The players involved in baseball's Triple Crown race really don't have much to say. It's September, and their focus is on the playoffs, not individual awards. The Triple Crown is something to appreciate after it happens, not while it's happening. 'There's an individual aspect to this game, no question,' said Reds first baseman Joey Votto, one of three National League players in contention for the game's first Triple Crown in 43 years. 'A lot of people glorify individuals in this game, but when you have an opportunity to do some winning and change the direction of a franchise, you don't put yourself ahead of that.' While it may not come with many sound bites, the great Triple Crown race of 2010 could be a unique slice of baseball history -- for a lot of reasons. First, there are multiple candidates: Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez, St. Louis' Albert Pujols and Votto. The Rockies are trying to have another September to remember and they might pull it off, thanks in part to Gonzalez's breakthrough season. 'I was always dreaming about being a really good player, but you never expect to win anything crazy like that,' said Gonzalez. 'We're here to win the division. Everything else comes after that. If we make the playoffs, I'd be the happiest man on Earth.' Having a Triple Crown contender this late in the season is rare. The last player to lead all three categories -- home runs, runs batted in and batting average -- in September was the White Sox's Dick Allen in 1972. But three contenders? 'You're talking about a player who's going to lead the league in hitting, home runs and RBIs. I mean, that's a mouthful now,' said Rockies manager Jim Tracy. 'It's fun to watch every day, I promise you that.' And all three players are on teams fighting for playoff spots. None will be no sitting out a game to maintain a league-leading batting average. 'You don't have any lapses at all,' said Reds manager Dusty Baker. 'We're trained to win, and it's a lot easier to play for something and play for your team than it is just to play for yourself and your own stats. 'You really don't see anybody sit down during this period of time. You don't see guys sit on their averages. These guys can't afford to.' The Triple Crown battle has taken many twists and turns. A month ago, Votto and Pujols were the only names in the conversation. As recently as Aug. 24, it was easy to look at the incomparable Pujols and assume he was the front-runner. He was hitting .322, one point behind Votto and three points ahead of Gonzalez. But Gonzalez has gone off since thento raise his average to .340 and take a commanding lead in that category. He's also jumped ahead in RBIs. Pujols, meanwhile, has slumped, with eight hits in 46 at-bats to drop to .309. Pujols leads the league with 35 homers and is third in RBIs, but Gonzalez's sizzling streak may have knocked Pujols out of contention. []Votto's view of the race is simple: Until Pujols drops out, he's the favorite. 'Albert has probably had a subpar year for himself and he's still in the Triple Crown chase, which pays tribute to his greatness,' said Votto. 'I've been asked a lot of questions about myself and him, and it's unfair in every way, shape and form. Carlos and myself are younger players trying to establish ourselves. Albert is already a lock Hall of Famer and one of the greatest hitters of all time.' So who's the leader in the clubhouse? Pujols may have history on his side, and Votto, a native of Toronto, may have an entire nation pulling for him, but Gonzalez is blistering hot and has Coors Field working in his favor, which figures to be a factor. That's not an opinion so much as a history lesson. Of the six players to lead the league in two of the three Triple Crown categories since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski last won it in 1967, three have been Rockies. Dante Bichette led the league in home runs and RBIs in 1995. Todd Helton led in batting average and RBIs in 2000. And Matt Holliday led in batting average and RBIs in 2007. This year, Gonzalez is leading in average and RBIs, and is third in home runs with 32, tied with Votto, just three behind Pujols. []The Rockies play 13 of their final 23 games at home, where Gonzalez in his last 28 games has hit over .450 with 16 home runs and 41 RBIs. []It could well be that Gonzalez will be leading in all three categories in the final weekend of the season when the Rockies play at, where else, St. Louis, with Pujols in the building. 'It would be totally awesome if I get a chance to win it,' said Gonzalez. 'If I do it, it would be because I had a pretty good last month. And that would mean we're winning. We're here to go to the postseason, no matter what.' 