My top five NL MVP candidates

The end of the MLB regular-season is just five days away and the writers' votes for each MLB award will be submitted by then. Who will get the nod for each award? Obviously I do not have a say, but let's take a look at who I think should be the top five MVP candidates in the National League.

Fifth-place vote: Lance Berkman, St. Louis Cardinals
Through September 23: .300 BA, 31 HRs, 91 RBIs, .411 OBP, .522 SLG
There is no question that Berkman is the slam-dunk NL Comeback Player of the Year. However, his efforts with keeping the Cardinals afloat throughout the season cannot be denied. Even when Albert Pujols was slumping early in the season, Berkman caught fire and found a second life in the Gateway City, putting together numbers that are reminiscent of his glory days in Houston. Right now, the Cardinals are walking the tightrope in the NL Wild Card hunt, but if Berkman weren't there this year, the Cards would be somewhere between the Pirates and Cubs in the Central Division.

Fourth-place vote: Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks
Through September 23: .292 BA, 31 HRs, 88 RBIs, .372 OBP, .536 SLG

The biggest surprise contender of the year would easily go to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are on the brink of pulling off a shocking upset victory of the NL West over the Giants. A big reason for this has been Justin Upton. He has been carrying the load in a lineup that has far less protection than Lance Berkman, and has put up similar numbers. While the improvement of the bullpen is the biggest reason for Arizona's turnaround, Upton's terrific year in an otherwise average lineup should not go unnoticed.


Third-place vote: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
Through September 23: .330 BA, 31 HRs, 104 RBIs, .393 OBP, .584 SLG
Currently, Braun is leading the National League in batting average, and is part of the intimidating one-two punch in Milwaukee's lineup, along with Prince Fielder. Really, you can flip-flop these two on the ballot, and I would have no problem with it at all.

Second-place vote: Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
Through September 23: .293 BA, 34 HRs, 112 RBIs, .408 OBP, .544 SLG
The other half of Milwaukee's dynamic duo, Fielder is having another terrific year with the playoff-bound Milwaukee Brewers. He's currently third in the National League in both RBIs and on-base percentage, and he's tied for fourth in home runs with Florida's Mike Stanton. Take either Braun or Fielder away from this Milwaukee lineup, and they are a significantly less threatening team offensively.

First-place vote: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
Through September 23: .326 BA, 36 HRs, 118 RBIs, .403 OBP, .582 SLG, 40 steals
Yes, he is on a losing team this year. However, a MVP winner does not necessarily have to come from a winning team (see Alex Rodriguez- 2003, Andre Dawson- 1987, Ernie Banks- 1958 and 1959). However, when a player has an offensive year that simply cannot be ignored, voters take notice. Right now, many are beginning to notice the fact that he has a fantastic shot at becoming the National League's first Triple Crown winner since "Ducky" Joe Medwick in 1937. He's only one homer away from tying Albert Pujols for the NL lead, only .004 points away from equaling Braun in the batting average race and he currently leads the league in RBIs by five. Even if he does not achieve the elusive Triple Crown, he'll finish close enough to it to warrant winning the NL MVP.