Counterpoint – Does This Look Like The Face Of Your AL MVP Runner-Up?
Editors Note: This is 610′s stupid MVP rebuttal. It would be unfair if I didn’t let someone publish the opposite view point. Even though 610 is an idiot.
That’s right. Runner-up.
Listen, KFC’s got every reason in the world to have a hard-on for Mike Trout. If the award was Most Outstanding Player, he wins unanimously. I’m not trying to say Miguel Cabrera is a better player – even with age off the table, Trout is the unquestioned position player to build a team around. But it’s Most Valuable Player, and outside of a handful of instances (i.e. A-Rod in 2003), that means being valuable to a season of value. Even Trout’s own teammate Torii Hunter agrees he shouldn’t win (with flawed logic): ”Why did Michael Jordan win all those MVPs? Because his team won.” I don’t necessarily agree that it should always be the best player on the best team – but if all the stats are close, then making the playoffs is a difference maker. It’s as simple as this – do the Tigers make the post-season without Cabrera? I think it’s safe to say they don’t. Where do the Angels finish up without Trout? In either scenario, they aren’t playing extra ball. For anyone pointing out LA’s better record, you’re pushing it. You can’t control the strength of the divisions (who saw the A’s coming?) just like you can’t control what’s probably the biggest reason Mike Trout doesn’t win MVP & the Angels didn’t take the West. He kicked off 2012 in the minors.
The Angels started off 6-14 before calling up their phenom. Since then, they’re 83-57. That’s a .593 winning percentage, which would be best in the AL. 20 more games and Trout’s over 50 steals & pushing 100 RBI. Even with a historical Triple Crown year, that hypothetical rookie season might be tough to beat when it results in the top seed for October baseball…but you can’t vote based on speculation. Reality is, Cabrera is 48 hours from a Triple Crown and is also #2 in hits & runs (which is way more impressive base running considering he’s 300 pounds). Dude might be the closest ever to a Quintuple Crown. Best OPS, best slugging percentage, top-4 OBP…and although Trout’s right there with him in most categories, he’s still behind him in all but runs & OBP. Yes, he steals bases and plays a stellar CF – but Miggy’s no defensive liability. He’s third in AL 3B fielding % with the second-most chances. Pretty good for a blimp. The Triple Crown legend obviously doesn’t hurt, but even if he falls short I don’t think that’s the be all, end all as to why he’s more deserving than Trout.
It’s close. I respect the Trout argument, but it’s wrong. Miguel Cabrera’s monster season got his (lesser) team into the playoffs while, although obviously not his fault, Mike Trout’s preseason darling LA Angels missed the boat. That’s what the game’s about. It’s not about Web Gems or your time from home to first. The kid’s gonna have to make room for a couple of future MVP trophies, but he’s got a year to do so. #TeamMiggy
You’re absolutely right, this kid is gonna crush it next year. He’s fucking unbelievable!
Cabrera plays in the AL Central, if the Angels were in our division they would be in first place. Trout is better in offense and defense and is Wins above replacement is the highest in 50 years. Trout is the better player, Miguel is a better hitter, barely.
Mike Trout played baseball at an all around excellent level to a statistical extent only two other players in history have, despite being handicapped 20 games. You literally can’t find any holes in his game, this season will probably go down a textbook “5 tool baseball player” example for years to come. Miguel Cabrera swung the bat hard, hit the ball a lot, and didn’t contribute much else. He isn’t a fast or smart baserunner, and plays only pretty well defensively. I’m pulling for Cabrera to take the Triple Crown because it’s fun to watch something happen live that hasn’t happened in 60 years, but it doesn’t mean he is a better or more valuable player for his team than Trout.
Trout putting up Top 20 performance of ALL TIME: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_bat_season.shtml
Cabrera’s Triple Crown caliber season doesn’t even crack the Top 200. You want to see an impressive Triple Crown? See Yaz, 1967.
Who gives a shit about WAR? I would hope he’s better than his backup who is still in the minor leagues
You can’t compare the defensive abilities of the two players. Miggy, while making a transition to three bag, still had a phenomenal defensive year. If he doesn’t win the MVP after winning a triple crown something is wrong in major league baseball and everyone knows that.
Very profound rebuttal dewitt.
dewitt clearly doesn’t understand what WAR is
Cabrera is one of the worst third basemen in baseball. In fact he’s the 2nd worst in baseball this year:
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=3b&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=700&type=1&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
@dewitt… Your comment was so stupid I’m not sure if your trolling.
Batting average and RBIs are garbage stats. Trout is hands down a better player all around (not just in 3 stats) and is 100% more VALUABLE than any other player in the league.
This article was clearly ghostwritten, it makes far too much sense and contains solid point after solid point.
MIGGY…1ST TRIPLE CROWN SINCE YAZ IN ’67=MVP, END OF DEBATE
Trout .330 with RISP and struck out in 26% of those at bats. Cabrera .353 and 14%. Trout .282 with RISP and 2 outs. Cabrera .420.
Snapbacks FTW
How is that Snapbacks FTW? Just throwing out a few random stats gets it done?
Overall with Runners in Scoring Position:
Trout: .967 OPS
Cabrera: 1.000 OPS
Not exactly a staggering case for or against either based on how they performed with RISP.
Just change the award to Most Valuable Home Run Hitter. Anyone who uses fielding percentage to judge defense is a moron. Just maybe you can watch him play 3rd in the playoffs. It’s a joke. My boy is a Tigers fan and he even thinks Trout should win because he affects his team more. He also thinks Cabrera had a better 2010 and 2011 than this year. Get a clue people. Watch the games instead of looking at HR and RBI leaders. #TeamTrout
good blog. lot of good points. Miggy should win it and like you said Trout will have plenty of hardware on his mantle when its all said and done.
If there was ever a year for co-mvp, this is it. Neither one of these guys deserves to be 2nd place in any individual comparison to anyone. Just give it to both of them.
UtleyBeast is completely clueless. Everyone knows MVP is based off the triple crown categories for the most part. Yes, stolen bases and fielding percentage are creeping there way in, but it will ALWAYS be about batting..
Ok charris, since MVP is based off the triple crown categories PLEASE explain how Justin Verlander won MVP last year retard. Pedroia in 2008, Mauer in 2009 or Rollins in 2007. Look at Rollins’ stats vs Matt Holiday in 2007. Hell, i’ll even post the precious 3 categories for you. Rollins – .296 AVG/30 HR/94 RBI and Holiday – .340 AVG/36 HR/137RBIs. Why didn’t Holiday win that year????? Oh because Rollins was the most valuable player ALL AROUND and Holiday can’t play a lick of defense. But I’m clueless. Suck it. #TeamTrout
UtleyBeast, Mauer was by far the best hitter in baseball in 2009. That’s why he won the MVP. Verlander won the pitching Triple Crown. Rollins won the MVP in 2007 because the perception was that he had single-handedly led his team into the playoffs over the collapsing Mets, despite the fact that, ironically considering your name, Utley had a better year by far. And Holliday’s numbers were taken with a grain of salt because he hits in Coors.
I’m literally never reading another comment section about sports on Barstool. Even the people who aren’t wrong are idiots. Read some fucking Fangraphs, or even River Ave Blues, before you start arguing about baseball statistics.
Except for TonyTwotoes. You’re alright.