Nov. 17 -- HOWARD FINISHES SECOND

By SCOTT LAUBER

This time, a late-season surge wasn't enough to make Ryan Howard an MVP.

Howard, the Phillies' slugging first baseman, finished second to St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols for the National League MVP award, announced today by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

After edging Pujols to take the honor in 2006, Howard received 12 first-place votes to Pujols' 18. Pujols got 10 second-place votes, two third-place votes, one fourth-place vote and one seventh-place vote for 369 total points. Howard got eight second-place votes, six third-place votes, one fifth-place vote, one sixth-place vote, two seventh-place votes and one 10th-place vote for 308 total points.

Pujols, 28, had arguably the best all-around season in the league, batting .357 with 37 homers, 116 RBIs and a 1.115 on-base/slugging percentage -- all with a torn elbow ligament that required surgery last month. But the Cardinals faded in September, finishing fourth in the NL Central and four games out of the wild-card lead.

Howard, who turns 29 Wednesday, led the majors with 48 home runs and 146 RBIs. But he won the award with his late-season performance. In his final 31 games, Howard batted .354 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs and carried the Phillies to a second consecutive NL East championship.

Votes were cast by two writers from each of the 16 NL markets, and the ballots were due by the final day of the regular season. The result seemingly was a referendum on how voters interpret the award, giving it to a player who had a superior statistical season over a player on a successful team.

Or it may have been payback for 2006 when Pujols finished second to Howard. The Cardinals made the playoffs that season, while the Phillies were edged out for the wild-card berth. Howard batted only .251. The lowest average for an MVP is .267 by St. Louis shortstop Marty Marion in 1944.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge finished eighth in the voting.

For the full voting, click here. Much more on this later.

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Two other matters today:

1. The Phillies have hired Scott Proefrock for their other assistant GM position. Proefrock, who had been working with the Orioles, will be responsible for negotiating major-league contracts, handling arbitration cases, etc., the duties that belonged to Ruben Amaro Jr. when he was assistant GM. Proefrock also has Delaware ties (more on that in The Paper tomorrow).

2. Minor-league field coordinator Bill Dancy, better known as the Phillies' third-base coach from 2005-06, has been let go. Mike Compton, the field coordinator in 2005 and 2006, will reassume that job.