Howard wins NL MVP

[Chi City 81]

Ryan Howard just won the NL MVP, according to ESPN.

No link available yet.

 

[DyePack]

Neifi got screwed.

 

[Freelance Hack]

Wow. Howard was definitely worthy of the award, but Pujols has to be scratching his head and wondering what he needs to do to win. Yeah, I know he has last year's, but the guy should have at least two other MVP trophies on his mantle.

 

[Oz]

Uh oh. The wrath of Columbo will be upon us soon.

 

[Chi City 81]

I'll just save everyone the trouble.

If what Pujols did in the last week isn't the very essence of Most Valuable, they should rename the award right now.

I mean, honestly, make up your mind.

First, you bozos blather on about how it isn't "player of the year"... and then you guys pull out Player of the Year rationale for Howard.

Howard sucked the tailpipe like he was Paris Hilton for the final three weeks of the season.

Even that asshat Oz, who used that struggled-down-the-stretch rationale to disqualify Dan Uggla (actually, Oz picked out seven games, one-third the number that Howard blew chunks in... hilarious little ****er) from rookie of the year (which as he pointed out when he was trying to work the other side of the fence in ripping Uggla, does not carry MVP-type requirements), is going two-face and not applying the standard on Howard.... only because his simple guacamole-filled orb on his neck can't ever allow him to agree with me.

Little lemming.

Let's get this straight:
a. You just dissed a guy for hitting ,384.
b. You consider "one MVP moment" worse than ZERO MVP moments.

I'll give jag credit, though. He at least is trying to support his argument.

You poor little manure-munching misanthropic munchkin, I have you killed with the facts.

You just can't admit it.

Howard makes Carlos Delgado look like Keith Hernandez at first, but I know, that doesn't count either.

Doesn't work into the equation.

And the disregard of hitting .421 with 5 HRs the final 20 games, and hitting THE HR that advances your team to the postseason.

Incredible hypocrisy, just so you can disagree with me.

Two things everyone in this thread (with the exception of dumbass) seem to agree on:

1) It's an incredibly close race and a compelling argument can be made for both players.

It may be close, but it isn't close enough to successfully argue Howard.

 

[fmrsped]

I was going to ask Pube the reason on the "writers want a rematch, coaches don't thread," but jesus, his anger really kind of freaks me out. Everything is a profanity-laced tirade.

I seen fewer personal attacks from JR/Boom/A_F/BYH/DyePack combined.

That dude needs help.

And my two cents: Albert got hosed.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

As an impartial observer :, I too agree Pujols got jobbed.

 

[jagtrader]

Well, hitting in the clutch, defense and baserunning are obviously not criteria for this award. At least not this year.

I grew up a Phillies phan and probably watched 100 of their games this summer. Howard was mediocre with runners on base and is a one-dimensional slugger -- albeit a great one.

Pujols should have won.

 

[casty33]

Hosed? Jobbed? Please, let's be fair. Pujols is a great player and he again had a wonderful year for a team that won its division. BUT ... Howard also had a great year for a team that contended -- which is all that should be necessary to be a legitimate MVP candidate -- and a team that finished with more wins than the Cardinals.

Where are the negatives on Howard? I say that fully admitting that either of them could have won and it would have been justified, in my mind.

 

[Double Down]

I'm just really glad they both did it the natural way. This restores the integrity of the game![/headinthesand]

 

[outofplace]

Hosed? Jobbed? Please, let's be fair. Pujols is a great player and he again had a wonderful year for a team that won its division. BUT ... Howard also had a great year for a team that contended -- which is all that should be necessary to be a legitimate MVP candidate -- and a team that finished with more wins than the Cardinals.

Where are the negatives on Howard? I say that fully admitting that either of them could have won and it would have been justified, in my mind.

How was Howard's defense. I know he had a rep after his rookie year of being pretty lousy with the glove, but didn't see him enough this year to know if he got better. Pujols is outstanding defensively.

This isn't an argument. I could see either guy winning this award. Just curious because that is one area that you would probably give a big edge to Pujols.

 

[casty33]

True, the defense would go to Pujols, but I don't think it was enough of a difference to penalize Howard for it. Again, they each deserved to win.

 

[jagtrader]

Howard's defense is horrible. His baserunning is horrible. He hits home runs. That's all he does. It's good for the Phils because he's great at it.

Pujols is a vastly superior all-around player and a better overall hitter.

 

[Columbo]

Hosed? Jobbed? Please, let's be fair.

OK then.

Pujols was hosed and jobbed.

Ryan Howard, meet Terry Pendleton in 1991.

 

[Songbird]

The thing is, Howard had a great season. Truly remarkable. But Pujols was more valuable. It's a shame when the best player in the game doesn't get the best honor.

 

[Columbo]

Where are the negatives on Howard? I say that fully admitting that either of them could have won and it would have been justified, in my mind.

Do these baseball writers ever watch anyone play defense, run bases.... all the stuff jag mentioned?

 

[Freelance Hack]

Hosed? Jobbed? Please, let's be fair. Pujols is a great player and he again had a wonderful year for a team that won its division. BUT ... Howard also had a great year for a team that contended -- which is all that should be necessary to be a legitimate MVP candidate -- and a team that finished with more wins than the Cardinals.

Where are the negatives on Howard? I say that fully admitting that either of them could have won and it would have been justified, in my mind.

Casty, I have no qualms with Howard's win. I just feel bad for Pujols because it seems like he'll need to win the Triple Crown to get the award.

 

[Columbo]

In game 157, Albert Pujols hit a three-run HR that allowed the Cardinals to make the playoffs.... and certainly allowed La Russa to start Carpenter in Game 1 of the NLDS.

To have had that great of a year... with THAT sort of incredible moment.....

Another baseball writer crime.

 

[BYH]

Where are the negatives on Howard? I say that fully admitting that either of them could have won and it would have been justified, in my mind.

Do these baseball writers ever watch anyone play defense, run bases.... all the stuff jag mentioned?

Nope. Just you.

 

[Oz]

Where are the negatives on Howard? I say that fully admitting that either of them could have won and it would have been justified, in my mind.

Do these baseball writers ever watch anyone play defense, run bases.... all the stuff jag mentioned?

No, they play poker with Ricky Henderson and Bobby Bonilla while working games.