Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

No matter how many precious metals Albert Pujols garnered, Joey Votto was more valuable than him this season.

That was the verdict by the Baseball Writers Association of America voters, who picked Votto as the National League MVP today.

The Reds first baseman batted .324 with 37 homers and 113 RBI, finishing in the top four in the NL in eight offensive categories and leading Cincinnati to its first NL Central title since 1995. Perhaps not coincidentally, that was also the last time a Reds player – shortstop Barry Larkin – was named MVP.

Votto had the NL’s highest on-base (.424) and slugging (.600) percentages, spearheading the league’s most prolific offense. He outpolled the Cardinals’ Pujols and Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, both of whom were also his main competitors in a late-summer Triple Crown race that failed to yield a winner.

Pujols, who had won the last two MVP awards and three in the last five years, enjoyed another outstanding season, batting .312 while leading the league with 42 homers and 118 RBI. He was rewarded with the Silver Slugger and Golden Glove, awards voted on by league managers and coaches.

But the Cardinals finished five games behind the Reds, which may have swayed the writers. Gonzalez won the batting crown with a .336 average and also had 34 home runs and 117 RBI, but Colorado faded late and wound up third, nine games out in the NL West.

As opposed to Gonzalez, whose home/road stats are heavily skewed, Votto also thrived away from the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark. He batted .297 with 18 homers in Cincinnati and .349 with 19 home runs elsewhere.

He also provided consistent offense throughout the season, hitting .300 or better with at least five homers in every full month after April.

Votto, 27, is the third Canadian to earn the MVP award, after the Rockies’ Larry Walker in 1997 and the Twins’ Justin Morneau in 2006.

By Jorge L. Ortiz