Pujols claims NL MVP honors
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 9:57 AM PST
NEW YORK (AP) — Albert Pujols views MVP voting a little differently these days.
‘‘You have to consider everything. You have to put all the numbers together,’’ the St. Louis star said Monday.
Pujols won despite the Cardinals finishing in fourth place, the lowest spot for an NL MVP winner since Andre Dawson and Chicago Cubs wound up sixth in 1987.
Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, who led the majors in home runs and RBIs finished second.
In 2006, a month after leading the Cardinals to the World Series, Pujols carped when Howard — whose Phillies missed the playoffs — captured the award.
‘‘I see it this way: Someone who doesn’t take his team to the playoffs doesn’t deserve to win the MVP,’’ Pujols said at that time.
Shortly thereafter, Pujols clarified his remarks and said Howard certainly was worthy of the award.
Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow. Howard hit 48 homers with 146 RBIs for the Phillies.
Voting was completed before the playoffs began.
‘‘I’m happy I didn’t have to make that decision,’’ Pujols said. ‘‘What you do for your team. The players who take their teams to the playoffs should have some consideration.’’
Los Angeles outfielder Manny Ramirez and Milwaukee pitcher CC Sabathia, who both led postseason pushes after being traded, also drew strong support.
Pujols got 18 of the 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and had 369 points. Howard drew 12 first-place votes and 308 points.
Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun was third with 139 points, with Ramirez fourth at 138. Houston’s Lance Berkman was fifth and Sabathia sixth.
