Who is the National League MVP?
The 2007 NL Most Valuable Player Award is Up For Grabs
Here are the five best candidates for the National League MVP award.
Alex Rodriguez is the clear front-runner for the American League MVP. The New York Yankees third baseman finished the season hitting .314 with Major League bests of 54 home runs, 156 RBI and 143 runs scored. Unless the voters lose their minds, Rodriguez should take home his third A.L. MVP trophy in the last five years.
But which player is going to win the National League MVP? Should it be the speedy Jose Reyes of the New York Mets? Or should it be one of the big boppers of the Senior Circuit, like Ryan Howard or Prince Fielder? Are any pitchers legitimate candidates?
Here is a look at five players who put up some very nice numbers for some pretty good baseball teams. All are legitimate candidates for the 2007 National League Most Valuable Player award.
Jose Reyes, Mets Shortstop
Jose Reyes might be the most exciting ballplayer to come along since Rickey Henderson. Hitting leadoff for the Mets, he finished the year with an MLB-best 78 steals to go along with his 36 doubles, 12 triples, 12 home runs and 119 runs scored. For much of the season, he was surely one of the frontrunners for the MVP.
However, Jose slumped at the end of the year, and finished with a batting average of just .280. He was also rumored to have been a 'less than ideal' teammate during the Mets historic collapse down the stretch. Finally, Reyes was outdone in almost every offensive category by Phillies' shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
His weak finish and the Mets loss of a seven game lead in the final three weeks of the season should limit Reyes to a fifth place finish, at best.
Ryan Howard, Phillies First Baseman
The defending National League MVP started very slowly this year. But once he got going, there was almost no stopping the big man.
Howard finished with 47 home runs and led the National League with 136 RBI. He also hit nine homers and drove in 22 runs in the last 16 games of the season, when the Phillies went 13-3 and caught the New York Mets. Finally, he capped off the team's historic comeback with three hits and three RBI in the Phillies division-clinching final game of the season.
Howard is going to lose votes to his two infield mates, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. Moreover, as good as his numbers were, they paled in comparison to last season when he hit .313 with 58 homers and 149 RBI. Those factors likely will prevent him from winning a repeat trophy.
Prince Fielder, Brewers First Baseman
Many father-son combinations have played in the Major Leagues. Some have even played together. But there has never been a guy who hit 50 home runs, and then fathered a kid who also hit 50. The Fielders (Cecil and Prince) became the first members (and possibly only, ever) of this club in 2007.
Prince Fielder finished the year with a .288 batting average, 50 home runs, 119 RBI and 109 runs scored for a young Milwaukee Brewers team that finished just two games out of first place in the National League Central. The kid had a great year, and because he hit 50 dingers many voters may want give it to him, but they should keep in mind the more balanced achievements of players who led their teams to the postseason, especially Jimmy Rollins and Matt Holliday.
Jimmy Rollins, Phillies Shortstop
Rollins's biggest problem is that he shares an infield with two of the best in the National League: Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. But this seventh-year shortstop shouldn't be overlooked. He hit .296, drove in 93 runs, and led the National League in runs scored with 139. He was also third in hits with 211.
Most impressively, J-Roll became just the fourth player in baseball history to have at least 20 doubles (he had 38), 20 triples, 20 homers (he hit 30) and 20 steals (he swiped 41). Add to that Jimmy's 162 games played for an injury-riddled Phillies team that still won the National League East, and you've got a guy with a very good chance to take home the hardware this fall.
Matt Holliday, Rockies Outfielder
This was Holliday's breakout year, and what a year it was. He led the National League in batting (.340), hits (214) and doubles (50). He tied Ryan Howard for the league lead in RBI (135) and finished fourth in home runs (36). Voters may hold the thin air of Denver against him, but they probably shouldn't. He was the best player on the best team in the National League.
Regardless of who wins the award, all of these players had fabulous seasons, and each deserves recognition for the contributions they made to their teams during the 2007 baseball season.
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American League Cy Young Candidates
National League Cy Young Candidates
