MVP Award comes back to it's rightful owner!

As I'm sure you all already are aware, Albert Pujols has been crowned the NL MVP for 2008.

Though in the minds of all Cardinal fans it was a no-brainer, there was certainly concern that he might once again get robbed of the MVP honer. Once again because his team failed to reach the playoffs. The last time was 2003 when he had better numbers than Bonds, the voters then decided that with his team not reaching the playoffs he shouldn't be awarded the MVP. Of course fast-forward a bit to 2006 and we witness Ryan Howard receiving the award while playing for a team that didn't make the playoffs. Nothing against Howard and his accomplishments in that year, or this one, but these voters have got to decide on a system for determining the MVP and stick to it. If it takes the team reaching the playoffs for a player to be seriously considered than fine we will all understand it and live with it. Although if you want to make the case that as long as the player puts up the numbers well deserving of the award he should certainly be a awarded said reward, that's fine too.....Just make up your mind and quit acting like a bunch of politicians. It's that easy.

Of course, as you might guess - I know I did - there are some Philly fans already moaning and making back-handed comments toward Pujols about what he was said to have stated in the days leading up to the 2006 MVP announcement. The story was that Pujols said that Howard didn't deserve the award because he didn't lead his team to the playoffs. We all learned shortly after the story came out, that Pujols did not make such a comment....at least not in the context as to which the Dominican columnist made it seem. The Philly fans, well the one's that are doing the whining, seem to either not have read the followup on the story or are simply ignoring it for the sake of having something to complain about. Must I mention that Albert also made a personal phone call to Mr. Howard to clarify his statement.

However, I can't blame the Philly/Howard fans for acting the way they might. Their guy certainly had a case for the award, and in the end all they are doing is being true FAN'S of their team and of their player. That part of the actions I fully respect.

Knowing the class act that is Albert Pujols, he will likely downplay things and commend Howard on his season.

In the end the voters got it correct. It's my opinion that you shouldn't penalize and individuals performance because the team around failed to have all it took to make it to the playoffs.

Congrats "El Hombre" on an AMAZING season!!