Posted by Brian Joseph on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 5:30 am

It’s starting to feel safe to write Albert Pujols in as MVP in pen before the season even begins. If the BBWAA agrees with Baseball Daily Digest, Pujols should be receiving congratulations on his third MVP Award in five years. Like his MVP counterpart in the American League, Pujols was a unanimous selection by the BDD writers with all 15 voting him at the top of their list. (Unlike the AL, there was no controversy here.)

Pujols led the National League in on-base percentage (.443), sluggging percentage (.658), home runs (47), extra base hits (93), total bases (374) and runs scored (124).  His RBI total of 135 and his batting average of .327, both third best in the NL, meant Pujols fell 7 RBI and .016 short of baseball’s first Triple Crown since 1967. With an improved surrounding cast and a season from Pujols arguably as good if not better than ‘08, the Cardinals returned to the postseason.

Others receiving votes:

• Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
  Ramirez won his first batting title (.342) and Hanley also finished in the top 10 in on-base percentage (.410), hits (197), doubles (42), RBI (106), total bases (313) and stolen bases (27).
• Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
  Fielder shared the RBI prize with Howard as the two big sluggers both knocked in 141. Prince added 46 homers and finished second in slugging (.602) and fifth in on-base percentage (.412).
• Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
  The Phillies second baseman practically duplicated his impressive ‘08 season with a batting line of .282/.397/.508 and 31 home runs, 93 RBI and 112 runs scored. In addition, Utley was a perfect 23-for-23 in stolen base attempts.
• Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
  Braun produced his first 30/20 season with 32 homers and 20 steals and also added 114 RBI and 113 runs scored. Braun led the NL in hits with 203 and produced top 10 numbers in batting average and slugging percentage with a batting line at .320/.386/.551.
• Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies
  Howard turned in numbers very similar to Fielder with 45 homers, 141 RBI (tied with Fielder for first in the NL) and 105 runs scored. Fielder’s batting line topped Howard’s but Ryan improved on his ‘08 effort ending the season at .279/.360/.571.
• Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
  Votto missed some of the season but still managed 25 homers, 84 RBI and 82 runs scored. His batting average (.322), on-base percentage (.414) and slugging percentage (.567) all finished in the top five in the National League.
• Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants
  Sandoval tantalized with his ‘08 numbers in limited work and some expected big things. Others were just enamored with baseball’s best nickname — “Kung Fu Panda”. Big “Panda” did produce in ‘09 and emerged as the Giants offensive star. He finished second in batting average (.330), third in doubles (44), fourth in hits (189) and sixth in slugging (.556).
• Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
  Like Braun, Tulo joined the 30/20 club for the first time in his career thanks to career higs in home runs (32) and steals (20). His 101 runs scored and 92 RBI fell just short of his rookie campaign and, like his ‘07 effort, helped the Rockies find their way to the postseason.
• Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs
  D-Lee hit .306/.393/.579 and led a disappointing Cubs team in home runs (35), RBI (111) and runs scored (91).

Here’s what the BDD team had to say:

Bill Baer
“Some day, Utley will win an MVP, but not this year. Albert Pujols was the gold standard for hitters, as Greinke was for pitchers.” More from Bill B. on the MVP voting can be found here.

Brian Joseph
“When something is as obvious as Albert Pujols being MVP, I typically look for an alternate conclusion. That’s my contrary nature, I guess. That’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back to come up with the same answer… Prince Albert = MVP.”

Eric Polsky
“Pujols is such an obvious choice it doesn’t require an explanation, so here’s why I chose these two as runners-up: these shortstops led their teams to unexpected winning records while winning batting titles (Ramirez) and producing countless game-winning moments and a really cool chant. (…clap…clap…clap-clap-clap…clap-clap-clap-clap…Tu-lo!)”

Zach Sanders
“Utley quitely had an amazing season to finish second, but no one can match Albert’s production this year.”

Michael Street
“Only HanRam kept Pujols from a Triple Crown, and he led the universe in nearly every category imaginable. In the alternate universe where Pujols never existed, Fielder’s a shoo-in, but he is the big fish in a bigger pond here. A great second half puts Votto in third, since he’s third in the NL in OPS and WPA, and fifth in WPA/LI, plus he played for the offensively deprived Reds.”

Doug Thorburn
“Best player in baseball has a monster season, even by his lofty standards, and leads his team into the playoffs. Sounds like MVP #3 for Big Al.”

Isaac Thorn
“I really don’t know of anything I could offer up about Pujols that hasn’t been said. He dictates how opposing managers approach the St. Louis lineup and produces in the clutch. The addition of Matt Holliday really proved how tough it is to pitch around Pujols with another bonafide run producer next to him in the lineup.

David Wade
“It’s gotta be Pujols, he’s the best player in MLB right now.  So, for the others I stayed with the 1st baseman theme.”

Bo Wulf
“Another year, another dominant Pujols.”