Is there a more feared catcher for the opposition to face? Fall asleep on the basepaths and you'll enjoy a walk of shame back to the dugout. Try to steal one measly extra base and you become just another stat on Yadi's resume. Try to tag and score on Molina and the only plate you'll see will be in the lunch room after the game. Need a crucial hit during the game or an rbi? Super Yadi to the rescue. Sure he's my favorite player and I'm slightly bias, but seriously, just consider this.....

Whitey Herzog said it best when he was totting Ozzie Smith for MVP; what's the difference if he drives in 100 runs or saves 100 runs? Which of course was a great point then and it certainly applies to Yadier Molina. He's the best defensive catcher in the game. He controls the other teams base-running or should I say curtails it. And those who do try only have a 50-50 chance of making it. Others don't even try and get picked off. How many rallies get snuffed out because of Yadi's rifle? The oppositions running game is nullified by that guy behind the plate. What would our pitchers ERA's be without Molina? Oh geez, don't even think about that one! He calls a masterful game behind the plate. How much more effect could one person have on a game? If there was a stat for runs saved by a catcher, Yadier Molina would own it and would lead the league in a run away(only because he couldn't throw himself out doing it). Can any other position player lay claim to being such a big part of each game? I don't really need to say it do I? Our Cardinals have a losing record when Yadi's not behind the dish.

Take that game changing defense and now add his consistent above-average offense to it. He hits for power, he's an excellent situational hitter, he has a high OBP, he scores lots of runs and drives in even more, he's leading our hitters in Batting Average on a team with 6 guys near the .300 mark, heck the man's even one of our best base stealers and that's a fact!!! He even leads in OPS and has one of the highest slugging %. He leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. What freaking more can he do? I beg of you to tell me!!!

Does Steve Braun affect a game in that manner? Gosh no! Not even close! Buster Posey maybe? Well the offense is there but he's not in the same ballpark defensively, but you could make a case for him. With or without Buster, the Giants starting four are great. It doesn't matter who they have behind the plate. Andrew McCutcheon certainly deserves votes. What this guy has done is carry Pittsburgh's offense most of the year. Jay Bruce perhaps? Nah!!! Matt Kemp? Not this year! What about our own guys; Beltran, Holliday or Craig? Great half seasons for Carlos and Matt, but that doesn't cut it. Allen Craig; the leagues best hitter with runners in scoring position?! He just missed too much time.

Nobody, but nobody thinks the game better then Molina. All things considered, Yadier Molina is just as good a choice for NL MVP as anyone. However, he'll probably get screwed out of it just like Ozzie did because, to the narrow minded voters; defense doesn't matter!