AL NOTEBOOK: TWINS' SANTANA HAVING MVP YEAR.

Byline: DOUG PADILLA Staff Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The debate is on -- again -- over whether a pitcher deserves to win an MVP award.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Johan Santana is making a case for it just like Pedro Martinez did with the Boston Red Sox in 1999. Martinez finished second in the MVP vote that season in part because one voter refused to put the pitcher in the top 10 of his ballot.

The last pitcher to win the award was the Oakland Athletics' Dennis Eckersley in 1992. Roger Clemens won it for the Boston Red Sox in 1986 and Willie Hernandez of the Detroit Tigers was MVP in 1984 to name the last three.

Santana certainly has to be considered.

Entering play Friday, he was leading the American League in ERA, victories, innings pitched and strikeouts. No pitcher has led his league in ERA victories and strikeouts since the New York Mets' Dwight Gooden in 1986 For some voters, it is difficult to consider starting pitchers a most valuable player since they take the field just once every five games. The argument for Santana is this: where would the Twins be without him?

Of course a Twins player would back a teammate for the award. But even his rivals are touting Santana for MVP. One member of the Chicago White Sox said this week that Santana needs to get serious consideration.

The problem, he said, is that teammates like Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer could steal some of the votes Santana would need to win the award.

At least one debate seems to be completed. Not too many people are arguing over whether or not Santana deserves the Cy Young award. He won it two seasons ago and was the toast of his home country Venezuela. After climbing that mountain, he is searching for the bigger prize.

Papelbon likely finished: Boston Red Sox rookie Jonathan Papelbon, who had an impressive season as a closer, is likely done for the season with a shoulder joint problem. The bigger news, though, is that he has his mind set on being a starter next season.

That change could leave the Red Sox with a rotation next season of Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Papelbon, Tim Wakefield and Matt Clement. It sounds impressive, but who closes?

Keith Foulke was the closer when the team won the World Series in 2004, but he is a free agent and is coming off an injury-plagued season. Papelbon might not get his wish just yet.

Impressive turnaround: According to STATS, Morneau has seen the biggest increase in his batting average among players with at least 200 at-bats last season and an average of two at-bats a game this season. As of Friday, he was batting .325, an increase of 86 points from last year. He also had 33 home runs and 121 RBIs.

Rare air: The White Sox are trying to become the first AL team with four members to reach at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Only the 1996 and 1999 Colorado Rockies have accomplished the feat.

Jermaine Dye and Paul Konerko already have reached the 30-100 marks while Jim Thome and Joe Crede are closing in.

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