It seems almost ludicrous to say, but the most underrated player in baseball today may be Albert Pujols.  Back when he was getting game-winning hits almost every day in 2006, the national talking points were that David Ortiz was unquestionably the best clutch hitter in baseball.  Those who don’t know any better criticize his defense when statistics show that he is one of the best at any position in the majors.  And when it comes to MVP voting, he consistently gets screwed.  This year is no different.  The National League Most Valuable Player in 2008 is Albert Pujols.  Period.  End of discussion. 

However, national media continue to bring up “candidates” for MVP, some of whom can’t hold a candle to Pujols, especially this year, which could possibly be his finest season.  This week’s Top 7 looks at the worst alternative choices to Pujols being thrown around right now.

7. Lance Berkman

Pujols’ problem is that he is so unbelievably consistent that everyone gets used to it and expects it.  Then someone comes along and has their first-ever Pujols-worthy season and it looks like it’s one of the greatest seasons ever.  That’s Lance Berkman this year.  He is having a phenomenal season, so much so that the national writers take notice and call it an “MVP type” year.  Meanwhile, Pujols has him beaten in almost every single category, with the superior defense, and it gets lost in the shuffle.

6. Ryan Braun

When Braun came up last year, they compared him to Pujols because of how he just burst upon the scene and never stopped dropping bombs.  Braun is no Pujols.  His OB% is over 100 points lower than Albert’s, he has struck out 115 times (Pujols is at 47 and has never struck out more than 93 times in a season), and his defense is less than stellar.  His move to the outfield this year makes him a bit less valuable too.

5. David Wright

So here’s the part where the New York thing comes in.  Some of the things Albert Pujols does would be top-story SportsCenter deals if it were done by someone like Wright (or of course Derek Jeter).  Pujols earlier this season scored the game-winning run from second base on a groundout.  In another game last month, he stole third base in the 8th inning with two outs and came into score when the throw was bad.  It ended up being the winning run as well.  His plays aren’t only the huge line shots in the gap—he makes amazingly smart baserunning decisions and busts his ass every game.  So when media members talk about guys like Wright doing the “little things that don’t show up in the box score,” Pujols does them as well, only better.

4. Ryan Ludwick

Ludwick is having an outstanding season, but Pujols has still been better.  Since the Cards are out of contention now Ludwick will probably not get much consideration at all, but if he had, it would be another Kent-over-Bonds in 2000 deal all over again. The difference being that Ludwick is likable and doesn't have a pencil mustache.

3. Aramis Ramirez

This completely out-of-left-field pick was mentioned by some clowns on the Fox broadcast from over the weekend.  Just because the Cubs are in first, they have to have an MVP candidate, I guess.  Ramirez has tons of clutch hits this year, true, but the Cubs are so good this season (despite the recent losing streak) that they could take anyone off of the team and still not miss much of a beat.

2. Brandon Webb

A starting pitcher who only plays in 35 games out of 162 should never be considered as the Most Valuable Player.  MAYBE if it were that Steve Nebraska guy from The Scout and you never threw anything else besides a three-pitch strikeout.  But that movie sucked, and the idea of the MVP being a starting pitcher sucks.

1. Carlos Delgado
He has gotten into the MVP discussion because of a huge second half and several high-profile clutch hits.  Don’t believe the hype—Pujols has over 200 OPS points on him.  If the Cardinals didn’t have Pujols, they would have never been close to contention this year and would below .500.  But since he does it every year, all is forgotten.  Perhaps media members will wise up and give it to him this year, but Albert Pujols has been screwed before, and it could definitely happen again.

The Top 7 is written by Jason Major. He secretly thinks Andruw Jones should be MVP. Email him at jason@joesportsfan.com