Well, it’s time for me to crank out my annual thoughts re: the current baseball season. It’s bittersweet since this means the season is nearly over. But with the postseason just around the corner, I thought it apropos to compile my list of award winners, starting with the NL MVP. In reality, it’s a two horse race between Andruw Jones of the Braves and the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols. I know I’m in the minority here and some will rail about my lack of objectivity, but my pretend vote goes to Pujols. Don’t get me wrong; Jones has had a great season, the kind of season most baseball prognosticators have been waiting for since he sprung onto the scene nearly a decade ago (really, has it been that long?). And what the Braves have done this year, with so many young faces carrying on the tradition of winning, has been utterly remarkable. But I think the numbers favor Pujols on this one.
At present, Pujols is hitting at a .334 clip, good for 2nd in the league and some 65 points higher than Jones’s .269. Jones bests Pujols in the “glamour categories” of HR & RBI; 50 HR to 39, 126 RBI to 109. But Pujols tops him in every other significant offensive category. Pujols has scored 120 runs, the highest total in the league (a +28 advantage over Jones). His .431 OBP is 80 points higher and despite the discrepancy in HR, Pujols is even leading Jones in SLG Pct. Never known for his basestealing prowess, AP has even swiped a team high 16 bases this summer. Don’t MVP’s carry their club through September into the postseason? I know the Bravos have a fairly comfortable lead in their division, but Jones is hitting a paltry .235 in September (compared with .350 for Big Albert). Fielding percentage? Pujols’ .993%; Jones .994%. Granted, Jones plays a more demanding position and he’s always good for a reel-full of highlight quality catches each year. But should Pujols be discredited simply because he plays first base? Historically, 24 first basemen have been honored with the MVP. The argument that Jones has had to carry his club offensively in light of injuries to some of their star players is equally applicable to Pujols. Scott Rolen has been a virtual non-factor this year. The contributions of Larry Walker & Reggie Sanders have been limited due to injury. I feel like Perry Mason, but the evidence keeps mounting in favor of Pujols for me.
Realistically, I think Jones will win. So many of the talking heads have all but crowned him the winner because of his big HR & RBI numbers. But when you look at all the numbers, it’s impossible for me to see why Jones should win over Pujols. They’re both deserving candidates, but here’s hoping AP can finally win a well-deserved accolade for his consistent excellence.
already & not yet 
You make a good case for Pujols, I admit. I admit I haven’t followed the Cards, or baseball at all, that closely this year, but I’m glad you pointed out the numbers, Jason, because I haven’t heard anything pro-Pujols other than that Bonds is hurt and this is AP’s year. i found myself asking “Should this guy win mostly because someone else is hurt?” Of course, baseball is a game of numbers, but numbers don’t measure everything. For a team of rookies and a first baseman that’s pushing 50 – that’s his age, not home run total – to win the division in maybe the most competitive division in baseball reflects leadership from somewhere. With Chipper Jones cheerleading for a good bit of the season, it’s been up to Andruw Jones to pull the team together. I wonder, though, which team would be hurt more without their star. With all the exteunating circumstances in Atlanta, it’s hard for me to question Andruw’s contribution to the team, either at the plate, in the field, or in the dugout. He of course is leading the league in homers and plays nearly flawless center field, making catches that maybe only Jim Edmonds could match. It’s a tight numbers race, but I believe that Andruw gets the edge in the unmeasurable categories. To lead this young team all the way to another division championship (they clinched tonight), and who know what else, is just too much to pass on. Andruw for MVP!
I understand the argument for Jones, but I think a stronger case could be made for Pujols. He’s been more dominant in every category other than HR & RBI…but like Glavine & Maddux once said, “Chicks dig the long ball.” I guess MVP voters do, too. And I really don’t understand the “clubhouse influence” & “character” talk that’s associated with the leading MVP media darlings, Jones & Ortiz. If I remember correctly, Jones was called to testify regarding some less than commendable behavior that took place at a seedy Atlanta nightclub. It’s not like the dude’s Ghandi, OK? And if you read up on Pujols any, you’ll find that baseball hasn’t seen a classier individual since Roberto Clemente. His story about his wife & kids reflects so much of his character. I just hate to see a guy of this talent level continually ignored by the baseball writers.