National League Most Valuable Player Candidates

Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Hanley Ramirez Top 2009 Contenders

Aug 23, 2009

Pujols is still the favorite, but Fielder and Ramirez have legitimate chances to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award.

The National League is full of great players this season. Albert Pujols is having another monstrous season, even more monstrous than usual. Prince Fielder is hitting big home runs and driving in runs at a Lou Gehrig-like clip. Raul Ibanez carried the Phillies offense on his back for the first 90 games of the year. He's stumbled lately, and that has probably taken him out of any serious MVP consideration, but a few of his teammates are certainly worthy of being in the top 10.

But this article is not about the top 10. It's about the Big Four: Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Hanley Ramirez and Ryan Howard. Let’s take a look at each these four serious MVP candidates and what they have already accomplished during the first three-quarters of the 2009 season.

Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals 1B

Pujols is still the odds-on favorite to win the MVP. And why not? His team is in first place in the National League Central. He’s a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman. He’s a leader on and off the field. And he hits the ball like no one ever has, in either league, in any century.

Even according to his standards, Pujols is having a magnificent year. As of August 23, 2009, the Cardinals first baseman leads the National League in home runs (39), runs scored (96), On Base Percentage (.439), slugging (.661) and OPS (1.100). He’s also second in RBI with 105.

Th two-time MVP is batting .316, which is good enough for sixth place in the National League. Earlier in the year, it looked like Albert might make a serious run for a Triple Crown. With Hanley Ramirez hitting .358, that jewel may be out of Albert’s grasp. The 2009 MVP trophy, however, is surely within his reach.

Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers 1B

If Pujols cools off (which is unlikely), or if Fielder stays hot down the stretch (quite possible), then Prince could take away some MVP votes from the defending champion.

Fielder's credentials are pretty strong: He leads the National League in RBI with 110. He's hitting .305 and has an On Base Percentage of .417. The stocky first sacker also ranks in the top five in home runs, walks, total bases, and, well, just about every other major offensive category. Finally, the mere fact that a player of Fielder’s great size has two triples this year is reason enough to give him the trophy.

Hanley Ramirez , Florida Marlins SS

Baseball’s greatest shortstop is having the best year of his career. As of August 23rd, Hanley Ramirez leads the National League in hitting (.358) and base hits (160). Ramirez, a speedster with stolen 23 bases and 77 runs scored, is also a patient slugger with 36 doubles, 18 home runs, 82 RBI, a .419 On Base Percentage and a .989 OPS (fourth best in the NL).

Perhaps most impressive is that Ramirez is hitting .409 with runners in scoring position. He's also driven in a higher percentage of inherited baserunners than either Pujols or Fielder. Not bad. Not bad at all. That's why he's the third best candidate for 2009 National League MVP.

The best pure slugger in decades is once again poised to top the National League in home runs and RBI. Two weeks ago, Ryan had 26 homers and 79 RBi, or something like that. Now he's got 35 and 108. He's also hitting the ball a country mile in clutch situations, making him the most entertaining player in baseball. And the most productive. Could the Big Man should get ready for his second National League Most Valuable Player Award? As the wack packer Beetlejuice might say: "Maybe, Could be." You never know with Ryan Howard, especially with September coming; a month in which he has been spectacular in his brief, brilliant carrer.

A lot can happen in five weeks. One or more of these guys could slump, or choke, or not see a good pitch for the rest of the year. On the other hand, all three of them could finish strong, or a newcomer like Ryan Braun or Andre Ethier could play his way into the MVP conversation. Or somebody could get hurt. Some luck is involved. Weather conditions affect every damn thing. No one can tell the future in baseball. No one.

As stated before, a lot can happen in five weeks. But right now, the top 4 most valuable players in the National League are Pujols, Fielder, Ramirez and Ryan Howard.

The copyright of the article National League Most Valuable Player Candidates in Baseball is owned by James Lincoln Ray. Permission to republish National League Most Valuable Player Candidates in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.