Milwaukee Brewers’ Ryan Braun finishes second in the NL MVP – MLB News
Milwaukee Brewers' 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Award winner Ryan Braun on Thursday finished second in the Baseball Writers’ Association of America balloting, succeeded by San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey.
Predicted to be a suspenseful balloting, the results – however, clearly favoured Buster Posey who won 27 first-place votes and 422 points, compared to three of Ryan Braun as the latter scored 285 points. Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates finished third.
Braun seemed to have foreseen the results. The accomplished slugger said he did not really think of it this year.
"To be honest with you, I didn't really think much about it at all. I didn't think that I was going to win," Braun said. "It's exciting to know that I was a finalist and that I had another season that put me in that MVP conversation. That's something I'm proud of. But aside from that, I didn't think about it at all.”
That probably is sign of humility. Statistically, a quick look tells, he was at his best once again this year, leading the National League with 41 home-runs, 356 total bases, 108 runs and .987 OPS. His 112 RBIs and .595 slugging percentage remained second in the NL.
But in all likelihood, he was seeing the most votes go to Posey considering the fact that his team not only made it to the post-season, but also went on to win the World Series championship.
For Braun, therefore, Posey really was best this year in terms of his offensive and defensive performance to ultimately lead the team to a winning stand.
He said, "I think Buster Posey deserved to win. What he was able to accomplish this year as a catcher, with a team that went on to win the World Series was incredible. I thought he was the best player. I think he deserved to be the MVP."
He had a phenomenal year, undeniably. Be that as it may, the Brewers finished third in the National League Central this past season, a year after when they had easily made their way to the National League Championship Series.
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