3. Ryan Howard. I just have a feeling about this one. The smart money is probably on Pujols or Beltran, but with the Phillies charging toward the wild card, Howard has a legit shot at taking the prize. He’s leading the National League in home runs (44) and RBI (113) and has become an absolute monster in the middle of Philadelphia’s order. He will probably need to keep jacking home runs (in addition to Philly continuing to win games) to overcome his lofty strikeout totals, but if he can finish with 55 bombs and 140 RBI, he might be able to overwhelm voters with his sheer power numbers, much like Ortiz in the AL.
In fact, the similarities between Ortiz and Howard are kind of astounding. Both are enormous lefties known entirely for the bat and not at all for the glove. Both have great personalities. Both were left in the minors for far too long before getting a chance to play every day. And both are amassing incredible numbers while playing in very tough baseball cities. The only problem? In my most important fantasy league I missed each of them by a single pick. I need to move on before I get upset.
2. Carlos Beltran. Beltran’s nightmare season of a year ago feels more like a lifetime ago at this point. He’s smashing home runs, stealing bases, making obscene catches, and winning games left and right. Hey, I guess being healthy is fairly important after all. (All the writers and fans who slammed him last year when he was struggling while playing hurt should be forced to write Beltran apology notes.) He’s hit 36 home runs with 103 RBI and is serving as the centerpiece of the league’s best team. As Larry David would say, he’s a “pretty, pretty, preeeeeeeettttty, pretty” good candidate.
1. Albert Pujols. It is very hard to argue with just etching Pujols’ name on the trophy for the next five years. The guy missed over 20 games and is still second in the NL in RBI (107), third in home runs (38), and third in average (.328) while also running away with the slugging percentage and OPS crowns. The man is just a beast. Here is the problem for Pujols: the Cards aren’t the wrecking crew they’ve been the past few seasons. If St. Louis manages to squander both the NL Central crown (they lead the Reds by a half game) and the wild card, Pujols may have to kiss his second MVP award goodbye. Don’t worry though, he’s still going to wind up with about five of them when it is all said and done. Don’t forget for a minute that we are watching one of the greatest right-handed hitters in the history of the game.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Here I was trying to think of a guy better than Ortiz this year. And there it is. YermainGuy. Good case, but wow try walking into Boston and saying that.
2 - Kevin
What if the White Sox don't make the playoffs? Voters don't like to vote for a player on a team that's home in October, though I disagree with them. And Joe Mauer should be in this discussion as well, as he has better offensive stats across the board than Jeter, and plays great defense at the toughest defensive position.
And, personally, I think your blog would be easier to read if you used a smaller font.
3 - Adam Hoff
Well, if the Sox don't make it, that will probably hurt Dye's case, although I think that you will find that MVP's can come from teams that are in the race right until the end. Either way though, I sincerely doubt Dye will get enough love to even crack the top three, let alone win it. He just happens to be my pick at this moment.
As for Mauer, I think he has a tough time overcoming the fact that Morneau is going to get most of the Twins votes. It is the same reason I didn't put Manny Ramirez or Jason Giambi on the list - they have teammates that are going to eat up those votes.
The one guy I can't believe I left off the NL list (especially in light of the fact I had to put two players from sub-.500 teams on the list) is Jose Reyes. Beltran is the man if a Mets player wins it, but Reyes might be the most exciting player in baseball and certainly should have had Berkman's spot. He plays an important defensive position and his numbers are ridiculous. Hitting almost .300, leads the majors in steals (54), is second in runs (102), and has 15 triples and 15 home runs to go with 23 doubles. He even has more RBI than strikeouts, which speaks to his improved plate discipline.
Also, yesterday gave us a pretty thrilling showdown between Howard and Beltran as they combined to drive in six of the seven runs scored in the game and each hit big home runs. Great stuff.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
And look at that ... Dye with a two-run home run off Joe Nathan to tie it in the ninth. They didn't win though.
5 - M.D. Sandwasher
Adam,
You made me laugh out loud when I read "As long as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (I don't even have a joke for this anymore)." That was funnier than writing the obligatory joke. And when you wrote, “In fact, the similarities between Ortiz and Howard are kind of astounding…The only problem? In my most important fantasy league I missed each of them by a single pick. I need to move on before I get upset.”
I too am very high on Morneau. I like the fact that you have Jermaine Dye listed as your number one. Every writer lists the Big Papi’s and Jeter, but I have seen very little written about Dye this year and undeservingly so.
Great Article!
6 - Adam Hoff
Thanks for the kind words. There really is nothing left to say about the LA/Anaheim debacle. The best take on it I've seen is from Michael Kun in "The Baseball Uncylopedia" (a great read). He broke down the fact that when translated, the new name of the team literally comes out to "The The Angels Angels of Anahiem." Classic.
It was too bad about Dye hitting the dramatic home run, only for the Sox to still lose. I personally don't care who wins the wild card (and probably prefer the Twins), but those are the kind of moments he nees to have any hope of winning the award.
Howard and Beltran matched home runs against today ... uncanny. Those guys are both so sick. I think Howard is going to finish with better numbers than Big Papi. He's already got him in average and today he passed him in RBI (by one) and tied him in home runs. He's going to wind up with those 55 and 140 numbers, I think. If that happens and the Phillies win the wild card, they almost have to give it to him, right? Should be interesting, because all three of those guys (Pujols, Beltran, and Howard) are having incredible years.
7 - judge roy beans
Jeter ...Most over-rated player ever .if he played on Royals ..No one would of ever heard his name ....Hoqw many scratch infield hits he has this year ..like 1/2 his hits .or little dinkers
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
Curse him for getting on base and manufacturing runs.