The last time the Reds were in the playoffs they had an NL MVP terrorizing pitchers in the heart of their lineup. Well, that was Barry Larkin in 1995.
It seems fitting that their 15-year playoff drought would end with another MVP anchoring a prolific offense.
Joey Votto leads the league in OPS and has powered the league’s highest scoring team to a likely NL Central title — Cincinnati had a 6 ?-game lead over St. Louis entering play Monday night.
Votto (.326, 37 HRs, 111 RBI), the Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez (.341, 33 HRs, 114 RBI) and the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols (.311, 42 HRs, 116 RBI) are in the top four in every NL Triple Crown category. Gonzalez, Pujols and the Rockies’ Troy Tulowitzki — with his Babe Ruth-like September (15 HRs, 40 RBI) — could all make a strong case for the NL MVP. But in a close race, leading a team to the postseason should be the difference.
A playoff appearance is not a necessity to win the NL MVP. Since 2000, Pujols (2008), Ryan Howard (2006) and Barry Bonds (2004, 2001) all have won the award despite their team’s failure to make the postseason. But each of those players had a clear statistical advantage over other top candidates.
In 2008, Pujols edged out Howard in votes because of his .357 batting average compared to the Phillies’ slugger’s .251. In 2006, Howard had nine more homers and 12 more RBI than Pujols. Bonds set MLB single-season records with a .609 on-base percentage in 2004 and 73 homers in 2001.
But in 2010, playoffs matter. And since Gonzalez, Pujols and Tulowitzki will be watching Votto play in October, the Reds first baseman should get the NL MVP in November.
