Howard is the fourth player to be named MVP in his second season, joining Stan Musial, Vida Blue, and Cal Ripken. Howard is the first Phillie to win the award since Mike Schmdit in 1986, won his third MVP.
Other Phillies to win the award are Jim Konstanty and Chuck Klein.
Howard received 20 first place votes and 12 second place votes for 388 points. Pujols received 12 firsts, 19 seconds, and one third for 347 points.
10 points apiece for Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday. Bad Altitude will be atwitter! Alfonso Soriano is apparently going to cash in his 6th place finish for a lot of money.
Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch isn't all that unhappy with the decision because Ryan Howard is a St. Louis guy. In the words of Tip O'Neill, "All MVP voting is local."
So much for the BBWAA getting the Awards votes right. Last year, Colon beat Santana because he had more wins. This year, Howard beats Pujols because he had more HR and more RBI.
Its frustrating, but I guess we already knew that.
Pujols
Beltran
Cabrera
Bay
Arroyo
Berkman
Wright
Howard
Webb
Oswalt
My full thought process is here http://tinyurl.com/y7qayr, and admiteddly the results are different from the normal ballot because I was trying to quantify value.
At least in Howard's case, while he was about equivelant to Pujols offensively, he's terrible defensively, costing his team a win and a half according to rate2. This knocked him from first or second down to eighth.
7 - The defensive edge to Pujols, amongst the multiple rate advantages, certainly was the case between the two. However, Howard has the more "intangible" impact that the writers give so much weight too. Pujols missed some time, costing him valuable counting stats, and his team coasted to the finish, just barely squeezing in to the playoffs.
The Phils had waived the white flag on the season with the Abreu trade, but Ryan Howard was a man possessed with 23 homeruns in Aug and Sept.
Beltran was the best all around player all season, but the Mets didn't play a meaningful game in the 2nd half.
Howard wasn't the right choice, but not a bad choice.
What's the official definition of "Most Valuable" that the voters are suppose to go by? Or is it completely up to each individual? Is it suppose to be "most valuable" to that players team? And only to a successful team? How much are the voters suppose to take defense into account, or what position the player plays? Anything in writing or is the award voting just a Plaschkecracy? vr, Xei
1. Albert Pujols, 1B, STL
2. Carlos Beltran, CF, NYM
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B, FLA
4. Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI
5. Lance Berkman, 1B, HOU
6. Chase Utley, 2B, PHI
7. David Wright, 3B, NYM
8. Jose Reyes, SS, NYM
9. Rafael Furcal, SS, LA
10. Mike Cameron, CF, SD
Pujols had better AVG/OBP/SLG than Howard. They both play first base - Pujols like a Gold Glove winner; Howard like a DH. Albert hit RHP and LHP. Albert hit at home and away. He led the league in OPS (1102). In short, Pujols was the best player in the league.
Albert hit RHP and LHP.
Don't see how this matters, though Howard did well against left handed pitching. Albert hit at home and away.
So did Howard. He was actually a bit better on the road.
I would have voted for Beltran because he plays great defense at demanding position and he put up outstanding numbers offensively.
Its frustrating, but I guess we already knew that.
A .340 eqa and 58 homeruns for a team in contention through the last week...
I can't see Howard being any less than 3rd, with Pujols and Beltran.
I'd have put it Beltran/Howard/Pujols just because I love a CF who can do it all. What is Hoffman doing in the top 10?
Pujols
Beltran
Cabrera
Bay
Arroyo
Berkman
Wright
Howard
Webb
Oswalt
My full thought process is here http://tinyurl.com/y7qayr, and admiteddly the results are different from the normal ballot because I was trying to quantify value.
At least in Howard's case, while he was about equivelant to Pujols offensively, he's terrible defensively, costing his team a win and a half according to rate2. This knocked him from first or second down to eighth.
The Phils had waived the white flag on the season with the Abreu trade, but Ryan Howard was a man possessed with 23 homeruns in Aug and Sept.
Beltran was the best all around player all season, but the Mets didn't play a meaningful game in the 2nd half.
Howard wasn't the right choice, but not a bad choice.
http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2006/10/baseball_analys.php
1. Albert Pujols, 1B, STL
2. Carlos Beltran, CF, NYM
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B, FLA
4. Ryan Howard, 1B, PHI
5. Lance Berkman, 1B, HOU
6. Chase Utley, 2B, PHI
7. David Wright, 3B, NYM
8. Jose Reyes, SS, NYM
9. Rafael Furcal, SS, LA
10. Mike Cameron, CF, SD
Pujols had better AVG/OBP/SLG than Howard. They both play first base - Pujols like a Gold Glove winner; Howard like a DH. Albert hit RHP and LHP. Albert hit at home and away. He led the league in OPS (1102). In short, Pujols was the best player in the league.
Don't see how this matters, though Howard did well against left handed pitching.
Albert hit at home and away.
So did Howard. He was actually a bit better on the road.
I would have voted for Beltran because he plays great defense at demanding position and he put up outstanding numbers offensively.
That's pretty much all I have to say about this. I long ago gave up caring about MVP votes.
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