NL MVP? It’s No Contest

If numbers alone dictated the National League's Most Valuable Player, there would be plenty of debate. I put before you the numbers of the four leading candidates (entering Sunday):

Albert Pujols 		.322	38	96
Scott Rolen		.329	31	110
Adrian Beltre		.330	38	87
Barry Bonds		.372	34	77

Doesn't it seem like Pujols has been ripping up the league forever? Yet, this is only the 24-year-old's fourth year. That's right, he's only 24.

At this pace, he might eclipse Henry Aaron's home run record faster before Alex Rodriguez. That, and because he's only whiffed 41 times while slugging 38 homers, gives opposing pitchers nightmares right now, not to mention the many years to come.

While Pujols has been awesome, his teammate in St. Louis has helped sparked the Cardinals to a surprisingly commanding NL Central lead. In addition to playing a gold glove caliber third base, Scott Rolen is enjoying his most prolific offensive season.

And for those of you who are unfamiliar with baseball west of the Mississippi, Adrian Beltre is putting on a show in a town that certainly enjoys one. The Dodgers' third baseman is having a breakout year, which is especially impressive considering he's played half of it on a gimpy leg.

Eric Gagne steals a lot of the headlines, but it's Beltre's heroics that are most responsible for L.A.'s turnaround this season. The offensive burden was supposed to be shouldered by Shawn Green and Milton Bradley. Instead, it's been Beltre, who has as many homers as Bradley and Green combined, which has kept the Dodgers afloat.

And please do not lose sight of where Beltre is performing his one-man ensemble. Dodger Stadium will never be confused with Coors Field, and yet he has four more home runs in the pitchers park than he does on the road, in one less at-bat!

But this year's undisputed MVP has to be the same recipient over the past three seasons. Barry Lamar Bonds might not have as many home runs or RBIs as the other candidates, but that isn't indicative of his importance.

As we all know, Bonds sees less things to hit in a week than Ricky Williams. Bonds has 69 more walks than anyone else. To put that in perspective, there are 113 players who are within 69 walks of Lance Berkman, who ranks second in that category.

Bonds' on-base percentage is an unimaginable .615, which is 154 points higher than anyone else. Again, to put it in perspective, there are 147 people who are within 154 points of Todd Helton, currently second in OBP.

As mentioned earlier, Pujols has only whiffed 41 times against 38 dingers, which at any other time in the game would be considered nearly impossible. But again, Bonds makes that feat seem average, striking out only 24 times while registering 10 more home runs than K's.

Without Bonds, the San Francisco Giants' lineup is only marginally better than Arizona and Montreal ... and no one else. Yet the Giants are tied with the Cardinals for the most runs in the National League! And I can assure you it's not because of Edgardo Alfonzo and Michael Tucker.

I don't care how much his fielding has deteriorated ... I don't care if he never runs hard to first ... I don't care how mean he is to the media. Without Bonds, the Giants are at best a 75-win team. But it's late August, and they currently have the wildcard lead. There is no debate; Bonds should be the unanimous selection for NL MVP, which would be his fourth-straight, and seventh overall.