This award is given to the most outstanding player in the National League. Some take into account the team around them and if the team would have been as successful without the individual. Others will take into account the impact the individual has on the various aspects of the game like hitting, stealing and defense. Once in a while, a pitcher reflects the domination that is leaps and bounds above the rest that he is in a class of his own in which he is deserving of both the Most Valuable Player award and the Cy Young award.
These are who I believe are the candidates for the MVP award in the National League:
Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks (.302 batting average, 36 home runs, 125 runs batted in, .952 OPS)
The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman leads the National League in runs batted in with a substantial lead. He also tied with Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez for home run leader. Goldschmidt provided offense throughout the whole season, hitting 21 home runs in the first half and 15 in the second half. He was the primary offense after the Diamondbacks decided to trade Justin Upton away.
Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals (.319 batting average, 12 home runs, 80 runs batted in)
One of the best defensive catchers in the league has become an offensive force in the past three years. His batting average has improved each year and is now a regular .300 or better hitter. Much like many members of the National League-best St. Louis Cardinals, Molina hits well with runners in scoring positions (.373). In high leverage situations where there are runners on in a big situation, Molina has an astounding .417 average so he comes through in important situations.
Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates (.317 batting average, 21 home runs, 84 runs batted in, 27 stolen bases, .911 OPS)
20 years since the postseason and since the Pittsburgh Pirates had a winning record. Andrew McCutchen was front and center for the movement towards their return to prosperity. While the achievement of bringing the Pirates to positivity alone could be enough to bring the trophy to the Pirates centerfielder, his statistics are in full support of him.
His average (.317) is seventh best in the league while he put up a 20/20 season (21 home runs/27 stolen bases) and played great defense in center field. He’s a team leader with Pirates pride. He was a consistent presence on the Pirates, playing in 157 games and hit .300 or better in every month of the 2013 season. This included an August when he hit .384 and walked (20) just more than he struck out (19). Things have started looking up for McCutchen and the Pirates as he continues to be one of the best in the National League.
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (16-9 record, 1.83 ERA, 232 strikeouts, 0.92 WHIP)
Usually for a pitcher to be considered a candidate for the MVP, they have to have an outstanding season. This is one of those seasons.
When you draw comparisons to Sandy Koufax, you know you’re having a great season. Koufax is the only other Dodger to finish the season with an ERA under 2.00. His record isn’t an accurate reflection of him. The record is more of a reflection of his lack of offense.
The record would pick itself up with offense from players like Hanley Ramirez and rookie Yasiel Puig. In fact, if Hanley Ramirez had played the whole season, Ramirez likely would have been in this conversation. But Kershaw should be recognized for his outstanding season and he continues to become a better and better pitcher.
Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals (.318 batting average, 55 doubles, 11 home runs, 78 runs batted in, 126 runs)
With the sixth best average in the National League and the major league-leading 55 doubles, Matt Carpenter emerged as a fantastic leadoff hitter. The other part of being a great leadoff hitter is being able to score. Matt Carpenter scored a league-best 126 times as well. In the last month of the season, as the Cardinals were competing with the Pirates and the Reds for the Central title, Carpenter was hitting .349 with 12 of his 55 doubles. He also scored 26 times, his most for any month during the season. Much like fellow MVP candidate Yadier Molina and other members of the Cardinals, Matt Carpenter hit well with runners in scoring position too (.388).
Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves (.319 batting average, 23 home runs, 109 runs batted in, .897 OPS)
When the Braves first started out, Justin Upton carried the team with Freddie Freeman sparingly contributing to the offense. Entering the All-Star break, he had just nine home runs while hitting .308.
In the second half, Freddie Freeman stepped his game up and was the focal point of the offense. He provided 14 home runs in the second half of the break and he was also hitting well during the Braves’ 14-game winning streak at the end of July. In the last push into the postseason, Freeman finished the season with a .380 average for the month of September.
Winner: Andrew McCutchen
2nd: Paul Goldschmidt
3rd: Freddie Freeman
4th: Matt Carpenter
5th: Clayton Kershaw
The pick of Andrew McCutchen is a bit of favoritism for a player that has proudly represented the Pittsburgh Pirates even through the bad seasons. But while he is a good representative, he is also a great player in numerous aspects of the game. Credit and acknowledgement of his talent is evident that McCutchen should win the MVP.
Paul Goldschmidt is really starting to make a bigger name for himself in circles beyond the west coast and will likely contend for this award time and time again. If his home run total would have stood apart from others, Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez tied, Goldschmidt had more aspects of the game on his side. Freddie Freeman was fairly consistent during the season and put together respectable numbers. Matt Carpenter was a great leadoff hitter but the bigger offensive numbers eluded him. Clayton Kershaw is the only pitcher to show up on either league’s MVP candidates and with good reason. His season is fantastic but another aspect that benefits a pitcher’s run at MVP is more average production by position players. Clearly there were very suitable candidates for the award, without taking Kershaw’s season for granted.
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