The War Room: Bonds, Thomas Lead Contenders

MVP -- Most Valuable Player. Sounds good, doesn?t it? It?s a nice little addition to a professional baseball player?s resume. But what makes an MVP nowadays?

Is it the stats? Is it the leadership? Is it the extra effort a player puts in every night to put his team in contention?

The answer is yes, yes and yes. While many people will be voted on for AL and NL MVP only one will be selected by each league. So lets go through the choices and narrow them down one-by-one.

AMERICAN LEAGUE We start with last year's MVP runner-up, Pedro Martinez. Pedro was the man last year. Most teams just went ahead and put a mark in the loss column whenever they faced him in the rotation.

His victories put the Red Sox in the postseason and then almost single-handedly beat the Indians. (OK the Tribe choked, but don?t remind me -- I?m a die-hard Indians fan.) But Pedro hasn?t done the same this year, especially when it counted. The Indians put the Red Sox out of the playoff race when Pedro lost to Steve (2-10) Woodard. In fact, Pedro may lose the Cy Young to baseball's version of the Frischs? Big Boy, David Wells. That is another War Room though.

How about Carlos Delgado? What amazing numbers this guy has put up. But that only answers one of the questions above. I am willing to compare White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas? numbers to Delgado?s any day. The difference is that Thomas can answer the other two questions in the MVP equation.

As you can see the numbers are very similar, but one number that is not showing up is the number in the win column: 93 to 82, advantage Thomas. The White Sox are the only team in the AL to clinch their division so far and the Blue Jays may not even make the playoffs.

Even though the ChiSox have secured a bid to the postseason Frank Thomas is playing with a sore right knee. He refuses to sit out and have it drained. There?s your extra effort right there.

Other Contenders:

Manny Ramirez -- Injuries kept him from putting up enough numbers in the beginning of the season. Cleveland fell way back behind the Sox while he was out of the lineup.

Alex Rodriguez -- Only category he beats Delgado or Thomas in is runs. Won?t be the MVP but will be the free agency gem.

Anyone from the Yankees -- Talent is spread around and chemistry continues to put them in the postseason. No one star is carrying this team.

NATIONAL LEAGUE This is probably one of the closest races in MVP history. So many guys can easily walk away with it. Let?s start on the East Coast and work our way west.

The Mets go as Mike Piazza goes. During this playoff crunchtime in September, Piazza hasn?t done so well. His team is still fighting for a spot in the postseason and he has yet to step up. He put up another great year statistically but can he actually lead this team to the postseason? That remains to be seen but in my book, he is No. 3 in the National League.

Across the Mississippi to St. Louis where it?s Jim Edmonds, not Mark McGwire, making all of the noise this year. Edmonds has turned Cardinals baseball into a legitimate contender instead of the traveling home run circus in which fans don?t watch unless McGwire is up to bat. His numbers are near the top in a few categories and he has benefited from an improved pitching staff. Enough to be MVP? I put him at No. 4 in the NL.

Right in the heart of the Rocky Mountains lies Coors Field. Todd Helton has been chasing Ted Williams all year long. The race to .400 has pretty much come to an end but what a ride it was for the Rockies' first baseman. Against all other MVP candidates in the six categories listed above, Helton blows the doors off of everyone in every category except home runs. Throw in the AL guys and Thomas only beats him by eight RBI and three HR. Delgado leads by two homers and that?s it. However, one key number doesn?t show up again -- wins. The Rockies will be lucky to play .500 ball this year and even though that is not Helton?s fault, it hurts his MVP chances. I think you have to lead the your team and help the ones that are struggling around you to be a true MVP. Tough call but Helton just misses at number two.

We end our trek west at the brand-spanking new Pac Bell Park. What an amazing stadium. The Pac Bell stage was built for Barry Bonds to perform on this year and perform he did. This guy is like a fine wine; he gets better with age. Only Helton put up better numbers and he plays a mile above sea level. Bonds plays in the sea. He was the first player to crank a home run into the San Fran Bay and get the ?splash down meter? rolling. He has taken teammate Jeff Kent under his wing and made the heart of the Giants' lineup one of the best in the league. Injuries? Forget about it, put me in coach, I?m ready to win. With his overall numbers and his team poised for a World Series run, Bonds gets my nod for National League MVP.

Other Contenders:

Brian Giles -- The former Indian was on fire this year but there is no hope in Pittsburgh.

Chipper Jones -- Could have written plenty about Jones, but not enough room. Another solid year for the kid from DeLand.

Sammy Sosa, Bobby Abreu, Jeff Bagwell -- Put Sosa, Abreu and Giles in the outfield and Jones and Bagwell at the corners and I?ll play without a shortstop and second baseman. I may even pitch and catch with that lineup. Great guys, horrible teams.