It's an individual award, but the pennant race could influence the voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Keep an eye on players from the front-runners.
Here are the leading candidates as the race's final month begins:- Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh, lf:
The Pirate outfielder has turned it on the last two months after a slow start, but he isn't a clear front-runner. He goes into the weekend second in the league with 94 RBIs, fourth with 39 steals and second with a .407 on-base percentage. Bonds' flashy defensive skills continue to draw attention.
- Bobby Bonilla, Pittsburgh, rf-3b:
Bonilla won't receive many votes for his versatility, but he should. He agreed to help the Bucs fill holes in both the outfield and third base. Bonilla goes into the weekend fourth in the league with a .315 average, fourth with 82 RBIs and third with 143 hits. And he's of incalculable value as a clubhouse presence.
- Terry Pendleton, Atlanta, 3b:
Pendleton's stock has dropped with his batting average recently - he's hitting .317, third in the NL - but it's fair to argue that the Braves wouldn't be contending without him. He's shored up a once-porous infield that has, in turn, made the pitching staff stronger.
- Ron Gant, Atlanta, cf:
Gant leads the league with 27 homers, but how helpful is his home park, the launching pad otherwise known Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium? Gant needs 20 RBIs to reach 100. But, like Pendleton, his role in Atlanta's amazing rise cannot be understated.
- Will Clark, San Francisco, 1b:
Clark is gunning to become the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967; if he's anywhere close he's going to win a pile of MVP votes despite playing for an also-ran. Clark leads the league in RBIs (102), total bases (259) and slugging percentage (.568) and is second in homers and fourth in average (.314). Clark also has committed only three errors, low among everyday first basemen.
- Lee Smith, St. Louis, rhp:
There's a precedent: Detroit closer Willie Hernandez won the AL MVP in 1984. Without Smith, the Cards could be the Cubs. His 37 saves are 11 more than the next-highest reliever. The low-scoring Cards lead the league in one-run victories and would not be in the race without a closer of Smith's magnitude.