Reigning MVP Ryan Braun faced with stiff challenge for this year’s Award – MLB News
The National League Most Valuable Player Award will be announced on November 15 with five nominees already been named for the cherished prize. Milwaukee Brewers’ left fielder – the reigning MVP – Ryan Braun, is one of the top favourite candidates for it.
Among others are World Series champion San Francisco Giants’ Buster Posey, St. Louis Cardinals’ Yadier Molina, San Diego Padres' Chase Headley, and Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen.
That which uniquely positions Ryan Braun for winning the prize is his having the most home-runs (41) in the National League, total bases (356), runs (108) and OPS standing at .986. These are impressive figures, but facing him is Buster Posey whose team went on to clinch the World Series championship.
Even though Braun was statistically much better this year than the last – when he won the NL MVP, there are some assessments and predictions that suggest he might not be able to net the award this time round.
MLB Network analyst Harold Reynold is among one of the authorities of the game whose analysis clearly suggested the potential victory of Buster Posey rather than that of Ryan Braun.
"[Braun] was better this year, I think, than last year, but he's not going to win it," Reynolds said. "It's sad, because of the offseason that he had last year, he's not going to win the award this year. That's just my feeling. ...”
Buster Posey, like stated earlier, poses a serious challenge to Braun. In his 148 games, Posey had .336 batting average with 24 home-runs, 103 RBIs and 78 runs. Posey’s candidacy becomes stronger due largely to his team’s post-season success.
"I think the numbers would go to Ryan Braun, if you just sat and looked at numbers," Reynolds said, "but I think if you look at the overall things that they compute into being an MVP, Buster wins it by a landslide."
All said, it is eventually the voting constituencies that will decide the most deserving candidate for NL MVP 2012. With competition seemingly formidable, fans will keep their fingers crossed for the announcement of the award on November 15.
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