My apologies go to Matt Kemp, Albert Pujols, and Prince Fielder fans, but Ryan Braun should be the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player. To me, the Most Valuable Player award should go to the player who meets two qualifications: spectacular statistics and value to the team’s success. The Milwaukee Brewers may not have won the NL Central if not for the contributions of Ryan Braun.
Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
If I could invent a new award for the Player of the Year, then I would give that award to Kemp. The Los Angeles Dodgers had a disappointing season, but Matt Kemp gave fans something to cheer about on a daily basis. The Dodgers finished in third place and played under .500 for most of the season. A 17-9 September allowed them to finish over .500 (82-79), but they played themselves out of the race early. Take away pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s 21-5 record, and the Dodgers are only 61-74. Kemp put up near-Triple Crown statistics (.324, 39 HR, 126 RBI), missing the accomplishment by 13 points in batting average, but he got to within eight points with three games left. No one else was that close to the Triple Crown so late in the season in many years. Kemp led the NL in home runs and RBI, and he would definitely win Player of the Year.
Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman
St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols had another terrific year (.299, 37, 99) and helped propel the Cardinals into the postseason, but he was not even the MVP of his own team. That honor goes to Lance Berkman (.301, 31, 94). Pujols started slowly and turned it on, but Berkman was steady and consistant all season. I agree that St. Louis would not have won without either of these two contributors, especially Berkman down the stretch. However, considering both criteria, their performances fall just short of Braun’s.
Prince Fielder
Fiedler definitely has the numbers to earn MVP honors, even better power numbers than Braun’s. Fiedler hit .299 with 38 home runs and 120 RBI and scored 95 runs. He was huge in the Brewers’ success all season long. He hit monster shots, hit in the clutch, and hit .330 in September with nine home runs and 18 RBI . If not for teammate Ryan Braun, I would give the MVP to Prince Fielder.
Ryan Braun
Braun finished second in the league in batting (.332), hit 33 home runs, drove in 111 runs, and scored 109. In addition, Braun stole 33 bases, and his .330 average, eight home runs and 22 RBI in September helped the Brewers win 15 of 25 for the month and win the division by six games while the Cardinals had the best September record in the league. Braun also hit when it counted. He hit .351 with runners in scoring position, and he normally comes through in clutch situations late in the game, including a division-clinching home run in the eighth inning on September 23.
No one could argue any of these players winning the 2011 NL MVP award, but my vote would go to Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun.
Sources:
Major League Baseball, Sortable Player Statistics, mlb.com.
Milwaukee Brewers, Prince Fielder, brewers.mlb.com.
Milwaukee Brewers, Ryan Braun, brewers.mlb.com.
Raymond became a baseball fan at a very young age. He played baseball through high school and soon after became a varsity coach. He currently coaches Little League in Florida. Raymond previously produced radio sports talk shows and hosted a weekly baseball radio call-in show.
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