The NL MVP Race!

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Let's take a look at the MVP Race and how it's shaping up in the National League! We have a loaded list to choose from![/center]


15. RF Larry Walker - Florida Marlins
Age: 33
Ratings: G/G/A/G/G/G, C Range
Stats: .284 AVG, 15 HR, 59 RBI, 34 SB, .879 OPS
Walker is finally starting to slow down from age (or is it the lack of mountain air?) but is still putting up great numbers. He started off hot as usual, but really started slumping in May and June. He picked up his game a bit these past few sims, and overall he's been huge for the Marlins. Still driving in a ton of runs. He may not be putting up the ridiculous numbers he put up in Colorado, but he still brings a lot of power and speed to an already dangerously powerful and fast Marlins lineup.


14. LF Ichiro Suzuki - Chicago Cubs
Age: 26
Ratings: B/A/G/F/A/B, A Range, A Arm
Stats: .353 AVG, 4 HR, 43 RBI, 41 SB, .841 OPS
Ichiro has been fantastic this year. His on-base percentage isn't near the upper echelon of players, especially in the NL, but it's still very good. He leads the league in hits by a large margin, and has been arguably one of the best lead-off men in the NL so far. He's a tough out at the plate and he steals a lot of bases. He is a fantastic defender as well. He is the beginning of Chicago's much improved offense and a big reason for their success.


13. CF Reggie Sanders - Philadelphia Phillies
Age: 32
Ratings: A/G/A/G/A/F, A Range, C Arm
Stats: .288 AVG, 20 HR, 54 RBI, 10 SB, .911 OPS
The Phillies have a rough road ahead. They are sitting at 50 wins at the halfway point of the season...and they are in 4th place in the NL East! Sanders has been stellar this season, having his best season yet. He's on pace for 40 HRs and has really kept the Phillies in the thick of things. He's 32, and close to being overpaid if his age catches up to him, which it might considering his talent ratings, but for now he's been awesome.


12. SP Francisco Cordova - Atlanta Braves
Age: 28
Ratings: B/A/A/G/B, C Duration
Stats: 12-2, 2.36 ERA, 110 K, 0.90 WHIP
The first pitcher to appear on the list, and it's the new and improved Cordova. Still has sexy ratings, but that C Duration has been a game changer for him. Now able to stick around and get more decisions, Cordova has been nothing short of spectacular. He's won 12 games, posts a 2.36 ERA, and 0.90 WHIP. I'm not sure what's crazier, how good he is, or the fact that there are guys out there performing better. Regardless, Atlanta is entrenched in a deep fight for the NL East, and Cordova is leading the way from a pitching standpoint.


11. SP Randy Johnson - Florida Marlins
Age: 36
Ratings: B/A/G/G/B, C Duration
Stats: 14-2, 2.35 ERA, 109 K, 0.88 WHIP
Speaking of pitching, the Big Unit has been getting it done so far at the tender age of 36. Currently one of the Cy Young frontrunners, Johnson has been the ace of the Marlins' mixed staff. He currently leads the league in Wins, and has an amazing ERA and WHIP to go along with that. Not sure how much gas he has left in the tank after this season, but the Marlins are surely hoping he has enough left to help them win another World Series.


10. 3B Aramis Ramirez - Montreal Expos
Age: 22
Ratings: G/G/F/G/F/G, A Range
Stats: .358 AVG, 11 HR, 52 RBI, .996 OPS
Possibly the biggest breakout star of the season, Aramis Ramirez found his new home in Canada pretty recently, where he's continued his amazing stretch of play. Blowing just about every one of previous year stats out of the water, to say this is a career year for him would be an understatement to just how good Ramirez has been. The Expos have been fighting to stay in the NL East race, and after acquiring Aramis, they've improved those chances for sure.


9. LF Bobby Higginson - Florida Marlins
Age: 29
Ratings: G/G/A/A/G/G, B Range, C Arm
Stats: .338 AVG, 11 HR, 64 RBI, .960 OPS
The Marlins acquired Higginson this past offseason on the cheap and it has turned out wonderful for them. Higginson is top five in the NL in on-base percentage at just over 42%, and he is also top five in RBIs with 64. Higginson has been the main reason Florida's offense has been so good. He's tapped back into his 1997 form, which has been huge for Floirda. The NL East race will likely be decided by just a few games, and Higginson will need to be in full form for all of them for the Marlins to go far.


8. RF JD Drew - Chicago Cubs
Age: 24
Ratings: G/G/A/B/B/B, C Range, E Arm
Stats: .347 AVG, 12 HR, 61 RBI, .967 OPS
The newly on the block JD Drew has quickly become one of the best young hitters in the league. PD after PD after PD have made Drew a complete monster, another piece for the stacked Cubs. His power numbers are on pace with his last season, but he is hitting for average in another league and getting on base like crazy. One of the league leaders in driving home runners, Drew has been one of the anchors of the new and improved Chicago Cubs offense.


