Which is why you gotta have Jeff Kent at 2nd. He started slowly this year, but has been on fire the past month, and now has 13 HR and 52 RBI to go with a .316 BA.
Kent is one of only a handful of 2nd baseman to be league MVP, and he's on track to knock in 100 RBI for the 6th straight year.
How many 2nd baseman have ever done that before?
None.
Here's a comparison of rankings in the latest voting totals vs. the latest offensive statistics (based on Total Bases + Net Stolen Bases + On-Base Percentage + Slugging Percentage):
VOTING
1. Damon
2. Thome
3. Chavez
4. Ordonez
5. Erstad
OFFENSE
1. Thome
2. Ordonez
3. Chavez
4. Damon
5. Erstad
VOTING
1. Jones
2. Giles
3. Pujols
4. Walker
5. Klesko
OFFENSE
1. Walker
2. Giles
3. Pujols
4. Jones
5. Klesko
Of course, defense is not reflected here, so you could make a case for the higher vote totals for Damon and Jones, both good defensive center fielders. But Chavez is a Gold Glover at third, and some of these other guys are no slouches on defense, either. I think I'll vote for Thome and Giles, both of whom have a chance of making the team.