File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Don't analyze beyond that. True, Howard can't field (19 errors). And Pujols outhit him by .357 to .251. Howard strikes out a ton while Pujols walks constantly. But none of it outweighs Howard's RBI total, built on his .320 average with runners in scoring position. For what it's worth, Howard wasn't even in the top half dozen in baseball in runners-on-base when he came to the plate. His 146 RBI wasn't a fluke. He's Mr. Multi-Run Homer.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/baseball-insider/2008/11/mvps_howard_k-rod_not_pujols_p.html

So apprently, having Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins hitting in front of Howard vs. Caesar Ituzris, Aaron Miles, or Adam Kennedy hitting in front of Pujols does not give Howard any advantage whats so ever in the RBI totals.
>> Anonymous
other than his mvp year, jimmy isn't really that high of an on base guy
>> Lambchop's Death Legion !d7bMXbKy6Q
I think to truely analyze the "MVP" we have to take it in a literal sense: Which player was more valuable to his or her team?

I still think the difference between the with and without-Howard comparison is far smaller than the difference between the with and without-Pujols comparison.
>> Anonymous
>>477244
good point, Phillies wouldn't have made the playoffs without Howard's September
>> Anonymous
>>477237

still loads better than Miles, or Kennedy, or Izutris. And Rollins had a .349 OBP this year, 5 points better than 2007, his MVP year.

Chase Utley has a .380 OBP, while Adam Kennedy has a OBP of .321, Cesar Izturis OBP was .319, and Aaron Miles was at .355.

Howard had a big advantage on picking up RBIs over Pujols this year.
>> Anonymous
http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/schumsk01.shtml

I forgot Skip Schumaker who did bat leadoff for the Cards. With a .359, this does level the playing field in Pujols favor. Still, give me Utley, Victerino, Wreth, and Rollins anyday over Miles, Kennedy, Izturis and Schumaker.
>> Anonymous
People put too much weight into the RBI. The MVP is the Most Valuable PLAYER. Pujols deserved the MVP, just like he did in 2006 when Howard was voted MVP. Simply put, Pujols is the best player in the game. He has won basically every award in the game worth a damn (including a WS). The only thing he needs now is a HOF induction (which I guarantee will happen). Hell, he is close to being HOF worthy already.
>> Anonymous
ITT: CARDINALS BUTTHURT
>> Anonymous
>>477294ITT: CARDINALS BUTTHURT


That makes no sense, Albert Pujols won the MVP.
>> Anonymous
Cardinals butthurt? Pujols just won the MVP. It's more of the fact that Ryan Howard is a fat overrated slob. While Pujols is consistently in the top 5 for every major offensive category (and defensive, actually), Howard has been 1st or 2nd in strikeouts in every full season he has played in.
>> Anonymous
Is that a hammer and sickle?
>> The Voice of Reason.
>>477251
So does that technically make the Mets MVP in a Phillies viewpoint?
>> Anonymous
>> And still, the AL winner should have been Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels, with a major league record 62 saves, the little engine that pulled his team so far in front that by the end, they forgot how to win when it mattered.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/18/lincicome-and-the-winner-is-all-wrong/
>> Anonymous
>>477306
>>So does that technically make the Mets MVP in a Phillies viewpoint?

Ouch that hits close to home. :(
>> HKK !h7MHU9L/Oo
This guy is an idiot. I'm ashamed that he writes for the Washington Post.