Pujols wins 2nd NL MVP

Phillies' Howard second in voting

NEW YORK -- Albert Pujols views MVP voting a little differently these days.

"You have to consider everything. You have to put all the numbers together," the St. Louis Cardinals star said Monday after powering past Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard to win the National League MVP award for the second time on Monday.

Pujols, who also won in 2005, won despite the Cardinals finishing in fourth place, the lowest spot for an NL MVP winner since Andre Dawson and Chicago Cubs wound up sixth in 1987.

Howard led the majors in home runs and RBIs for the World Series champions.

The result surely will renew a debate that Pujols once raised himself: What qualifies as "most valuable"?

In 2006, a month after leading the Cardinals to the World Series title, Pujols carped when Howard -- whose Phillies missed the playoffs -- won the coveted award.

"I see it this way: Someone who doesn't take his team to the playoffs doesn't deserve to win the MVP," Pujols said at that time.

Shortly thereafter, Pujols clarified his remarks and said Howard certainly was worthy of the award.

"I think the writers made the right choice in 2006," Pujols said again Monday. "He did deserve it."

Pujols hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs while playing with a sore right elbow that required surgery. Howard hit 48 homers with 146 RBIs.

Voting was completed before the playoffs began.

The AL MVP will be announced today. A close vote is anticipated, with the Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau among the top contenders along with the Boston Red Sox's Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis.