Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen took home the NL MVP honors for 2013, edging out Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt.
Naturally, the fact that Goldschmidt was overlooked for the award doesn’t sit well with Diamondback's fans, but it was the right decision.
Goldschmidt put together a phenomenal season, one that truly carried the Diamondbacks from start to finish, but even his near-magical year can’t match up to what McCutchen did.
Playing for a team that hadn’t finished above .500 since 1992, McCutchen provided a spark offensively and defensively that propelled his team into the playoffs.
I am not one to make the argument that a player on a non-playoff team shouldn’t win MVP, but the fact that McCutchen carried his team into the postseason made him a no-brainer for this award.
Goldschmidt may have had the power numbers, the eye-popping batting average and RBI numbers but McCutchen presented an all-around threat at the plate, on the base paths and defensively in the outfield.
Pittsburgh was a team devoid of much offensive talent behind McCutchen, but he still was able to elevate the play of his teammates to a point where they contented for a division title.
He might not have been the best hitter in the National League but he was the most valuable player.
Reach the columnist at icbeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @ICBeck21
