No Silver for Votto Either NL's Best Hitting Team is Shut Out

Albert Pujols was chosen by players and coaches over Joey Votto for the second day in a row.  The National League's best hitting team was shut out for The Silver Slugger Awards.

The Silver Slugger award for the best offensive player at each position went to Pujols as did the Gold Glove award on Wednesday.

Players and coaches tend to dismiss statistics when making their choices.

Pujols hit more five more home runs (42-37) and drove in three more runs (118-113) than Votto.  Votto finished second to Carlos Gonzalez, who won one of the OF Silver Sluggers, with a .324 batting average. Votto led the league with a .424 on-base percentage and a .600 slugging percentage.

Players and coaches, however, give more weight to ability than statistics.  It is hard to argue that Pujols does not deserve the award over Votto, although the less established Votto showed signs of equal talent.

The Baseball Writers will announce the Most Valuable Player Award, chosen by its members on November 22.  Votto may get the award despite Pujols success with the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards.

Votto was the best hitter on the top hitting team.  He did not have the luxury of another Silver Slugger winner, Matt Holladay batting behind him a Pujols did.  Pujols team had this advantage and the top two starting pitcher in the National League Central.  Yet Votto led the team that finished five games ahead of Pujols' Cardinals.

The Silver Slugger winners were:

C    Brian McCann
1B  Albert Pujols
2B  Dan Uggla
3B  Ryan Zimmerman
SS  Troy Tulowitzki
OF  Ryan Braun
OF  Carlos Gonzalez
OF  Matt Holliday
P     Yovanni Gallardo