Who are the leading candidates for NL MVP?
Every year, baseball scribes from around the United States vote to decide which baseball player has had the most valuable performance during the season. The award can go to whoever the writers feel contributed the absolute most to his team, whether he is a pitcher, closer, first basemen, or outfielder.
In the history of the award, first basemen have been recognized the most (33). The last two winners in the National League were first basemen. Pitchers have won on 23 occasions, but have not won since 1992 when Dennis Eckersley won the award.
While the winner is typically on a team with postseason aspirations, that is not a requirement. When Alex Rodriguez won the American League MVP in 2003, his team, the Texas Rangers, finished the season at 71-91. Also, Albert Pujols won in the National League in 2008 when the St. Louis Cardinals finished fourth in their division.
The race in the National League looks to be an interesting one this season and will likely come down to the player whose team actually wins the division, Joey Votto’s Cincinnati Reds or Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Joey Votto
Any player that even flirts with winning the elusive Triple Crown (first in batting average, home runs, and RBIs) should be in contention for the most valuable player award. Through 123 games, the first baseman has hit .321 (first in the National League), 28 home runs (tied for third), and 83 RBIs (second).
Votto's performance has been a key piece to the success that the Cincinnati Reds have enjoyed this season. After seeing the St. Louis Cardinals win the NL Central last season, the Reds are poised to win the division for the first time since 1995, which also happens to be the last time a Red won the NL MVP. It was shortstop Barry Larkin.
Votto may get a leg up with voters since Pujols has won it for the National League the last two seasons. If their statistics are similar enough, he could get the nod for leading the Reds to their best season in over a decade.
Albert Pujols
For much of the season, it appeared as if the slugger for the St. Louis Cardinals would not even be worthy of being mentioned as a candidate for the NL MVP. While his numbers were still solid, they were not of the caliber that fans and voters have grown accustomed to over the last few seasons.
That all changed in the last month. Pujols has almost single-handedly kept the Cardinals in the thick of the hunt for the NL Central division crown. Through 15 games in August, Pujols has been the hottest hitter in the National League, batting .426 with eight home runs and 16 RBIs.
Much like Votto, Pujols is also flirting with the Triple Crown. Through 120 games, he has hit .316 (fourth in the NL), 32 home runs (first), and 88 RBIs (first). The batting average is within reach, which if he were to overtake Votto in that category, while maintaining his lead in the other two, would make him the first Triple Crown winner in the National League since Joe Medwick did it playing left field for the Cardinals back in 1937.
If Pujols wins the Triple Crown it would be impossible not to award him the NL MVP for the third consecutive year. Achieving a milestone that no other National League batter has done in more than 70 years would be impossible to ignore. However, if he does not, then the Cardinals will likely have to win the division for him to win it again.
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