Categories: Posts

Idea Of MVP Award Makes It Hard To Rally Behind

In his blog, Todd Zolecki rails on Nationals beat writer Rich Campbell from the Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance Star about leaving Ryan Howard off his 2008 National League Most Valuable Player ballot.

Meh.

(By the way, that’s an official word now.)

I understand getting all pent up about MVP voting and such, but I don’t. And it’s not even the post-World Series euphoria talking. I just don’t get riled up about these BBWAA awards. Especially the MVP, since you can define the award like 10 ways, and each sportswriter chooses a different way to define it. Either it’s most valuable to his team, or most value in the league, or best player, or best player on a playoff team, or whatever. It’s just useless to debate it all.

For those of you wondering anyway (which might be four of you), my ballot for NL MVP is:

1. Albert Pujols / 2. Ryan Howard / 3. David Wright / 4. Manny Ramirez / 5. Chipper Jones / 6. Brad Lidge / 7. Johan Santana / 8. Hanley Ramirez / 9. Lance Berkman / 10. Chase Utley

But I’m no voter. Only 32 guys vote. Flawed system? Absolutely. Something to worry about? Meh.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.