NL MVP Race

NL MVP Race
Samuel Grus
9-24-13  1:06 pm

OWENSVILLE, MO-The National League MVP race is not near as clear as the American League with Miguel Cabrera. We honestly have a solid five horse race for the biggest award in baseball. Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates has turned it on since late April. Yadier Molina is just a stud when it comes to hitting and handling a pitching staff. Paul Goldschmidt is carrying his Diamondbacks, and Joey Votto is helping his Cincinnati Reds towards Wild Card berth.

            Andrew McCutchen is probably the best all-around centerfielder in the game today. McCutchen is the centerpiece of the Pittsburgh Pirates team, everything they do, they do it around him. He does it all: he runs, hits for average, hits for power, and field so gracefully. McCutchen also just handles himself on and off the field so eloquently. It is hard not to like him. McCutchen is batting a solid .326 with 19 home runs, and has driven in 79 runs. If the Pirates make the postseason, it will be hard not give him the hardware.

            Yadier Molina has been an absolute beast in 2013. He is leading this young St. Louis Cardinals team to what could be their third consecutive postseason appearance. Molina is the best catcher in the game, he blows San Francisco catcher Buster Posey out of the water. Molina can hit, in the past two seasons he has batted over .300 and driven in over 60 runs. But the one thing people overlook is how he handles the Cardinals’ pitching staff. When Yadi is in the lineup, everybody is relaxed because their pitchers should able to go at least 7 innings and hold the opposition to two to three runs. Molina makes a strong case for the MVP because he is the most valuable player to the St. Louis Cardinals club.

            Even though the Arizona Diamondbacks are not in contention for postseason play, their first baseman is out of this world. Paul Goldschmidt is a guy that you can count on if you need a clutch home run, just a base hit this guy is your guy. Going into the second half of the season, he was the clear cut MVP, now on the other hand not so much. Sure he is still producing at a high level, but since his Diamondbacks team is not in contention, it makes it hard to give him the hardware. Goldschmidt is batting .301, has hit 32 home runs, and has driven in 114. Goldschmidt lost his chance at the MVP trophy when the Diamondbacks lost possession of the National League West lead.

            Joey Votto is in my opinion is overrated. Not to say he is not a good first baseman, but he is not near as good as what people make him out to be. I have given my opinion about Votto, now it is time to talk about his MVP candidacy. Votto and his Reds are more than likely going to end up in the Wild Card playoff game. Votto can hit the ball to all field with authority and has never in his career pulled a ball foul with power. He tries with all his will to work the ball up the middle and the other way. Votto is also pretty good with the glove at first base. Votto takes home the hardware if the Reds win the pennant.

            And the winner is... Yadier Molina! His offensive production has tailed off a little bit in the second half, but in the games that he plays the Cardinals win more often than not. But that is not to say if the Pirates win the World Series, that Andrew McCutchen does not take home the hardware. The National League MVP is a toss-up. With so many good players in the game today it is hard to pick just one, however, my vote would go to the catcher from St. Louis.