Top 15 Candidates for NL MVP

The National League's best players will be competing for the Most Valuable Player award. Here's my list of the top 15 candidates for the award, in no particular order. I didn't include pitchers.

Apologies to: Andre Ethier (Los Angeles Dodgers), Brad Hawpe (Colorado Rockies), Chipper Jones (Atlanta Braves), Justin Upton (Arizona Diamondbacks), Lance Berkman (Houston Astros), Miguel Tejada (Houston Astros), Nyjer Morgan (Washington Nationals), Ryan Ludwick (St. Louis Cardinals), Ryan Theriot (Chicago Cubs), Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals), Shane Victorino (Philadelphia Phillies), Todd Helton (Colorado Rockies), Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado Rockies), Yunel Escobar (Atlanta Braves)

Adam Dunn (Washington Nationals)

I do not care that he plays on the Washington Nationals. As I am typing this, Adam Dunn has BETTER numbers than Mark Teixeira. Dunn has made the Nationals offense one of the best. JP Ricciardi must feel like a fool right now.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .285
HR: 31 (4th)
RBI: 86 (4th)
SB: 0
OBP: .417 (4th)
SLG: .580 (5th)
OPS: .997 (3rd)

Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego Padres)

If this was a month ago, I'd be reluctant to include him with his average in the .240s. But he's fixed that.

Gonzalez is one of the best first basemen in a strong crop of first basemen in the National League. He also leads the NL in walks.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .279
HR: 32 (3rd)
RBI: 72
SB: 1
OBP: .410 (10th)
SLG: .570 (8th)
OPS: .979 (5th)

Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals)

The Machine is by far the prohibitive favorite to win the award right now. What can't he do? He can hit, he can steal bases, he can do play defense... Oh yea, he also leads the National League in runs scored. Serious triple crown potential.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .325 (3rd)
HR: 38 (1st)
RBI: 104 (2nd)
SB: 11
OBP: .446 (1st)
SLG: .680 (1st)
OPS: 1.126 (1st)

Carlos Lee (Houston Astros)

Carlos Lee has been a reliable bat in an offense that sometimes does not want to show up to play. Lee hits for average and can drive in lots of runs.

He also hit his 300th career home run this year.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .313 (7th)
HR: 19
RBI: 74 (15th)
SB: 3
OBP: .361
SLG: .507
OPS: .868

Chase Utley (Philadelphia Phillies)

Chase Utley is the best second baseman in baseball today. He hits for power, can run the bases really well, and plays great defense. He's just one of the many Phillies in that potent offense.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .294
HR: 24 (9th)
RBI: 76 (12th)
SB: 13
OBP: .414 (7th)
SLG: .527 (15th)
OPS: .941 (9th)

David Wright (New York Mets)

Yes, the power isn't there any more. And yes, he might not play for the rest of the season. But who is more valuable to their team this year than Wright?

With all the injuries, he's been the one consistent Met. He's made up for the lack of power by hitting for average and stealing bases.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .324 (4th)
HR: 8
RBI: 55
SB: 24 (6th)
OBP: .414 (6th)
SLG: .467
OPS: .882

Derrek Lee (Chicago Cubs)

I think Cubs fans will agree with me here in that I don't think the Cubs would actually be over .500 without Derrek Lee.

In an offense that's been wretched and disappointing, Lee has been the one run producer that's been consistent.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .290
HR: 23 (13th)
RBI: 81 (7th)
SB: 0
OBP: .374
SLG: .536 (13th)
OPS: .910 (14th)

Hanley Ramirez (Florida Marlins)

Hanley Ramirez is by far the most talented player in baseball. He's the player that's going to keep Albert Pujols from getting the batting average leg of the triple crown.

Ramirez has been the best and most consistent Marlin and can hit, drive in runs, and steal bases.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .356 (1st)
HR: 18
RBI: 82 (6th)
SB: 22 (8th)
OBP: .417 (4th)
SLG: .571 (7th)
OPS: .989 (4th)

Mark Reynolds (Arizona Diamondbacks)

There's not a player having a more underrated season than Mark Reynolds. He's been of utmost value to the Diamondbacks.

He brought his batting average way up, he hits for power, steals bases, and has played both corners of the infield.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .283
HR: 37 (2nd)
RBI: 81 (7th)
SB: 21 (9th)
OBP: .374
SLG: .599 (2nd)
OPS: .972 (6th)

Matt Kemp (Los Angeles Dodgers)

I was deciding between going with Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier, but I decided to go with Kemp. He plays great defense, can steal bases well, and bats for average and power.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .311 (11th)
HR: 17
RBI: 76 (12th)
SB: 25 (4th)
OBP: .373
SLG: .498
OPS: .871

Pablo Sandoval (San Francisco Giants)

Besides the pitching, the Kung Fu Panda is the reason that the Giants are still in the playoffs chase. He's been the consistent hitter and run producer in an offense that's not very good.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .330 (2nd)
HR: 18
RBI: 69
SB: 4
OBP: .380
SLG: .551 (9th)
OPS: .932 (10th)

Prince Fielder (Milwaukee Brewers)

Not only does the Prince drive in runs and hit home runs, he is batting way above his career average. If there wasn't a man in St. Louis, Fielder would be the prohibitive favorite for the award. He's also massively improved his defense.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .309 (12th)
HR: 30 (5th)
RBI: 105 (1st)
SB: 2
OBP: .420 (2nd)
SLG: .594 (4th)
OPS: 1.014 (2nd)

Raul Ibanez (Philadelphia Philies)

Despite missing so much time due to injury, he's still amongst the best in the lead in most of the offensive statistical categories. Ibanez also plays a pretty good outfield.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .292
HR: 27 (7th)
RBI: 78 (10th)
SB: 4
OBP: .354
SLG: .597 (3rd)
OPS: .951 (8th)

Ryan Braun (Milwaukee Brewers)

Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are the best three-four punch in the National League this year.

Braun is another person who I think has serious triple crown potential. He can hit for average and power.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .316 (6th)
HR: 26 (8th)
RBI: 86 (4th)
SB: 10
OBP: .386
SLG: .572 (6th)
OPS: .958 (7th)

Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Phillies)

Ryan Howard and Chase Utley is not too bad of a three-four punch to have either. Howard became the fastest player in history to reach the 200th home run milestone and he continues to slug it out.

Stat (Rank-NL if applicable)
Avg: .269
HR: 30 (5th)
RBI: 91 (3rd)
SB: 5
OBP: .352
SLG: .547 (10th)
OPS: .899