It's official, Barry wins 6th MVP award

[Big_E]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1664815

Pujols distant second in voting
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ESPN.com news services

NEW YORK -- Barry Bonds won his record sixth National League MVP award Tuesday, becoming the first player to get the honor in three consecutive years.

The San Francisco Giants outfielder, the only player to win an MVP award more than three times, received 28 of 32 first-place votes and 426 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Albert Pujols was second with three first-place votes and 303 points. Atlanta Braves outfielder Gary Sheffield got the other first-place vote and was third with 247 points.

At 39 years, 3½ months, Bonds is the second-oldest MVP, trailing Pittsburgh's Willie Stargell, who was a few months older when he tied for the award in 1979.

Bonds had a difficult season in which his father, Bobby, died in August. Still, Bonds hit .341 with 45 homers and 90 RBI, leading the major leagues in slugging percentage (.749), on-base percentage (.529) and walks.

Pujols hit a major league-high .359 with 43 homers and 124 RBI and led the major leagues with 137 runs. He became just the 10th player to finish second in consecutive MVP votes, the first since the Dodgers' Mike Piazza in 1996 and 1997.

San Francisco players have won the award four straight times, with Jeff Kent finishing first in the 2000 vote. The Yankees accomplished that feat twice with Yogi Berra (1954-55) and Mickey Mantle (1956-57), and Roger Maris (1960-61), Mantle (1962) and Elton Howard (1963).

Bonds gets a $500,000 bonus for winning the award. Sheffield, who became a free agent after the season, earned $75,000 for finishing third. Florida's Juan Pierre gets $200,000 for finishing 10th.

[sanfranciscojetergirl]

That great for Barry. I just wish that his Father was still alive so he could share this day with him.

[BronxBaumer]

Poor Pujols. What's a guy to do?

[Yankee Bulldawg]

I would have loved to have seen Pujols win NL MVP but it was not to be

[derekjeter916]

Well, congratulations to Barry. But I'm getting sick of this monopoly on the MVP. I really wanted Albert Pujols to win. THIS year he was the better hitter and probably as valuable as Barry, and THIS year is what counts.

[Yanks21]

Barry Bonds lead the Giants to the second best record in MLB. Without him the Giants are a 4th place team at best. Albert Pujols lead the Cardinals to a 3rd place finish in the NL Central. When Barry Bonds left the Giants for a week to be with his father, the Giants got swept by Montreal. When Bonds came back for the next series, the Giants swept the Braves. Bonds hit two walk-off homeruns that series. He's the very definition of MVP...

[35Knucklecurve]

I was hoping that Pujols would win also. It's dfficult for me to be
objective because IMO, Bonds is a jerk and his numbers are
inflated due performance enhancing supplements. Three first
place votes for Pujols is an insult.

[deranged2005]

Pujols really got shafted in the voting.

[yecul]

Unquestionably the correct person got the award. By far the biggest force in the game.

[montyque]

Originally posted by yecul
Unquestionably the correct person got the award. By far the biggest force in the game.

Hell yeah! OBP over .500? Even if he didn't actually have to work to get on base, it means he's the most feared hitter since Babe Ruth. How could anyone be more valuable?

[Bub]

No brainer. Without him I don't think the Giants make the playoffs.

[NicktheStick36]

Originally posted by 35Knucklecurve
I was hoping that Pujols would win also. It's dfficult for me to be
objective because IMO, Bonds is a jerk and his numbers are
inflated due performance enhancing supplements. Three first
place votes for Pujols is an insult.

Bonds is the single most destructive offensive force in baseball. Pujols had an excellent year, but wasn't in Barry's league.

It's funny that people bring up the Bonds is a jerk thing, since the only non-media person that has said he had a problem with Bonds is Jeff Kent.

It's also irresponsable to say that his numbers are inflated due to performance enhancing supplements. If you are refering to legal supplements, I'm willing to bet you a steak dinner that Pujols takes them too. If you are talking about illegal supplements, then you have to have actual proof before you go an slander a man.

[derekjeter916]

Originally posted by yecul
Unquestionably the correct person got the award. By far the biggest force in the game.

Well yeah, but 28 out of 32 1st place votes!?!?!?!?! I was thinking maybe about 20, but 28? Pujols deserved more votes than that.

[djhitman01]

Originally posted by derekjeter916


Well yeah, but 28 out of 32 1st place votes!?!?!?!?! I was thinking maybe about 20, but 28? Pujols deserved more votes than that.

Probably, but it comes down to this, Pujols had a year for the ages, and Barry Bonds still topped it. Bonds definitley should have won.

[Yankees Empire]

My personal dislike for Barry Bonds notwithstanding, the right guy was voted the N.L. MVP for 2003. Bonds affects the game to such a profound degree. The Giants are nowhere near the club without him.

The guy is a grade-A jackass but he also is a deserving MVP winner.

[FelipePArantes]

I really thougth Bonds would be the MVP but this distance for Pujols was ridiculous... Who are the peoples who voting??? they like baseball? they Understand the game??

Good Bye.