7. LF Rusty Greer - Atlanta Braves
Age: 31
Ratings: G/G/F/G/G/A, D Range, C Arm
Stats: .363 AVG, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 8 SB, .998 OPS
Greer has always been amazing at hitting for average, but never this good. He is currently having his greatest season of his career by far. We touched on Ichiro's prowess in the leadoff position earlier, well Greer may not steal many bases anymore, but he gets on base with the best of him. Currently making it there almost 45% of the time, Greer is absolutely invaluable to the Braves' offense. He is always going to be in another teammate's shadow, but he definitely earns his place here.


6. CF Bernie Williams - Chicago Cubs
Age: 31
Ratings: A/G/F/G/G/G, A Range, B Arm
Stats: .326 AVG, 17 HR, 72 RBI, .985 OPS
Hard to believe this guy couldn't garner any trade interest earlier in the season and offseason. He is raking right now, tied for 2nd in the league in RBIs. With a .985 OPS and 17 HRs, his power is returning to his early Yankee days, which could mean big trouble for the rest of the league this season. The Cubs are the favorites to win it all, and if Bernie keeps playing like this, he'll not only be in thick of the MVP Race, but also the race to the postseason MVP.


5. RF Sammy Sosa - Cincinnati Reds
Age: 31
Ratings: A/A/F/B/A/F, D Range
Stats: .292 AVG, 24 HR, 76 RBI, 9 SB, .943 OPS
One of the league's premiere sluggers, Sosa is leading the NL in HRs and RBIs. The Reds effectively have zero chance at winning their division, and are increasingly slipping out of the wild card race as well, but Sosa is doing all he can to keep the Reds competitive at least. Sosa has been on pace to hit for average pretty well and he peppers in a few stolen bases here and there. For his power numbers, he is probably on one of the most affordable contracts in the league, wonder who gave him that sexy contract?


4. RF Vladimir Guerrero - Montreal Expos
Age: 24
Ratings: B/G/A/B/G/B, D Range, A Arm
Stats: .349 AVG, 16 HR, 55 RBI, 13 SB, .954 OPS
Vlad is arguably the most valuable hitter in the league, if not close to it. He's finally putting up some serious HRs to go along with everything else he does well. Hits for average with the best of them. Really feel like he should be in the stolen base league leaders as well, Montreal needs to unleash him a bit more on the bases. Only downside is his Walks, you'd like to see him with a higher on-base percentage, but you honestly can't complain too much about the guy. Montreal will need him to keep up all he's doing to make the postseason. He's going to be due for a serious pay raise soon as well.


3. SP Kerry Wood - Chicago Cubs
Age: 23
Ratings: B/G/B/G/B, A Duration
Stats: 12-4, 2.68 ERA, 118 K, 0.84 WHIP
Wood finds himself here because he's been one of the most impressive pitchers all season long. He's thrown two no-hitters this season along with a couple of shutouts to top it all off. He probably has the best WHIP in the league, and he's one of the league leaders in strikeouts. Top it off with 12 wins and a 2.68 ERA, and you have one of the best pitchers in the league. The Cy Young Race is just as exciting as the MVP Race in the NL, and Wood may be worthy of both awards.


2. C Mike Piazza - Houston Astros
Age: 31
Ratings: G/A/P/B/A/A, B Range, C Arm
Stats: .381 AVG, 17 HR, 57 RBI, 1.047 OPS
Does Piazza keep getting better? Hitting .381 is just absurd. The Astros need to get this guy higher than 5 in the order, he needs all the at bats he can get. In what will surely be a disappointing season as the Astros quickly fade out of the playoff race, there will definitely be a bright spot for them if Piazza can capture the NL MVP Award. It may be too late for the Astros, but Piazza is going stronger than ever. And for only $9M a season? Positively sick.


1. SS Chipper Jones - Atlanta Braves
Age: 28
Ratings: G/G/F/G/G/G, D Range
Stats: .359 AVG, 17 HR, 72 RBI, 1.097 OPS
Chipper Jones is the clear frontrunner in my mind. Look no further for the leader of the Braves. Along with Greer, Jones has led the Braves offense further than expected and shows no signs of slowing down. He leagues the entire league in OPS, he's tied for 2nd in the NL for RBIs, and he hits .359. Oh and he's also driven 17 HRs so far this year, on pace to tie his best total of his career. Given the fact that he is putting up superb numbers, and leading the Braves to possibly another division title and major postseason run, I'd say Chipper Jones is in the lead for the NL Most Valuable Player Award.