With the 2013 baseball season coming to a close, the National League has had its fair share of players who could definitely be considered for Most Valuable Player. I honestly believe that it’s going to come down to a list of four players that have done more than enough for consideration for this award.
1. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves
In his third full season, the young first baseman for the Atlanta Braves is putting up quite the season, with a .317 batting average to go along with 23 HR’s and 107 RBI’s. Being one of the cornerstones of the Atlanta Braves franchise, Freddie Freeman provided a constant source of power, especially during times when Justin Upton was cold at the plate. He is one of the reasons why the Atlanta Braves have been near the top of the National League for a majority of the season and with the superstar potential he has, the Braves could be contending for multiple World Series’ to come.
2. Andrew McCutchen, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Perhaps the most exciting player on this list, Andrew McCutchen has been the catalyst of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the last few years, finally paying off this year with not only their first winning season since 1992, but also their first playoff appearance since 1992. Although he is regressed a little bit in the second half, McCutchen has put up a very solid line of a .317 batting average to go along with 21 HR’s and 84 RBI’s and even 27 SB’s. Now that the players around him have finally developed, the Pittsburgh Pirates look to be serious playoff contenders and possibly World Series contenders for years to come.
3. Matt Carpenter, 2B, St. Louis Cardinals
This one was a tough choice because Yadier Molina is also a very important piece to the success of the St. Louis Cardinals, but I’m going with the young second baseman because of his versatility at the top of the lineup. Leading the NL in both runs scored and hits to go along with a .320 batting average, Matt Carpenter has been one of the primary catalysts for St. Louis having the best record in the National League. Him getting on base allows for the power bats such as Molina and Carlos Beltran to drive in the runs and if he continues to progress, he can one of the best leadoff hitters for years to come.
4. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
If the Arizona Diamondbacks won the division, then Paul Goldschmidt would definitely have the award in the bag because of the huge season that he’s having. With a .302 batting average to go along with 36 HR’s and 124 RBI’s, he’s having an MVP like year in only his second full season. Unfortunately, what will hurt him in the MVP race is the team that surrounds him and that the Diamondbacks fell out of the division race pretty early in the second half of the year. He has nowhere to go but up and he’s going to win MVP’s down the road if he continues on this road.
5. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Generally, it’s very difficult for pitchers to win an MVP award considering they have their own Cy Young award, but it has happened, most recently Justin Verlander in 2011. With a line that includes a 16-9 record, 232 K’s, a .915 WHIP, and an ERA of 1.83 (lowest ERA in NL since 1995), Clayton Kershaw has the possibility of taking both awards this year. He has pitched in games where he has given up 2 or fewer runs to the tune of either a no decision or a loss, hence why he has 9 losses when he could have had possibly only 4 or 5 and a few more wins. And winning the ERA crown for the third straight year is the cherry on top for this superstar ace of the Dodgers.
My Final Opinion
With a wide open race this year, it’s very difficult for me to pick a clear winner for NL MVP. All five of the candidates have their own merits that would be considered worthy of the award. In my opinion, I think the award is going to go to Andrew McCutchen, giving consideration to the fact that the Pirates finally got the monkey off their back and made it to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years.
NL MVP: Andrew McCutchen
Written by Executive Producer Gregory Delaney
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