MLB Award Watch: Joey Votto for NL MVP

Joey Votto, undeniably, had a career-year. He announced very loudly that he not only belongs in the same sentence as the other great NL first basemen but, with all due respect to the machine that is Albert Pujols, he very well could be the best.

When it comes to MVP voting, players are judged largely by their offensive statistics and specifically their Triple Crown numbers. Albert Pujols led the league in RBI (118) and homeruns (42). Carlos Gonzalez also had a breakout year, leading the league in average (.336) and he also hit for power with 37 Home Runs and 117 RBI.

Both Pujols and Gonzales had great years, but when the MVP is announced on November 24^th you won’t hear the name of either of those men. Instead it will be the young Canadian, Joey Votto.

Votto’s numbers are consistent across the board and he was the driver of the most powerful offense in the National League.  He led the league in slugging percentage (.600) and on-base percentage (.424) while batting .324 with 37 HR’s and 113 RBI. What really sets Votto apart from Pujols, Gonzalez and the rest of the league is the fact that he led the Reds to the playoffs while proving he was one of the league’s most clutch hitters. From the seventh inning on, Votto led the NL in average (.356), homeruns (14), and RBI (41).

Votto is a member of perhaps the most talented group in all of baseball: National League First Basemen.  When he wins the 2010 MVP award next month, the argument can be made he is the best of that bunch.

Here are the rest of my picks:

AL MVP:  Josh Hamilton

NL MVP:  Joey Votto

AL Cy Young:  Felix Hernandez

NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay

AL Manager of the Year:  Ron Washington

NL Manager of the Year:  Dusty Baker

AL Rookie of the Year:  Danny Valencia

NL Rookie of the Year:  Jason Heyward

These are my picks … who is your NL MVP?

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