Joey Votto Crushes NL MVP Voting

After helping the Cincinnati Reds reach the postseason for the first time in 15 years, Joey Votto received 31 of 32 first place votes to earn the 2010 National League MVP honor.

His 443 points awarded by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America topped reigning NL MVP-hog Albert Pujols by a mile.

After winning the MVP in 2005, 2008 and 2009, Pujols came in second with 279 points and the other first place vote, from (who else but) Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Homer much?

While Pujols had yet another magnificent season, Votto was a first-time All-Star, finishing second in the NL in hitting with a .324 batting average and third in homers (37) and RBI (113). He also led the league in slugging percentage (.600), was best in the majors in on-base percentage (.424) and swiped 16 bases in 21 attempts.

Not bad for a 27-year-old first baseman who was snubbed from the Midsummer Classic before fan voting edged him in. Also, no one outside of Ohio knew who the hell he was before this year.

Votto had this to say regarding the honor:

Most importantly, we won.

Well, sorta. Good thing the balloting was already finished by the time Votto went 1-for-10 with just one RBI while he watched the Philadelphia Phillies sweep his Reds out of the first round of the playoffs.

Prince Albert had some kind words for his division rival that sounded a bit more like it was coming from an excited father-in-law:

Joey is an outstanding younger player that works extremely hard both on and off the field and I’m proud to welcome him to the family.

The American League MVP will be announced later today, with Texas Rangers All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton considered the favorite.

[MLB] | [Red Reporter]