From ESPN.com

 

Pujols named NL MVP

 

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ESPN.com news services

 

Each of the past four seasons, Albert Pujols has taken a backseat to Barry Bonds in the NL MVP voting. Not this year.

 

 

Albert Pujols was named NL MVP for the first time in his brilliant young career Tuesday, beating out the Braves' Andruw Jones and the Cubs' Derrek Lee for the award.

 

The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman received 18 first-place votes and 14 seconds for 378 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Jones, the Atlanta Braves center fielder, got 13 first-place votes, 17 seconds and two thirds for 351 points.

 

The 25-year-old Pujols ranked in the top three in the NL in homers (41), RBI (117) and batting average (.330) and led the majors in runs (129) for the third season in a row.

 

The Cardinals had to deal with injuries to third baseman Scott Rolen and corner outfielders Larry Walker and Reggie Sanders, but still got the usual dominant play from their slugging first baseman to finish with the majors' best record.

 

Pujols has finished in the top four in MVP voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America in each of the last four campaigns, when the award went to Bonds.

 

Bonds is not a candidate for his fifth straight award after missing virtually the entire season with a knee injury.

I think it's much harder to disagree with ARod winning than it is with Pujols winning.

Good. Congrats Albert.

Congrats to Albert, one of the more classier guys in the game. Well deserved.

 

However, I would not have disagreed with Jones winning it.

 

 

First time someone not named Bonds has won this in the NL since 2000 (Jeff Kent) and first time since 1999 someone who hasn't played with Giants has won the award (Chipper Jones).

Would of liked to seen Jones win it, but grats anyway.

Would of liked to seen Jones win it, but grats anyway.

Some more remarkable stats...via Stark...

 

In a sport full of men who zigzag from hot streak to cold streak, Pujols is the single most dependable offensive force on the planet.

 

He batted .300 in every month but one (dipping to .287 in August), reached base 40 percent of the time in every month but one (slipping to .396 in April), and slugged .500 or better in every month, period.

 

He finished in the top three in the league in 11 major offensive categories (essentially, everything but squeeze bunts). And he led Jones in every one of those departments except homers and RBI.

 

In fact, Pujols' batting average was 67 points higher than Jones' (.330 to .263). And even though batting average isn't the fashionable stat it used to be, Jones' average would have been the lowest by any MVP in history.

 

No non-pitching MVP has even been under .280 since 1972 (Johnny Bench). And only two MVPs in history have ever been under .270 -- Roger Maris (.269) in 1961 and Marty Marion (.267) in 1944.

 

But the case for Jones completely disintegrated when it came time to consider what happened when he and Pujols came to bat with men in scoring position.

 

Pujols hit .329 in those situations. Jones hit .207. And that is one incomprehensible number -- that .207. In fact, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, it would have been the lowest average by any MVP with runners in scoring position since Elias began computing that stat about a quarter-century ago.

Jones deserved it. Sorry but he was the reason that the Braves made the playoffs. I don't care what his BA was he deserved it.

Jones deserved it.  Sorry but he was the reason that the Braves made the playoffs.  I don't care what his BA was he deserved it.

And the Cardinals would have made the playoffs without Pujols?

...when it came time to consider what happened when he and Pujols came to bat with men in scoring position.

 

Jones hit .207

 

That’s horrible. Imagine how many RBI’s Jones would have had if he had hit better with RISP.

 

Congrats. to Pujols! He plays excellent defense and the offensive production that he brings to the team, since he came up, has been nothing short of excellent.

And the Cardinals would have made the playoffs without Pujols?

the Braves would've been in last place without Jones. Especially with all the injury problems. The Cardinals won because of their pitching staff. Not because of Albert Pujols.

That’s horrible. Imagine how many RBI’s Jones would have had if he had hit better with RISP.

 

Congrats. to Pujols! He plays excellent defense and the offensive production that he brings to the team, since he came up, has been nothing short of excellent.

and Jones doesn't play excellent defense?

Damn it, that guy is incredibly good.

White Sox Josh, I used to think Jones deserved it more, too, but not after reading some of the stuff in this thread. f***, this guy is nothing short of amazing and is, hands down, the best player in baseball.

the Braves would've been in last place without Jones.  Especially with all the injury problems.  The Cardinals won because of their pitching staff.  Not because of Albert Pujols.

Furcal and Marcus Giles were more valuable to the Braves than Andruw was imo. Pujols is much more valuable to the Cards then Jones is to the Braves but that's obviously jmo.

the Braves would've been in last place without Jones.  Especially with all the injury problems.  The Cardinals won because of their pitching staff.  Not because of Albert Pujols.

The Cardinals had to deal with the losses of Reggie Sanders, Larry Walker, Scott Rolen, and Yadier Molina, all for weeks at a time up to the whole season. His protection in the lineup for portions of the season went from Walker to Molina to Mark Grudzelanik to somebody named John Gall (your guess is as good as mine).

 

Furthermore, while the Braves had a terrible bullpen and the Cardinals did not, the difference in their starting pitching was virtually zero. St. Louis's starters had an ERA of 3.61, the Braves' had an ERA of 3.65.

White Sox Josh, I used to think Jones deserved it more, too, but not after reading some of the stuff in this thread.  f***, this guy is nothing short of amazing and is, hands down, the best player in baseball.

I agree Pujols is great and probably the best player in the NL however that is not what this award is about. It is about which player did the most for his team and IMHO Jones fits that category. Nothing against Pujols.

and Jones doesn't play excellent defense?

 

Jones has been a magnificent CF since he came up. What he did this season for the Braves was incredible. When Chipper Jones and the rest of the crew were on the DL he carried the team and helped the team go on to the playoffs for the 14th season in a roll. Jones is also still young and I wouldn’t have had any problem if he were the MVP.

I agree Pujols is great and probably the best player in baseball however that is not what this award is about.  It is about which player did the most for his team and IMHO Jones fits that category.  Nothing against Pujols.

Vlad is the best player in baseball. Pujols doesn't have the arm and speed Vlad has.

damn

damn

 

 

I thought DLee shoulda won...

 

But seriously, I was pulling for Andruw.

Vlad is the best player in baseball.  Pujols doesn't have the arm and speed Vlad has.

 

That's your opinion, but you won't find many others that agree. Pujols is possibly looking at a HOF career.

Vlad is the best player in baseball.  Pujols doesn't have the arm and speed Vlad has.

Pujols is a very good first baseman, Vlad is an awful right fielder.

That's your opinion, but you won't find many others that agree.  Pujols is possibly looking at a HOF career.

So is Vlad.