On July 1, the Mets were 3.5 back and a game under .500. Since then, Delgado has hit just over .300 with 17 home runs and 50 rbi. Over that time, Wright has 12 home runs and 39 rbi although his ba has been slightly better. Beltran's numbers have been similar to Wright's over this stretch. There is no doubting that there are more talented players on the Mets than Delgado, but he has been very important in their climb to the top of the division. The best player need not be the most valuable. Why should Delgado's pre-7/1 #s not come into play? His playing like crap the first couple months of the season is a big reason the Mets were in a hole to begin with. Wright, Reyes, and Beltran all play better defense at more premium positions, while putting up better #s on the year. Even with that slow start, if Delgado keeps up this pace, he will lead the team in HR and RBI. I also am not saying that Delgado will win, but I think that with what he has done as of late, his name belongs in the mix. That being said, I think that he needs to keep this up for me to continue to think that he belongs at or near the top of the list. Carlos Delgado is 40th in the NL in VORP, behind such luminaries as our own Derrek Lee, Mike Cameron, Jayson Werth and Ty Wiggingon. I'm not saying you necessarily just give it to the guy on top of the VORP leaderboard automatically, but it should never, ever, ever go to a guy that is 40th in his own league.