There are various schools of thought as to who is the MOST "valuable" player in a given league. Some people automatically gravitate towards the player who has the best offensive statistics. This year, many would say that man is Albert Pujols. He's leading the NL batting race, and also has 28 HR (8th in the NL)and 87 RBI (11th). Pujols has been in the top 10 in MVP voting every year of his career so far, and for good reason. He has a career average of .334, and averages 42 HR and 127 RBI per year. This year, his power numbers are down, but he is hitting the ball as well as he ever has.Some people automatically look at the best team, and decide that the best player on that team is the league's MVP. This year, that team has been the Cubs. Their "best" player is arguably Alfonso Soriano. But he has missed 50 games, which essentially eliminates him from contention, especially considering the fact that the Cubs played well without him. That severely hurts his case for being the "most valuable". But the Cubs have another option, and it's one that Peter Gammons has endorsed on his ESPN Insider blog.
Geovany Soto is Gammons' choice. Gammons notes Soto's offensive prowess (.285, 20 HR, 78 RBI), but even more so, he emphasizes Soto's masterful work with the Cubs' pitching staff. Soto has shown great poise, initiative, and leadership, especially for a rookie, and he is more concerned with properly calling games and maximizing pitchers' potential than he is with his personal statistics. While he doesn't have the best offensive statistics on the team, Soto has still exceeded expectations at the plate, and has been ever better when behind it. His pitchers appreciate his unselfish attitude, and there is no denying that it has a profound affect on his teammates.Other players who are strong candidates include Milwaukee's Ryan Braun (.300, 33 HR, 92 RBI), Jose Reyes or David Wright of the Mets (.291/25/100), Florida SS Hanley Ramirez and everyone's early favorite, Phillies 2B Chase Utley. Utley has faded a bit since jumping out to a huge start, but he's hoping to be the 3rd consecutive Phillies infielder to win the award.
Every year, it seems like there are always one or pitchers who emerge as dark horse candidates. This year, the Cy Young race looks like it could come down to Brandon Webb and Time Lincecum, but the most valuable pitcher? That would undeniably be CC Sabathia. Sabathia is one of the most amazing stories in baseball this year. He came to the Brewers in a trade right before the All Star break, and has been nearly perfect ever since. In 10 appearances thus far with Milwaukee, he is 8-0 with a 1.59 ERA. He won the AL Cy Young last year, and he already leads the NL in shutouts and complete games. He has taken a huge amount of pressure off the bullpen, throwing complete games in half of his starts so far, and he has given the Brewers nearly a guaranteed win, every time he steps on the mound.Obviously the case against Sabathia is simple enough: By the end of the season, he will have only played in about 10% of the team's games, at that absolute most. But if the Brewers make the playoffs, it will be a direct result of Sabathia and his performance since the trade. There is no doubt about that.
So who's the final choice?
I have to go with Pujols here. Out of principle, part of me wants to disqualify him immediately if his team doesn't make the playoffs, after he whined about losing the 2006 MVP race to Ryan Howard when Howard's Phillies missed the playoffs. But without Pujols, the Cardinals would be a downright terrible team. Ryan Ludwick is also putting together a terrific season, leading the Cards in HR and RBI, but it's safe to say that without Pujols' protection in the lineup, Ludwick wouldn't have been able to do that. Pujols transforms the Cardinals from NL Central bottom-feeders to legitimate playoff contenders. As far as I'm concerned, that's what an MVP does.
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