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Upon further review (cont.)

Posted: Friday February 18, 2005 12:12PM; Updated: Friday February 18, 2005 12:53PM
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CLICK HERE FOR PART I OF JACOB LUFT'S INSIDER

What about past seasons?

Sheffield has placed in the top 10 in league MVP voting four times previous to 2004. Was he robbed in any of those seasons? Let's see what the statistics say:

2003 National League MVP Voting
Player, Team Points Avg. OBP Slg. RCAA Win Shares
1. Barry Bonds, SF 426 .341 .529 .749 115 39
2. Albert Pujols, STL 303 .359 .439 .667 101 41
3. Gary Sheffield, ATL 247 .330 .419 .604 72 35

This was an MVP-quality season by Sheffield. If he had posted these numbers in the AL, where a lackluster MVP race went to Alex Rodriguez by default, Sheffield would have his precious hardware by now.

2000 National League MVP Voting
Player Points Avg. OBP Slg. RCAA Win Shares
1. Jeff Kent, SF 392 .334 .424 .596 66 37
2. Barry Bonds, SF 279 .306 .440 .688 88 32
3. Mike Piazza, NYM 271 .324 .398 .614 47 28
4. Jim Edmonds, STL 208 .295 .411 .583 54 29
5. Todd Helton, COL 198 .372 .463 .698 84 29
6. Vladimir Guerrero, MON 117 .345 .410 .664 64 29
7. Jeff Bagwell, HOU 102 .310 .424 .615 56 25
8. Andruw Jones, ATL 95 .303 .366 .541 31 30
T9. Gary Sheffield, LA 71 .325 .438 .643 73 31

The only one with a right to complain here is Bonds. Piazza's teammate with the Mets, Edgardo Alfonzo, who was credited with the second-most Win Shares at 36 and ranked ninth in RCAA with 55, didn't crack the the top 10.

1996 National League MVP Voting
Player Points Avg. OBP Slg. RCAA Win Shares
1. Ken Caminiti, SD 392 .326 .408 .621 66 38
2. Mike Piazza, LA 237 .336 .422 .563 58 33
3. Ellis Burks, COL 186 .344 .408 .639 48 28
4. Chipper Jones, ATL 158 .309 .393 .530 44 26
5. Barry Bonds, SF 132 .308 .461 .615 90 39
6. Andres Galarraga, COL 112 .304 .357 .601 18 25
6. Gary Sheffield, FLA 112 .314 .465 .624 89 34

Despite playing in the pitcher's paradise of Pro Player Stadium, Sheffield led the NL in OBP and OPS, placed second in home runs and still couldn't muster more votes than a Coors-aided Galarraga or Burks? And the winner was a guy who admitted to cheating the whole time? Yeah, Sheffield has reason to be bitter about this vote.

1992 National League MVP Voting
Player Points Avg. OBP Slg. RCAA Win Shares
1. Barry Bonds, PIT 304 .311 .456 .624 92 41
2. Terry Pendleton, ATL 232 .311 .345 .473 24 35
3. Gary Sheffield, SD 204 .330 .385 .580 47 32

Sheffield celebrated his release from Milwaukee with his first monster season, but this wouldn't be the first time Mr. Bonds denies him the prize.

Jacob Luft is a Baseball Producer for SI.com.
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