No surprise here as Pujols was without a doubt the best AND most consistent hitter in the NL this year. Would love to know who the two writers were that voted for Lidge first on their ballots. Don't really disagree with how valuable he was to the Phils, but still would be interesting to find out what daily rags the two writers work for.
NEW YORK -- St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols won his second NL MVP award, powering past Philadelphia Phillies star Ryan Howard by a comfortable margin Monday.
Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow. He was rewarded despite the Cardinals' fourth-place finish in the NL Central.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher C.C. Sabathia also drew strong support after being traded by AL teams in July.
Pujols got 18 of the 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and had 369 points. He added to the MVP award he won in 2005.
Howard, who led the majors with 48 homers and 146 RBIs for the World Series champion Phillies, drew 12 first-place votes and 308 points.
Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun was third with 139 points, with Ramirez fourth at 138. The Houston Astros' Lance Berkman was fifth and Sabathia sixth.
Brad Lidge, perfect on 41 save chances for the Phillies during the regular season, drew the other two first-place votes and came in eighth. Voting was completed before the playoffs began.
Pujols was remarkably consistent all year -- a trait he's demonstrated throughout his career. He is the only big leaguer to hit at least 30 home runs in his first eight seasons in the majors and has finished in the Top 10 of the NL MVP voting each year.
Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow. He was rewarded despite the Cardinals' fourth-place finish in the NL Central.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher C.C. Sabathia also drew strong support after being traded by AL teams in July.
Pujols got 18 of the 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and had 369 points. He added to the MVP award he won in 2005.
Howard, who led the majors with 48 homers and 146 RBIs for the World Series champion Phillies, drew 12 first-place votes and 308 points.
Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun was third with 139 points, with Ramirez fourth at 138. The Houston Astros' Lance Berkman was fifth and Sabathia sixth.
Brad Lidge, perfect on 41 save chances for the Phillies during the regular season, drew the other two first-place votes and came in eighth. Voting was completed before the playoffs began.
Pujols was remarkably consistent all year -- a trait he's demonstrated throughout his career. He is the only big leaguer to hit at least 30 home runs in his first eight seasons in the majors and has finished in the Top 10 of the NL MVP voting each year.
