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Albert Pujols played for a fourth-place team, but that didn't deter the voters from making him the National League Most Valuable Player for the second time. The Cardinals' slugger earned 18 of the 30 first-place votes, with the other 12 going to the Phillies' Ryan Howard.

Below, check out the top candidates. Then see the choices of ESPN's baseball analysts and contributors, both individually and collectively. Whom did you choose?

THE TOP CANDIDATES

ALBERT PUJOLS, 1B, ST. LOUIS

G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
148	524	100	187	37	116	.357	.462	.653	1.114

It was another typically stellar season for Pujols, whose OPS and slugging percentage were the best in the majors.

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RYAN HOWARD, 1B, PHILADELPHIA

G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
162	610	105	153	48	146	.251	.339	.543	.881

Howard led the majors in home runs and RBIs. The last time he led both categories? His MVP season in 2006.

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MANNY RAMIREZ, LF, L.A. DODGERS

G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
53	187	36	74	17	53	.396	.489	.743	1.232

Once he joined the Dodgers, Ramirez went on a tear and never let up, propelling Los Angeles to the NL West title.

ESPN'S NL MVP AWARD PICKS
Jorge Arangure Jr. ESPN The Magazine Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Howard Bryant ESPN.com CC Sabathia LHP, Brewers	Jim Caple ESPN.com/Page 2 Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Jerry Crasnick ESPN.com Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals
Peter Gammons ESPN Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Pedro Gomez ESPN Manny Ramirez LF, Dodgers	Orel Hershiser ESPN Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies	Eric Karabell ESPN.com Fantasy Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals
Jonah Keri ESPN.com/Page 2 Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Bob Klapisch ESPN.com contributor Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies	John Kruk ESPN Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies	Tim Kurkjian ESPN The Magazine Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals
Keith Law ESPN.com/Scouts Inc. Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Sean McAdam ESPN.com contributor Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies	Amy Nelson ESPN.com Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Rob Neyer ESPN.com Lance Berkman 1B, Astros
Buster Olney ESPN The Magazine Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Peter Pascarelli ESPN/Baseball Today Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies	Steve Phillips ESPN Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Karl Ravech ESPN Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies
Phil Rogers ESPN.com contributor Ryan Howard 1B, Phillies	Enrique Rojas ESPNdeportes.com Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	John Shea ESPN.com contributor Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Chris Singleton ESPN Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals
Larry Stone ESPN.com contributor Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Jayson Stark ESPN.com Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals	Gene Wojciechowski ESPN.com Albert Pujols 1B, Cardinals
ESPN's choice: Albert Pujols (17) Honorable Mention: Ryan Howard (7); Lance Berkman (1); Manny Ramirez (1); CC Sabathia (1)