Pujols Tabbed As NL's MVP
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Each year, when the most valuable player awards are announced, folks debate the definition of "most valuable."
That issue surfaced again Monday when St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols was voted the National League most valuable player for 2008 despite the fact the Cardinals finished fourth in the Central Division. Pujols collected 18 of 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard, who boosted the Phillies to the post-season with a tremendous September, finished second with 12 first-place votes. Phillies closer Brad Lidge, who didn't blow a save all year, picked up the two remaining first-place votes and finished eighth.
Voting was conducted at the end of the regular season with points awarded on a 14-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. Pujols, who also won the award in 2005, finished with 369 points and Howard with 308.
Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun was third with 139 points, one more than Los Angeles Dodgers leftfielder Manny Ramirez. Left-hander CC Sabathia finished sixth despite making only 17 starts with the Brewers.
In 2006, when Howard claimed the MVP award without the Phillies making the playoffs, Pujols-who propelled the Cardinals to the World Series title that year-said he thought a player shouldn't be MVP if his team didn't go to the post-season.
Pujols back-tracked on those comments Monday and said his words were misinterpreted.
"Obviously, (Howard) did deserve it," said Pujols. "He had a great season. What I said is that guys who take their teams to the playoffs should have some consideration for MVP.
"You have to consider everything. It's tough. I'm very happy I don't have to make that decision myself."
Pujols finished second in the NL with a .357 batting average and set career highs with 104 walks and a .462 on-base percentage. His .653 slugging percentage was by far the best in the majors and he socked 37 home runs with 116 RBI.
Perhaps most impressively, in an age when many sluggers pile up huge strikeout numbers, Pujols whiffed just 54 times in 633 plate appearances.
"It's something I'm proud of," said Pujols, whose club finished four games behind the Brewers in the wild-card race. "I prefer to put the ball in play because it gives more opportunity to my team to win.
"That's what I try to do. I try to walk more than I strike out. You learn to be patient and trust your hands and trust yourself."
