Who will the NL MVP today?

Question

It should be between Pujols and Howard. Tell me who it should be and why. I'll give credit where it's due.

Answer 1

Some of you don't seem to understand that the voting for all the categories take place at the end of the regular season and prior to the playoffs. With that said I feel Ryan Howard had a greater effect of the success of the Phillies season. With basically no one with any power hitting behind him all season Howard was able to put up extraordinary numbers. The Phillies were in the playoffs race right up until the last day of the season. Without Howard they would have been out of the race as much as a month earlier.

Pujols had a much stronger supporting staff behind him. As weak as their division was, I believe the Cardinals would have won anyway. Frankly what they did in the playoffs was remarkable considering the kind of season they had. Remember, the Phillies were 85-77 while the Cards were 83-78. Just additional info to consider.

Answer 2

First, for the person who said the determining factor will be that Pujols made the World Series - While I agree that playoff success is great, the voting for this award was done before the playoffs began, so the writers had no idea how the Cards would fare in the playoffs.

Howard had the big home run total, but my vote goes to Pujols. He had a higher BA, OBP and slugging percentage, and he scored 15 runs more than Howard. I know Howard had more RBI, but that number is dependent on a lot of other things. Pujols also struck out only 50 times to Howard's 181, so there was at least a chance of him being able to move a runner over in most cases. Pujols was also a better defender than Howard, as his new Gold Glove would attest.

Howard was exciting and had a great year, but I still think Pujols is a pretty easy choice here.

Answer 3

Ryan Howard won, and was the more deserving candidate.

The only arguement I've heard to support Pujols winning is the fact that he led his team to a World Series win. It is false logic for the following reasons:

1. Pujols spent a great deal of time in 2006 on the DL.

2. The MVP award is based on performance in the regular season only, not the post season.

3. Ryan Howard led his team to more victories. After all, the Phillies finished with a record of 85 wins and 77 losses. The Cardinals finished with 83 wins and 78 losses. The Cardinals did not reach the post season due to the performance of Pujols, but instead because they were in the weakest division in Major League Baseball.

Placed head to head, Howard helped his team to more victories, and put up better numbers in almost every category. The real MVP of the St Louis Cardinals in 2006 was Geography, because if they weren't located in the NL Central, they would have placed no higher than 3rd in any other division (and 4th in both the AL East and Central)

I don't even see why there is a debate. For an award based on performance in the regular season, Ryan Howard is the clear cut winner, and was the better ballplayer and team leader in 2006, and most importantly, was more valuable to his team than Pujols was to the Cardinals.

Answer 4

The award is suppose to go to the most Valuable player . Clearly Pujols had comparable numbers though playing in fewer games and let's face it the Cards don't even sniff the playoffs if they don't have him. Pujols is clearly the MVP. Despite Howard's great numbers the Phils didn't make the playoffs. I know if I'm an opposing manager with the game on the line, I'd rather face Howard than Pujols any day of the week.

Answer 5

Well the results are in.....

I am always amazed at the backward logic it takes to put a weaker player ahead of a better one. The fact is Howard was the sentimental favorite and finished strong which influenced the rather dodo-headed sportswriters. I guess those losses he contributed to early in the season don't count?

Offense: Pujols.... had better OBP and Slugging. He struck out fewer times. had more runs,more steals, better baserunner. He had fewer HR and RBI, but produced more runs and frankly, you'd rather face Howard than Albert in any key situation (mainly for strikeouts).

Defense: Pujols... gold glove (which came out later, bu teveryone knows Howard can't play defense)

Leadership: Hard call, but Albert the veteran is the clear leader of the cardinals and always delivers. I wouldn't go by wins or playoff contention because both depend so much on a million other factors.

Answer 6

With the offensive categories coming to a virtual draw (Howard with more HR and RBI, Pujols with more Runs and higher BA & OPS), Pujols should win based on his excellent defense. Also, the fact that Pujols' team made the playoffs will ultimately swing the votes in his direction.

Answer 7

it will b pujols the mvp stands for the "most valuble player" pujols only struck out 50-51 times so he did more for his team than howard. who struck out 170-180 timesplus howard is more suted for a dh than a first base job. pujols won a golden glove wile howard is one of the worst defincive players in the NL. plus everyone they vote after the reg. season is over so pujols world series wont matter

Answer 8

Pujols.

Yeah Howard had a great season statistically and the Phillies were in a pennant race til the last week. Pujols would have had much better numbers if he did not hurt himself with the oblique strain and the Cards did make the playoffs.

By the way voting ends on the last day of the regular season so please don't mention that the Cards were in or won the World Series THAT DOES NOT MATTER

Answer 9

For all those people who say "who gotta give it to Pujols, they made the playoffs the Phillies did not"
That is so wrong, yes Pujols made the playoffs but Howard lead his team to within a game or two of the wild card spot
IMO Howard was the best hitter in the game this year,led them to contention so he should win the award.
Pujols was great too this year, but his injury really hurt his chances of a "monster" season

Answer 10

I say Pujols. Without looking at complete numbers, I do know Pujols had a better RISP avg., his situational stats are better than Howard's and his team made the playoffs.


If Howard does win the award it won't be a travesity. He did put up awesome numbers.