Nov. 17 -- MVP & CATCHING UP

BY SCOTT LAUBER

Good morning, all. So, I've returned from a weekend in Boston, where I saw some friends, tasted the best Chowdah on the planet here, sat in the upper deck at the Garden for the Celtics' loss to the Nuggets (who needs Allen Iverson, anyway?) and gloated about the No. 1-ranked Boston University hockey team. Good times, folks. Good times.

Now, though, it's back to work, just in time for the announcement of the 2008 NL MVP in a few hours (2 p.m., to be exact).

And, to me, it will be a fascinating vote.

Regardless of whether Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Manny Ramirez or someone else wins the MVP, it will reveal how several of my fellow beat writers from across the country interpret the award. If the voters believe the MVP should be awarded to the player who had the best all-around season, Pujols will win in a landslide. He batted .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs and led the NL with a 1.115 on-base/slugging percentage -- all with a torn ligament in his right elbow that required surgery last month. It was, indisputably, the finest season of any player in the league.

But, of course, it isn't that simple.

With or without Pujols, the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs. In fact, they finished fourth in the NL Central and four games off the wild-card pace. Howard, meanwhile, powered the Phillies to a second straight division title with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in the last 31 games. And the Dodgers were 54-54 on July 31 when they traded for Manny and finished 30-24 and won the NL West. For true "value," the voters may turn to Howard or Manny and snub Pujols.

Personally, I'd have voted for Pujols (I had an NL Rookie of the Year vote, not an MVP vote, this season). Howard led the league in homers and RBIs, but to me, he wasn't the MVP of his own team. (Brad Lidge, anyone?). And Manny put the Dodgers on his shoulders, but it was only two months. If an MVP award was based on carrying a team for two months, Chase Utley should be considered for what he did for the Phillies in April and May.

So, who's your MVP?

***
Mick Billmeyer, the Phillies' catching instructor since 2004, was promoted Saturday to bullpen coach. He'll replace Ramon Henderson, who left the team last season for personal reasons. Henderson was reassigned to a minor-league coaching position. I'm guessing that few of you are familiar with Billmeyer, so I'll say this by way of introduction: In addition to working with the Phillies' catchers, he's a funny dude. Always quick with a joke (few can be retold here), he keeps the mood light in the bullpen. During the playoffs, in fact, Chad Durbin told me that Billmeyer deserved as much credit for the success of the Phillies' relievers as anyone.

Now that they've hired Sam Perlozzo and promoted Billmeyer, the Phils have one more coaching vacancy. Former major-league managers Jim Tracy and Terry Collins will interview this week for the bench coach position vacated last week by Jimy Williams.

***
Finally, I spoke to an old friend who is privy to the New York Mets' inner workings. Everyone knows the Mets need a closer, and they're planning to make an offer to free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes (they have concerns about Kerry Wood's health). But they're also exploring trade options. Seattle's J.J. Putz and the White Sox's Bobby Jenks may be available. Their second priority is finding a starting pitcher. So, while the Phils likely will re-sign 46-year-old Jamie Moyer and turn their attention to the bullpen and left field, the Mets intend to make offers to Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett and others who could serve as a No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana (a.k.a., The Johan) and ahead of John Maine.

OK, you play the part of Ruben Amaro Jr.: Should the Phillies feel satisfied with a rotation of Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Moyer, Joe Blanton and either J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick or Carlos Carrasco? Or should they throw some cash at a free-agent starter?