Like I promised, here is my NL MVP Ballot. I already explained the methodology by which I choose my MVP (a combination of Value over Replacement Player, Win Probability Added, Revised Zone Rating/Defensive Win Shares, and pennant race dynamics).
1. Albert Pujols 1b St. Louis Cardinals VORP 85 WPA 5.36 OPS 1.116
38 2b's, 32 HR's, .466 OBP, .649 Slug, 93 walks and only 48 strikeouts. Just another average season for Prince Albert. I can say this without any prefacing- Ladies and gentleman, we are watching the greatest first baseman to ever play the game of baseball and we should be eternally grateful. He is the best offensive and defensive first baseman in either league and furthermore he is just so damn consistent. Check out his stats, it's a shame he had to play at the same time as the Transformer, or he'd have 3 MVP's to go along with 2 pennants and a world championship. By all accounts he's also a great guy, adopted a kid with Down Syndrome, invites rookies to dinner, etc. To me, he's the modern day Stan Musial which makes it more than fitting he plays for the Cardinals.
2. Lance Berkman 1b Houston Astros VORP 75 WPA 6.42 OPS 1.020
I like Lance Berkman. He seems like a fun-loving guy, just a big dude who doesn't exude any athletic competence and at first glance, lends credence to the unathletic stereotype of baseball players. But he's turned himself into not only a masher, but a decent defender at the cold corner, in my mind only Pujols and Derek Lee are better right now. He also has two cool nicknames, Fat Elvis (for comparison here and here) and the Big Puma for his "cat-like" reflexes. Berkman is supremely underappreciated, first because he was the third B in Houston behind Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell (it's crazy that the best Astros of recent memory have all had last names that start with B) and also because he toils in the same division as a demi-god. If the Astros were in contention, the race would be pretty close. Him and Albert are far ahead of the rest of the field in my opinion.
3. Hanley Ramirez SS Florida Marlins VORP 70 WPA 4.20 OPS .919
Sometime in late 2005 or early 2006, right around the Josh Beckett to Boston trade, I remember hearing that some people thought Hanley Ramirez was not as great a prospect as some people said because of his mediocre minor league numbers. Of course, he was far younger than the rest of his competition- the last three years have justified rating him so highly. We love seeing prospects come out of nowhere, but doesn't it feel good when someone with potential fulfills their destiny? He's not much at shortstop (although he's gotten better) which might mean a move to a less demanding defensive spot in the future, but he's just as exciting as Jose Reyes with a fraction of the press. The best part is, he's only 24 years old so he has a few more years at this level or better. Hopefully playing to small crowds in Florida won't depress him too much.
4. Matt Holliday LF Colorado Rockies VORP 58 WPA 5.11 OPS .963
Last year, Matt Holliday became the symbol for the amazing Rockies when he face planted them to playoff spot with the dramatic come from behind win over the Padres, becoming their symbol and giving voters a signature moment with which to award him 2nd place in MVP balloting (the MVP was won by Jimmy Rollins). This year, with the Rockies comfortably out of a playoff spot, Holliday is having another very good season. Not quite as good as last year and with none of the excitement. The Rockies were a miracle story, a pretty weak World Series participant, and destined for regression to their true talent level. Like I said, I'm all for taking the success of the team into some account when deciding on an MVP, but Holliday should still be getting some love even if the Rockies stink.
5. David Wright 3b New York Mets VORP 49 WPA 2.94 OPS .892
Why would I pick another third baseman when Chipper Jones is having a much better offensive season? I went back and forth between putting either one of their names at this spot; in the end I chose Wright because of defense and because his team is still in the race. New York's golden boy is having another fine season and for some reason, he just seems like really cool guy. My roommate, who is not much of a baseball fan even seems to like him. When I see him play, for some reason, images of Ron Santo come to mind. Obviously I'm too young to have seen Ron Santo play, but he's always been described to me as a very good offensive third baseman with very good defensive skills as well. He may not be the top at any one aspect of the game, but he is so valuable because he is so good in every area. If he continues like this he'll get more love than Santo because of New York and because I think that despite their faults, sportswriters are a little better at noticing the more subtle value that a player like Wright has to a team.
Honorable Mentions
Chipper Jones 3b Atlanta Braves
I first became a baseball fan in 1991 and my first team was the Atlanta Braves. Partially it was because they were always on TV (TBS, the superstation) and partially because my dad made me root for them since they were playing the Pirates in the NLCS. Anyway, even though they are not my team anymore, I still check on them from time to time. It's like calling an old friend, one you rarely speak to and don't have much in common with anymore. But you remember the good times and you recall them fondly until you run out of things to say. I feel the same way when I see that Chipper is still having great seasons, still being the best switch hitter since... It makes me feel a little old, cuz I remember his unbelievable season in 1999, I remember him being the ultimate Met killer, those series seeming to hinge on the sweet spot of his bat. Life was so much simpler, all I had to worry about was school, playing outside, and video games- everything else was steady. My parents fed me and paid the bills and the Braves won the division every year- what more could a kid ask for?
Carlos Lee RF Houston Astros
El Caballo! I don't know if it's me just seeing it after the fact, but Carlos Lee has always reminded me of a horse. I remember him with the White Sox and he's now with the Astros, but I still think of him as a Brewer. He only spent a season and a half in Milwaukee, but the 2005 season was memorable in its disappointment, I really thought they'd make it over .500 (they finished 81-81). With Houston he's been who he always is, a slugger with bad defense, a down ballot MVP candidate.
Ryan Braun LF Milwaukee Brewers
Last year he won the Rookie of the Year award along with a Golden Globe for Best Comedic Performance in "Trying to Impersonate a Third Baseman." This year, the Hebrew Hammer is still raking but moved his act to left field, which is best for everyone involved. I hope and pray that the Brewers make the playoffs and then make some noise while they're there. I use to live in Nashville and I got to see a few Sounds games (Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate). It's great to see all of those minor leaguers up and winning together. I knew Braun, Fielder, Hart, and Hardy would all be fine and they have been- but damn I thought Rickie Weeks would be so much better than he is. I've made so many excuses for him already- I knew his defense was bad and always would be, but he at least hit in the minors. This is his 25 year old season- either he learns to play defense, which means that his bat can still play at 2nd, or he learns to hit, which will help in his inevitable move to the outfield. Either way, the Brew Crew need more from him, they need him to at least be better than Ray Durham.
Carlos Beltran CF New York Mets
Joe Posnanski said that Carlos Beltran is one of those players you expect so much more out of, even though what he gives is pretty damn good. He's the very definition of the five tool player. To his detriment, he makes everything seem so effortless, which makes people wonder how great he'd be if he looked like he was trying. He doesn't dog it though, he always plays hard. It's not his fault that I see Mickey Mantle talent in him, when he's really just Andre Dawson with a better walk rate. There's nothing wrong with being Andre Dawson, he's a borderline Hall of Famer. Why can't I totally convince myself though?
Chase Utley 2b Philadelphia Phillies
At the beginning of the year it looked like Philadelphia would have three straight MVP's, the way Chase Utley was hitting, spraying hits all over the field and launching bombs into the seats of Citizens Bank Park. He's tailed off some, going from frontrunner to also-ran, but he'll still garner some downballot votes. If the Phillies would have had a better third baseman (oh where for art thou Scott Rolen), they would have had a historically great infield last year, and its still a damn good one this year. I'm glad this generations Ryne Sandberg is playing for my second favorite team. Here's hoping they overtake the Mets again this year- the only unfortunate thing being that they'll most likely play the Brewers in the Divisional rather than League series.
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