Most Valuable Brewer

My vote for the 2008 NL MVP might not count for a whole lot, but it goes, nonetheless, to a Milwaukee Brewer who has carried his team throughout the year, not just through 13 times (through 9/17/08) on the mound. Ryan Braun is hands down the National League’s Most Valuable Player. Although C.C. Sabathia’s contributions to the club since his arrival in early July have been extraordinary and well documented, Braun’s offensive production has allowed the team to challenge the Cubs in the NL Central and, to this point, maintain at least a share of first place in the Wild Card race. Sabathia’s run as the Brewers’ new ace has lasted a little over two months, and, to the dismay of the faltering Brewers, is bound to regress. Since he, similarly to Carlos Delgado, failed to contribute to his current team from April through the end of June, I remove him from MVP contention.

Many are making a case for Carlos Delgado to take home the coveted award, but the truth is that Delgado was a no more than a detriment to the Mets’ offense for the first three full months of the six month baseball season, batting at a .229 clip entering July 1. An explosion in the month of July appears to have saved his season and offensive production. In 26 July games, the Mets’ first baseman hit .357 with 9 homers and 24 RBIs, boosting his season average to .260 by the month’s end. I have watched a number of televised Mets games over the past several months, and on each telecast, the broadcasters invariably provide the viewers with Delgado’s offensive numbers since his two homer, 9 RBI performance in the first game of the cross-town double-header with the Yankees on June 27. Since that time, Delgado has gone 81 for 273, hitting .297 with 24 homers and 69 RBIs. These are impressive numbers, considering the fact that Delgado hit just .248 in the month of August. Essentially, with Delgado’s strong month of July, streaky August that saw him hit safely in less than one quarter of his at-bats, and a fruitful half of September, a .265 hitter for the year is in serious contention for the NL MVP Award. His batting average has not eclipsed .267 since the season’s 12th game! Cubs’ 3B Aramis Ramirez is hitting .280 (15 points above Delgado), with an equal RBI total of 105, and 89 runs scored (4 more than Delgado). Ramirez’s team boasts the best record in the NL and holds first place in the National League’s toughest division by 8.0 games. But in a lineup with Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee, Geovany Soto, Mark DeRosa, and others who are constantly on base forcing opposing pitchers to throw strikes, Ramirez sees more than a fair number of pitches to hit. Although he is well worthy of high consideration, Ramirez has not stood out as the biggest impact player in the lineup.

Lance Berkman’s .328 average, 28 HR, 100 RBIs, and 110 R are extraordinary. So are his 16 steals in 20 attempts and his ability to hit right (.284, 7 HR) and left (.341, 21 HR) handed. Where would his team be without him? Probably jostling for third place in the central division with the injury wrought Cardinals, just above the dreadful Reds, and the Pirates, who are closing the book on their 16th consecutive losing season. Oh wait, that’s exactly where they are now.

Perhaps the strongest MVP candidate in the National League is Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez, who is hitting .293 with 30 homers, 63 RBIs, 115 runs, and 33 steals. He has, however, been caught stealing 12 times, as he continues to learn the art of base stealing to improve on his raw speed. Ramirez has also committed 21 errors at the game’s most crucial position. Let’s compare him with Ryan Braun for a moment, discounting the RBI totals (Ramirez – 63, Braun – 97), because Ramirez bats leadoff for the Marlins. Braun is hitting .290 with 35 homers, 81 runs scored. He hits in fourth in the lineup and provides protection behind free-swinging lefty slugger Prince Fielder. Because of Ramirez’s spot in the lineup, his run total will invariably be higher than that of Braun, who has also contributed 14 steals. Defensively, Braun has not committed an error and has 9 outfield assists from left field, a position he is still learning following a switch from third base to begin this year. Where would the Marlins be without Hanley Ramirez? Third place in the NL East, not contending for a playoff spot, ahead of the Braves and Nationals. Sound familiar? Where would the Brewers be if not for Ryan Braun? The Brewers certainly could not replace his bat in the lineup. Current fourth outfielder Gabe Kapler is having a fine year in his role, but cannot match Braun’s offensive production.

If there were a July 1 – September 16, 2008 MVP Award, Delgado wins in a landslide. But for the six month long, 2008 Major League Baseball season, Ryan Braun is my choice for NL MVP.