Top 5 National League MVP Candidates – 2011 MLB Baseball Mid-Season NL MVP Rankings: The 2011 MLB season is just about halfway complete, and it is officially time to start the discussion about who this year’s National League Most Valuable Player should be. Granted, a lot can happen in the second half of the year, and success in September has been known to sway a vote or two. That being said, there have certainly been a few players that have separated themselves from the pack and established themselves as the frontrunners. With 80-plus games in already in the books, let’s take a look at which players have been dialed in this year.
1. Matt Kemp, Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers may be a terrible team, but there is little doubt that Kemp has been the best player in the National League in 2011. He is second in the NL with a .336 batting average, and he has swatted an NL-leading 22 home runs. His 62 RBIs are second in the NL as well, and his 1.059 OPS is the best.
If being a Triple Crown candidate wasn’t enough to make Kemp an MVP candidate, the fact that he has also scored 52 runs and swiped 21 bases should seal the deal. No matter what the Dodgers’ record ends up being, Kemp is going to be tough to overlook if he keeps up his torrid pace and finishes with a 40-40 season.
2. Prince Fielder, First Baseman, Milwaukee Brewers
Fielder has been the stud of a very potent Milwaukee offense is 2011. His 21 home runs are the second most in the National League, and he has driven in an NL-best 68 runs. Although normally considered mainly a slugger, Fielder has added a little consistency to his stroke this season, currently hitting .301 with an OPS of 1.037.
Fielder may not have the wildcard the Kemp has in terms of speed on the bases, but Fielder has something Kemp doesn’t as well – a winning team. The Brewers currently sit atop the NL Central, and Fielder could walk away with the MVP award if they stay there.
3. Roy Halladay, Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
I’m tired of hearing that pitchers shouldn’t be MVP candidates because they already have the Cy Young award and only play every fifth day. The Phillies have the best record in all of baseball, and it certainly isn’t because of their offense, which has scored as many runs as the lowly Houston Astros. Halladay is tied for the league lead with 10 wins, and he ranks second in terms of ERA (2.40), strikeouts (123) and WHIP (1.03).
The incredible numbers don’t end there. Halladay has walked just 16 batters all year and has a thrown an NL-best 127 innings, which is more than a full game more than the next closest pitcher. His five complete games are also the most, and for a team that has lost three closers to injury, saving the bullpen is invaluable. As the workhorse on the best team in baseball, Halladay has to be in the MVP conversation.
4. Jose Reyes, Shortstop, New York Mets
Even though his team owner doesn’t think he is worth “Carl Crawford” money, it hasn’t stopped Reyes from being the best leadoff man in the game. His .341 batting average is tops in the National League, and he also leads the NL with 61 runs scored and 113 hits. Reyes has also legged out a league-leading 14 triples and swiped 28 bases. Perhaps most impressively, Reyes is 10th in the league with an .899 OPS. You can’t ask for more production than that out of a leadoff spot.
Working against him is the fact that the Mets are a mediocre team, hovering around the .500 mark. The fact that he could be traded is the wildcard in the situation. If he goes to another non-contender, he is probably going to have to settle for a shot at the batting title rather than a shot at MVP honors. However, if he goes to a contending team and becomes the catalyst to a playoff run, Reyes has the numbers to win the award.
5. Ryan Braun, Outfielder, Milwaukee Brewers
Braun is the second Brewer to make the list as he continues to provide the type of all-around production that warrants MVP talk. He has hit 16 home runs and stolen 17 bases, making a 30-30 season well within reach. Not to mention the fact that he is second in the NL in terms if runs scored and fourth in RBIs. Braun is also fourth OPS. In other words, there is little doubt that he one of the top-five offensive weapons in the National League.
The problem Braun faces is that he plays on the same team as Prince Fielder. As long as Fielder is putting up slightly better numbers, Braun doesn’t have a shot to overtake him. Even though he is going to likely finish the season with more runs scored and more stolen bases than Fielder, it isn’t going to be enough unless he also passes Fielder in home runs and RBIs. Let’s face it, those two stats in particular way very heavily on the minds of voters when it comes time to pick an MVP.
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