1. Tulo
2. Helton
3. Street

You could make an excellent case (as others have) for all three, but Tulo really is a special talent out there at shortstop. Tulo also is still very young, however I would expect Tracy to stick him in the cleanup spot and let him hit with his natural power swing for all of 2010. 35 hrs and 100 rbis with a .280+ average – yep that will work out about right.

Anybody know what the Rockies won/loss record is with Tulo hitting 4th in the lineup?

How many fewer clutch situations would there be without Tulowitzki? When your shortstop hits on par with your MVP-candidate first baseman, it’s pretty hard to name someone else your MVP. The gap between Helton and Tulo is huge, even allowing for clutch hitting. The standard for what first basemen hit vs. shortstops is substantial. Helton has a very good year, but was out-hit by 6 or 7 other NL 1st basemen.

Also, my team MVP vote goes to Huston Street. He helped stabilize a bullpen that was weak from the start, but ended up becoming one of the better units in baseball.

My final tallies:

1) Huston Street
2) Troy Tulowitzki
3) Ubaldo Jimenez
4) Todd Helton

First half MVP:
Jason Marquis

Second Half MVP:
Carlos Gonzalez

I’d stick Tulo as 2. He’s got all the tools, but still swings for the fences in clutch situations instead of doing the smart thing and concentrating on just getting on base and playing smart baseball. Gold glove next year, unless they just want to give it to Rollins again next year. Not sure why the incumbent always has the edge in this award.

Huston is number 3, simply because of his ability to close games out. He was amazing, until the playoffs that is. He’d be #2, but he’s not a position player.

I simply don’t understand how people can argue Cargo as MVP. He didn’t even play half the games. He was 6th in BA (min 200 PAs), 5th in OPS, and had 28BBs to 70Ks. The only player on the team with a worse BB/K ratio was Barmes. Yes, he has potential, but MVP? I’d love to see someone make that arguement (intelligently).

What it comes down to for me is that Tulo was simply atrocious during the late innings of tight ball games all year long. Consider the following statistics:

-This year, Helton hit .301 in “late and close” games. Tulo hit .222.
-This year, Helton hit .353 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position; Tulo hit .232.

If Tulo was any less clutch, his nickname would be “Mario Mendoza”.

Simply put, when the game’s on the line, you should want your team MVP to be at the plate. There were a number of players that I would have rather had at the plate in this situation (Helton, Smith, Gonzalez, and even Spilborghs immediately come to mind). Tulo needs to be that guy to be the team MVP.

The NLDS demonstrates my point exactly. When the Phillies were down in the top of the 9th inning in game 4, they wanted their team MVP (Ryan Howard) at the plate. And he delivered the eventual game-winning double. In both games 3 and 4, with the Rockies down to their final out, Helton stepped up to the plate and got on base. In both games 3 and 4, with the Rockies down to their final out, Tulo stepped up to the plate and made the final out (without making good contact with the ball either time).

Tulo’s good, but he’s not Helton.