Cubs duo headlines field of NL MVP Award candidates

Can you have too much of a good thing? Not when you’re piling up victories, but it can complicate the handing out of awards.

It’s problematic for voters when a team has two players arguably worthy of winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the same season, as do the Cubs in Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant.

Look at the 1996 Mariners. Ken Griffey Jr. was in his prime, and Alex Rodriguez looked like anything but a 20-year-old in his first full season. Both delivered a 1.000+ OPS and a WAR of at least 9.4. One was an American League Gold Glove Award winner in center field; the other a terrific shortstop.

Hardware Hopefuls

• AL MVP • NL MVP

• Tuesday: AL Cy Young • Tuesday: NL Cy Young

• Wednesday: AL Rookie of the Year • Wednesday: NL Rookie of the Year

• Friday: AL Manager of the Year • Friday: NL Manager of the Year

• AL MVP • NL MVP

• Tuesday: AL Cy Young • Tuesday: NL Cy Young

• Wednesday: AL Rookie of the Year • Wednesday: NL Rookie of the Year

• Friday: AL Manager of the Year • Friday: NL Manager of the Year

Either could have won the AL Most Valuable Player Award. But they split the vote, and the Rangers’ Juan Gonzalez won the award in one of the tightest and most memorable award races.

Mariners manager Lou Piniella and Rodriguez both said Griffey should have won the AL MVP Award, and the two voters from Seattle would agree when it was time to cast their votes. Both voted Griffey first and Gonzalez second, and that was the margin that allowed Gonzalez to edge out A-Rod, 290-287.

The Rizzo-Bryant dynamic is evolving along the same lines. I don’t see anyone more deserving than the two Cubs.

I’d be surprised if Joe Maddon voices an opinion if he’s asked when September rolls around, and I’d advise Bryant not to defer to Rizzo when he gets the …

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