First Trimester Team MVPs: National League

It has been an eventful season so far in the National League. Teams like the Cardinals and Marlins have become surprise contenders, while teams such as the Mets, Braves, and Brewers have been huge disappointments.

But who has been behind these strong starts? And who has prevented the mediocre, or even the bad teams, from being even worse?

Below, I identify each team’s MVP for the first third of the season, concluding with my first trimester NL MVP ballot. I will do the American League tomorrow.

Chicago Cubs: Ryan Dempster, SP.

There are plenty of reasons behind the Cubs’ spectacular start. A large percentage of Chicago’s line-up could have been named team MVP, which means that the Cubs would probably be able to survive losing one of them (see their winning record without Alfonso Soriano earlier this year).

Dempster’s emergence has helped solidify the front end of the Cubbies’ rotation. His stats are better than Carlos Zambrano’s in almost every category, and he was not expected to pitch nearly as well as he has.

Runners up: SP Carlos Zambrano, C Geovany Soto

St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols, 1B.

Pujols has continued to inspire fear in opposing pitchers this season, and in doing so has carried a line-up centered around him and led the Cardinals to their strong start. He leads the team in batting average, OPS, hits, walks, runs, and home runs.

What truly makes Pujols the team MVP is that he is making other players better. He has reached base in nearly half of his plate appearances this year, providing ample RBI opportunities for hitters such as Ryan Ludwick, Rick Ankiel, and Troy Glaus. Ludwick, in particular, has benefited tremendously from batting directly behind Pujols in the order.

Runners up: OF Ryan Ludwick, SP Adam Wainwright

Philadelphia Phillies: Chase Utley, 2B.

Utley has been on fire all year, and is the driving force behind the torrid Phils’ offense. The Philadelphia second baseman has already stroked 18 home runs, the most in the majors.

While the entire Phillie team is hitting now, that wasn’t always the case. Utley’s consistently spectacular play helped his team overcome Jimmy Rollins’ injury and Ryan Howard’s slow start.

Runners up: CL Brad Lidge, OF Pat Burrell

Florida Marlins: Dan Uggla, 2B.

The Marlins’ surprising start has been fueled by its young players, and Uggla has been leading the charge. His 16 home runs rank third in all of baseball, behind only Utley and Houston slugger Lance Berkman, and he leads the team in every major offensive category.

Uggla is actually a relative veteran on a team filled with first- and second-year players, and he leading this young team with his bat so far this year.

Runners up: SS Hanley Ramirez, SP Mark Hendrickson

Arizona Diamondbacks: Brandon Webb, SP.

Webb, who started the season by winning his first nine starts, one away from a major league record, has once again been the dominant pitcher the Diamondbacks need and expect him to be.

He has actually lost his last two starts, but Webb pitched very well in the first of the two, allowing two runs against the Marlins. His sinker has been as dominant as ever, and Webb is poised to contend for the Cy Young yet again.

Runners up: CL Brandon Lyon, 1B Conor Jackson

Houston Astros: Lance Berkman, 1B.

Berkman has been flat out nasty this year. He ranks second in the National League in all three Triple Crown categories: batting average, home runs, and RBI. His OPS is well over 1200, and he has been a nightmare for opposing pitchers all year.

Berkman has gotten some help from his teammates, but he is still far and away the most dangerous hitter in this, or virtually any, line-up.

Runners up: OF Carlos Lee, SS Miguel Tejada

Atlanta Braves: Chipper Jones, 3B.

Berkman doesn’t lead the NL in batting average, however, because one-third of the way through the season Chipper is batting an absurd .409 (and this after going 0 for 5 Friday night).

Jones has carried an Atlanta team that has struggled to meet expectations all year. He leads the team in every offensive category—who knows where they would be without him.

Runners up: C Brian McCann, SP Jorge Campillo

Los Angeles Dodgers: Rafael Furcal, SS.

Playing for a team that completely lacks power, Furcal’s role as a table setter has been invaluable. He is reaching base all the time and is one of the few Dodgers who ever scores. Hell, his five home runs even tie him for the team lead.

