Let’s Talk NL MVP

I watched the Braves games yesterday, where I think 15 starters and two ballboys homered off the Diamondbacks pitching staff. During the game, and then later that night on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, the subject of NL MVP came up. The Cardinals played the Cubs, and so in the two games, I saw the top contenders– Andruw Jones, Derrek Lee and Albert Pujols.

It is amazing to me that the announcers involved seemed to all lean towards Lee and Pujols. Now, granted, Albert Pujols has started a career like no one in my lifetime, and seems to deserve an award just because he finished second behind Barry Bonds so often. But let’s face it– Bonds not only deserved the awards, he deserved to go straight to Cooperstown, even if they had been the only 3 or 4 years he had played.

If steroids produced Barry Bonds’ latest MVP seasons, then that alone will be the hardest factor to overcome when persuading kids today not to do the banned drugs. But it also makes you wonder what would happen if other Cooperstown-worthy players had used them. Could Ichiro hit .450? Would Babe Ruth had hit 80-90 homers in a season?

Not only that, but what about the careers that could have been extended? Mike Piazza would not have the homerun record for catchers if Johnny Bench had been able to heal his chronic bad knees with a little injection, now and then.

But the fall of the Giants this year, without Bonds, shows his value. And the year Pujols and the Cardinals are having– with most of Pujols offensive help injured or slumping– would also indicate his value. Last year, Rolen and Edmonds took votes from him with fine performances.

This year? Well, Pujols would be a shoe-in, if it wasn’t for the Triple Crown season Derrek Lee is having. And then, there is that center fielder in Atlanta, who some people call the best fielding center fielder EVER in the game. He’s just leading the league in homers, on a pace to be the first 50 homer guy in the post-steroid era.

For years there has been the argument that a player’s team needs to win for him to be MVP. Just ask Miguel Tejada– that counts to a lot of voters. So as we look at this year’s possibilities, we probably should rule out Derrek Lee, because the Cubs probably won’t make the playoffs. Like it or not, that’s how people vote.

Pujols and Jones have some common scenarios. Andruw has been carrying the load, just like Albert, because Chipper Jones has been injured much of the year. And both guys lead by example with their performances, rather than being the locker room rally guy.

Pujols is perhaps the best pure hitter in baseball today. There is no doubt that, from an offensive perspective, he is the better player.

But baseball isn’t just offense, is it? Seven straight gold gloves for center field sit in Andruw Jones house, just in case you needed a hint on that one. For years, he routinely has done the spectacular. He makes Web Gems look like practice drills.

Most baseball people rate center field as the second most important defensive position, behind shortstop. That’s the general consensus, although many people will argue otherwise. Personally, after seeing some of the stiffs they put beside him, I think Andruw Jones should get 2 gold gloves a year, because he covers that much room in the outfield. Literally, with Jones and someone like Ichiro in the outfield, the other guy could sit in a lawn chair.

Can you tell which way I am leaning? I would vote for Andruw Jones. I think in the post-steroid era, we need to honor more than just hitting. Baseball needs to re-emphasize aspects of the game like speed and defense in the public’s eye. These are not steroid related issues in the average fan’s mind. Better to dwell on that than celebrate another hitter, and invoke whispers from the skeptical.

If Albert Pujols persists at this rate another 5-10 years or so, we all know he’s going to Cooperstown. He’ll win his MVPs. But if a player hits more home runs than you, and as many RBIs, and plays defense in center that makes Sports Center 3 times a week– on a BAD week– I say he’s more valuable.

What do you think? Drop us a line, and let us know who you favor for NL MVP.

Peace-Out
Jim Evans