Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Jobu predicts the NL MVP Voting.

If the second half of this season had gone the same way as the first, there wouldn’t be a need for this post because Andrew McCutchen would be running away with it. McCutchen enjoyed a break out season that propelled the Pirates up the standings before the All-Star break, but they faltered and ended up below .500 again, so there went his chances. Anyway, we covered Ryan Braun’s chances of winning this award (there are none), so now we’ll go through the rest of the field. You know, the guys who didn’t fail PED tests.

Yadier Molina

Yes people… Yadier Molina is a legitimate MVP candidate. (Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

If you’re just a casual baseball fan, or haven’t been paying attention to the Cardinals this season, you’re probably saying to yourself… what??? That’s right, non-believers. Yadier Molina should get some very serious consideration for MVP this season.

Last year, at age 28, Molina had a bit of a breakout season, amassing career highs in runs, doubles, homers, RBI, batting average OBP and SLG. This year, on top of playing the near flawless defense he is known for, he topped all of those records except for doubles. Molina hit .322/.373/.501, with 22 home runs and 76 RBI. He even stole a career high 12 bases! He was one of the catalysts for a very productive Cardinals offense that led them to the second National League Wild Card.

He really evolved into the total package in 2012, and he might be taking home a big ol’ trophy for his troubles.

Molina’s Statistics

Buster Posey

Buster rebounded from that awful injury in 2011 to carry the Giants in 2012. (Reuters/Alex Gallardo)

Posey enjoyed a wonderful break out season in 2010, and seemed poised to improve on that before a horrific ankle injury ended his season early in 2011. In 2012, he managed to stay healthy, which spelled big trouble for National League pitchers. Posey is the real deal, and he proved it in 2012 by putting up sure fire MVP type numbers.

The third year catcher topped the Senior Circuit with a .336 average, and added .408/.549 as his other slash lines. He had 39 doubles, 24 home runs and 104 RBI and basically carried the offense. Sure, the Giants had Melky Cabrera until his suspension and they traded for Hunter Pence at the deadline, but there was a period where all they had was Posey.

How did Posey respond to the pressure of being the only guy in the lineup? Well his numbers show what he did, but he also helped the Giants flourish without offense by calling great games behind the plate. The Giants ended up winning the National League East with 94 wins, and Posey could end up with the hardware.

Posey’s Statistics

My Prediction

It’s nice to see a couple of catchers in the running for the award, that’s for sure. Both of these guys had breakout seasons, and both of these guys helped lead their teams to the playoffs, but the MVP choice, for me, is obvious. The Cardinals have guys like Beltrán, Holliday, Freese and Craig to pick up the slack on offense. The Giants basically had Cabrera for the first few months and Pence for the last couple, but that’s it. Without Buster Posey, the Giants miss the playoffs (as they showed last season), so he gets the nod in my book.

Martin Stezano

About Martin Stezano

Uruguayan born and American raised with a unique perspective on the domestic and international sports scenes. It will both tickle your funny bone and enlighten your mind. Love it or hate it...just read it.