Toss-Up for NL MVP?

Decided to leave the debate for American League MVP for another day, and weigh in on the debate for the player most deserving to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award for the 2011 season. There is no need to add a pitcher to the list of candidates because no pitcher went above and beyond to be nominated for MVP in all of the National League; just fielders this time:

My Favourite

Ryan Braun sporting the Milwaukee Brewers Retro Uniform

Ryan Braun of the Central Division Champion Milwaukee Brewers looks like the runaway favourite in the NL MVP race. His league-leading .333 batting and .599 slugging averages would boost the standing of any major league baseball club, but to join the 30/30 club and beat opposing teams with his bat and his speed are something else (33 homeruns, 31 stolen bases in 37 attempts). Left fielders know most of the action in baseball will come their way, so to lead the league's left fielders in innings played (1229.0 INN) and fielding percentage (.996 FPCT), rank 2nd in assists (8), and error only once is no small task. Detractors may credit his success this year to the fact he plays on the same team with Prince Fielder, who is in his contract year, but to rank 4th in the NL in runs batted in (110 RBI) means Braun is doing his fair share.


My Rival

Matt Kemp during happier, postseason times, with #55 Russell Martin no less

Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers had an exceptional second half to the 2011 season, if not a very good 2011 as a whole, as he led the NL in hits (88) since the All-Star Game in Arizona. Tied for first in home runs with Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols (37 HR), and tops in runs batted in (120 RBI) are good enough for Kemp to be #2 on this author's list of MVP candidates (His 40 stolen bases are nothing to sneeze at either). Too bad his numbers aren't astronomical otherwise he would get the nod as favourite; the Dodgers are among the cellar dwellers of the National League sitting fourth in the NL West Division. The Most Valuable Player award should go to a player on a playoff bound team, or a player whose contributions more than make up for his team's lack of production and talent.

My Dark Horse

Carlos Ruiz used Death Stare; it's super effective. Batter faints. Ruiz gains 780 XP

Carlos Ruiz of the Philadelphia Phillies may have pedestrian statistics this year, but his value to the team's pitching staff goes without saying. He only played in 125 games, but his presence at catcher is a god send for pitchers such as Halladay (19 wins), Lee (16 wins), Hamels (14 wins), and rookie Worler (11 wins). If one considers a player's value to a team, then Ruiz has a case.

That's my three candidates for National League MVP. I'll weigh in on the "Verlander for MVP" debate in the next couple of days. The photos are linked to their respective sites, so I don't take credit for or own MLB pictures (all rights reserved); special thanks to MLB.com for statistics, and Getty Images and Zimbio for images.