On Monday, Albert Pujols was named the National League Most Valuable Player by the Baseball Writers of America.
There were some who thought the voting would be close with St. Louis native Ryan Howard making a real run at the award. Howard would have been deserving if the season were two months long. His gaudy home run and RBI totals were commendable, but one would have to wonder if Howard was even the MVP on his own team.
Granted, Howard is one of the real difference makers in the game, but so is Philadelphia Phillies teammate Chase Utley, who also had a monster year.
Throw in closer Brad Lidge, who did not blow a save in 41 attempts in the regular season. If Lidge were on the Cardinals and Philly had the Cardinals’ bullpen, guess which team would have been in postseason?
With that said, let’s not take anything away from Howard as he continues to ascend as a good baseball player. This year was not his year. The numbers don’t lie. With the exception of home runs and runs driven in, Albert owned virtually every other category.
Ryan does have the one thing that every player covets – a championship ring.
So where does this put Pujols when it comes to the subject of greatness? He is already a two-time MVP winner. He has finished in the top 10 in the voting every season he has been in the Major Leagues.
If you took a poll of Major League pitchers on the hitter they would least like to face, especially after the seventh inning, it would be Pujols. His run could continue for awhile barring injury. The next step, for the Cardinals, is to insure he does not entertain offers as a free agent. It’s up to the Redbirds to get this done sooner rather than later.
Rams woes continue
I could write something about the Rams’ woes each week ’til the cows come home.
Never in the history of pro football in St. Louis has there been a team this bad. Even the football Cardinals in their worst years found a way to win at least four games.
The Rams have been blown out in virtually every loss this season. Do you see two more wins on the remaining portion of their schedule? Here are the opponents and current records. Home against Chicago (5-5) Home against Miami (6-4) At Arizona (7-3) Home against Seattle (2-8) Home against 49ers (3-7) At Atlanta (6-4).
The only two teams under.500 have wins against the Rams this season. Yes, it could become an even longer season for sure. If that is the case, then why isn’t head coach Jim Haslett playing some of his younger players? We have seen this starting bunch enough to know that they cannot get the job done. Maybe the younger players might be worse. But why not look at the players who could be part of the solution in the future?
Barack and the BCS
When asked by ESPN’s Chris Berman on Election Day eve what he would like to see changed in sports, President-elect Barack Obama said he would like to see a playoff system in major college football. His simple solution sounded logical. While our new president has bigger issues to address, like getting people back to work, I get where he is coming from. He was all about change during his campaign and he wants to let the jokers who run the BCS know that he would have no problem addressing what most American sports fans want — a playoff for Division 1 Football. Speaking of the BCS, it appears that ESPN holds the cards as to a playoff.
Fox Sports, which currently holds the BCS rights through next year, has pulled out of its bidding war with ESPN, which has a $125 million a year offer on the table.
If ESPN demanded a playoff system, how could the BCS and NCAA say no?
It’s a perfect match. Let’s see if ESPN has the best interest of their viewers in mind when making this call.