National League MVP Award winner Albert Pujols

After winning his third National League MVP award, what can be said about Albert Pujols that hasn't been uttered already - he is the best player in the Major Leagues not named Joe Mauer.

Pujols has done his thing since his rookie year - the numbers are staggering and the numbers don't seem real in the sense they are 'video game numbers. Pujols is a living, breathing baseball legend who is a slam-dunk Hall of Fame candidate, based on the numbers so far.

Contrary to any age-gate rumors, Pujols is finally hitting '30' in 2010 - I wonder how long his metronomic excellence will continue into his 30s, particularly how how goes about his business as a Major Leaguer, when he has accomplished so many achievements.

American League MVP Award winner Joe Mauer

After winning his first MVP award, what can be said about Joe Mauer that hasn't been uttered already - he is the best player in the Major Leagues not named Albert Pujols.

Because Mauer is behind the plate as a catcher - the numbers he generates is simply more impressive. Mauer is simply a once-in-a-generation talent that can probably win the next 10 MVP awards if his health dicatates it.

What stands out is this past year, Mauer won his third batting title with a .365 batting average - I realized he was a very good young player, but it didn't dawn on me that he was that good of a hitter.

Batting average maybe overrated in some respect, but to battle every day with pitchers, to make enough contact or lay off just enough pitches to have prolonged success - while enduring the bumps and bruises received from being a catcher, must make Mauer some sort of Superman among his peers.

Besides batting average, Mauer's on-base percentage was a whopping .444 - he finally turned the power on, hitting 28 home runs and slugging .587 in 2009.

Admittedly, I'm not much of a Minnesota Twins/Joe Mauer guy - but I'll be paying to watch him play opening week of the 2010 schedule, when the Twins open up in Anaheim.