CHICAGO — Not to be lost in how the recent losing streak slowed — complicated? — the Cardinals push for a winning record this season, it may also have a damaged Albert Pujols’ MVP candidacy. Ryan Howard, he of 138 RBIs and a .248 batting average, seems to be gaining momentum in the minds of voters, and part of the reason is the triple-crown titles he’s likely to win.
He has 24 more RBIs than anyone in the NL this morning, and eight more homers.
Pujols, meanwhile, has drifted from the batting title race, leaving Chipper Jones about 10 points up. Winning that race, would certainly aid his MVP candidacy and help him recover from what one Pujols advocate pointed out to me yesterday: During the Cardinals’ seven-game losing streak Pujols went 7-for-28 (.250) with zero home runs, three RBIs, two walks and three strikeouts. That hurt his claim to the batting-title race. That, the advocate said, may also have bruised Pujols’ MVP bid.
The season is 162 games long, and yet it seems each year — especially recently — these 20 or so games at the end are used to separate the MVP candidates. That was part of what happened in 2006. Pujols had a career year. Howard had a great September.
Howard won the MVP.
***
CHIPPER JONES - .3649 (158-for-433)
vs. New York Mets, at Turner Field
Career vs. Mets: .331 (188 games)
2008 vs. Mets: .385 (15-for-39)
Career at Turner Field: .323 (867 games)
2008 at home: .404 (93-for-230)
Career vs. Oliver Perez, Friday: .478 (11-for-23)
Career vs. Pedro Martinez, Saturday: .191 (9-for-47)
Career vs. Mike Pelfrey, Sunday: .300 (3-for-10)
***
ALBERT PUJOLS - .3541 (176-for-497)
vs. Chicago Cubs, at Wrigley Field
Career vs. Cubs: .297 (126 games)
2008 vs. Cubs: .378 (17-for-45)
Career at Wrigley Field: .296 (69-for-233)
2008 on the road: .349 (87-for-249)
Career vs. Carlos Zambrano, Friday: .250 (13-for-52)
Career vs. Ted Lilly, Saturday: .346 (9-for-26)
Career vs. Ryan Dempster, Sunday: .276 (8-for-29)
Will be back with the baseball cards. Hard to find just the right ones. Taking suggestions …
-30-