Attention baseball fans: Does Pujols deserve NL MVP even though Cardinals didn't make the playoffs?

[victoryparty]

Like some weird election in Alaska, baseball fans will learn the result of ballots cast weeks ago this coming Monday when the National League Most Valuable Player is announced. Recently, the "conventional wisdom" has been a player shouldn't be considered for the award unless his team makes the post-season. The Punditty Project respectfully (OK, not so respectfully) disagrees. See:

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/1790695-the-cardinals-missed-the-playoffs-but-pujols-is-obvious-choice-for-nl-mvp

[GOPisEvil]

1. Yes, but I am a biased Cardinals fan.

If Andre Dawson can win when the Cubs finished in last place, Pujols can win after keeping the Cardinals remotely relevant. They are the Nationals without him. Oh, and he played with an elbow that needs surgery all year.

[nickgutierrez]

2. The "conventional wisdom" book is written by morons.

The best player in a given year is, by definition, the most valuable. It's really not difficult, except if you ask sportswriters. Most of them couldn't find their own rear ends with both hands and a flashlight.

[Oeditpus Rex]

3. I've always thought it should go to the player

whose club's Suck Factor would've been the greatest exponentially without that player's presence.

Shouldn't matter where the club finished. It's "Most Valuable," not "Most Valuable to a Winner."

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. That makes Pujols a shoo-in then

The Cardinals should've BLOWN this year. Because of Pujols, they were mediocre-to-slightly-above-average.

[Iggo]

5. That means Manny Ramirez should be in the running.

Dodgers couldn't hit shit before he got there. He almost single-handedly dragged them to within 3 games of the World Series.

[Oeditpus Rex]

6. Yeah, but

I'd be disinclined to give it to somebody for two months' work.



Anyway, it wasn't single-handed. If you look at the numbers, it really started when they got Casey Blake, a few days before Manny came over. Maybe Manny lit 'em up, but about the time he got there the whole damned ball club started hitting. Christ, look at the fucking September Ethier had.