use to compare people. It’s kind of funny to listen to stuff like that. It’s hard to tell. The way guys are on this team you don’t know if they’re ever being serious.”

But third baseman Jim Thome was serious when he called Lofton, “the most talented player in baseball.”

“I think he’s an MVP candidate,” Thome said. “He’s had a terrific year. He’s had great years before but he’s had them quietly.”

Indian first-base coach Dave Nelson said that athletic ability is putting Lofton in a class with few other players.

“I don’t know of any center fielder other than Ken Griffey [Jr.] who can do the things Kenny can,” Nelson said.

“When you see him make a play or go through a hot stretch, you say to yourself, ‘He can’t play any better.’ And he does. He always seems to take it to another level.”

Nelson said that level would be even higher had Lofton played baseball at Arizona instead of basketball.

“He’d have gotten to the big leagues a lot quicker and he’d be so much further along fundamentally,” Nelson said.

“Kenny is one of the best center fielders in the game, but to be considered great, you have to do it consistently for 10 or 15 years like an Eddie Murray or Cal Ripken. But Kenny’s only 29 and he could still be one of the great ones.”