Like in Atlanta, Furcal’s early-season performance is one of the few things keeping an otherwise underachieving team afloat. He can only hope his teammates pick up the slack soon.

Runners up: C Russell Martin, CL Takashi Saito

New York Mets: Ryan Church, OF.

Church has been one of the few bright spots in a dreadful first third of the season for Willie Randolph’s club. On a team where almost every star is playing well below potential, it’s fitting that the MVP is someone who was brought in to be a role player.

The good thing for Mets is you have to expect players like Beltran and Reyes to turn it around, and if Church is still hitting when they do, suddenly you have an even more potent line-up. If not, at least they got something for Lastings Milledge, right?

Runners up: 3B David Wright, CL Billy Wagner

Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun, OF.

Braun is quickly proving that his huge rookie season was nothing more than a sign of things to come. He is on pace for 35+ home runs again this year, and it looks like he will be a star for the next 15 years.

Yet again (for the fourth team in a row now), Braun is one of the few bright spots on a team that is not performing up to its 2007 standard. If someone (can you hear me, Prince Fielder?) around Braun starts hitting, he will only become more effective.

Runners up: SP Ben Sheets, OF Corey Hart

Cincinnati Reds: Edinson Volquez, SP.

Everyone knew the Reds could hit. But Volquez helps give them what they haven’t had in a very long time—good starting pitching.

Volquez has been lights out so far this year, leading the majors with a 1.46 ERA. He has been a huge part of Cincy’s recent resurgence and push towards mediocrity, and the Reds would be all too happy to have him anchor their rotation for a long, long time.

Runners up: 2B Brandon Phillips, OF Adam Dunn

Pittsburgh Pirates: Nate McLouth, OF.

McLouth’s tremendous breakout season has been one of the better stories in baseball this year. He hit his thirteenth home run Friday, which ties his career high for home runs in a season.

Beyond that, his passion and hustle have played a large part in reforming the Pirates’ downtrodden style of play. He is one of the biggest reasons they have a chance to finally break the .500 barrier this season.

Runners up: OF Xavier Nady, SP Phil Dumatrait

Washington Nationals: Christian Guzman, SS.

After hitting rock bottom while batting .219 over a full season in 2005, Guzman has restored his career and is now a crucial cog in the Nationals’ offense. His 38 runs scored are 14 more than the next highest total.

Guzman is the elder statesman on this young, struggling Washington team. His perseverance and strong fundamental play undoubtedly serve as a good influence on the players who will be a key part of this team’s future.

Runners up: 3B Ryan Zimmerman, SP Tim Redding

San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum, SP.

Lincecum is another player who is proving that his debut season was no fluke. He is striking out more than a batter per inning, and his 2.33 ERA is nearly two points lower than that of any other San Francisco starter.

Lincecum is perhaps the only bright spot—at least among players who will be on this team three or four years from now—of the first third of the season for this team. He should be the Giants' ace for a long time.

Runners up: C Bengie Molina, OF Aaron Rowand

San Diego Padres: Adrian Gonzalez, 1B.

Gonzalez has been the only offense for a team that has scored less than 200 runs this year. In fact, before Friday night’s game against the Giants, Gonzalez had either scored or driven in 88 of San Diego’s 195 runs.

Gonzalez’ 44 RBIs are double the total of anyone else on the team, and his 34 runs scored put him significantly clear of the next highest total in that category too. It’s amazing to think what his numbers would be like if anyone else on the Padres could hit.

Runners up: OF Brian Giles, SP Jake Peavy

Colorado Rockies: Garrett Atkins, 3B.

In what characterizes the terrible season the recent World Series representatives are having, Atkins his having an above-average to good year right now, but I chose him over Matt Holliday because at least Atkins is probably performing at about the level at which we expected him to perform.

He’s the only one. The Rockies have been dreadful this season. Not much more to say, they need to turn things around immediately just to become respectable again. Rocktober feels centuries away right now.

Runners up: OF Matt Holliday, RP Taylor Buchholz

My First Trimester National League MVP Ballot:

1. Chase Utley

2. Lance Berkman

3. Chipper Jones

4. Brandon Webb

5. Nate McLouth