Hanley Finishes 2nd in MVP Voting

Albert Pujols was the unanimous choice for NL MVP

Every Florida Marlins fan knows how valuable Hanley Ramirez is to the team.

Now it looks like the rest of the nation is beginning to notice.

Ramirez finished second in the NL MVP voting Tuesday,  the highest any Marlin has ever garnered, behind the unanimous choice, Albert Pujols. For Pujols, it was repeat performance after he ran away with the title last year.

Pujols received all 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Ramirez, the NL batting champion, was second with 233 points, followed by Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (217) and Milwaukee's Prince Fielder (203), who tied Howard for the big league lead in RBIs.

But if ever being runner up meant something, it would have to be this situation. Ramirez's noticeable improvement from year to year can only boost hopes that he will soon supplant Pujols as the most feared player in the NL.

And nothing sells tickets like an MVP on the mantle, a fact the Marlins ownership sorely needs with a new baseball stadium opening on the horizon.

"Manley" (that's what we like to call him) batted .342 with 24 home runs and 106 RBIs. He also scored 101 runs and stole 27 bases. 

What the team hopes Ramirez grasps next season is the leadership role on a very young and inexperienced team.

Pujols led the majors in home runs (47), runs (124), slugging percentage (.658) and intentional walks (44), and topped the NL in on-base percentage (.443). He was second in the league in doubles (45) and third in batting average (.327) and RBIs (135). He was especially dangerous with the bases loaded, going 10 for 17 with five grand slams, three doubles and 35 RBIs.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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