LIVE FROM NEW YORK: IT’S MY 2009 NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP BALLOT

Ladies and Gentlemen I have to distinct pleasure of casting the votes for National League Most Valuable Player for the New York National League Chapter of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance.  I want to thank Joe Fiorello of Disgruntled Mets Fan and Jon Lewin of Subway Squawkers for their input and guidance in these selections:

10. Tim Lincecum

9. Matt Holiday

8.  Pablo Sandoval

7. Troy Tulowitzki

6. Chase Utley

5. Andre Either

4. Ryan Howard

3. Hanley Ramirez

2.  Prince Fielder

1. Albert Pujols

There is no suspense who the NL MVP for 2009 is as it’s El Hombre in a landslide so the fight that was left was to make up votes for numbers 2-9. If not for Puljos outstanding season, this would be a neck and neck race for MVP.

There is no post season award that is as scrutinized as the MVP. Some people vote on it as a Player of the Year award some look at it as players who meant the most to their teams and how their performance translated into the success of their team. That’s how I look at the MVP, as the player who made the biggest contribution to his team in helping them contend for a title.

That’s why I voted Matt Holiday 9th as I feel his trade to the Cardinals was the second big bat they needed to not just win the division but to go forward in the post season. Andre Ethier stepped up big time when Manny Ramirez sat for 50 games so that the Dodgers didn’t miss a beat.

The Lincecum and Sandoval picks are from watching a lot of Giants game this season (thank you MLB Extra Innings) Watching The Freak work his fast ball/change up magic was worth the subscription price, and any time the Giants needed a big hit, it was the Kung Fu Panda delivering it.

Troy Tulowitki was another young gun who thrived in the heat of a pennant race as he made his major contribution not just with his bat but stealing bases and playing stellar shortstop for the Rockies

As a Mets fan I can not in good conscious gush over Ryan Howard and Chase Utley but they should feel like Sonny in a Bronx Tale as it’s better to be feared than loved.

I voted Prince Fielder in the two spot going away from my original voting pattern just on the outstanding power numbers he put up. Like I said if not for Pujols this would be a very difficult vote. Same with Hanley Ramirez up so high as well as I am sure Dan Uggla would have something to say about Ramirez leadership skill or lack of such skills.