I don't understand the debate. Potentially the first Triple Crown winner since 1967. Plus, he carried his team to the playoffs. Cabrera hands down.
AL MVP: Trout vs. Cabrera
- Thread starter Tractorman
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Mike Trout, who did not play until April 28th, is
having a season that only 2 other players in the history of baseball have had. He's doing something rarer than Miguel Cabrera winning the triple crown.
If I was a voter, I would be casting my lost for Trout. Trout hits for power, average, steals bases, and plays an elite CF. Cabrera hits for power and average and plays a below average 3B.
With that being said, I won't be crying is Cabrera wins the MVP. He is an extremely worthy candidate... I just think Mike Trout, although not making it too playoffs, has absolutely carried that team and altered the outcome of more games that Cabrera has.
having a season that only 2 other players in the history of baseball have had. He's doing something rarer than Miguel Cabrera winning the triple crown.
If I was a voter, I would be casting my lost for Trout. Trout hits for power, average, steals bases, and plays an elite CF. Cabrera hits for power and average and plays a below average 3B.
With that being said, I won't be crying is Cabrera wins the MVP. He is an extremely worthy candidate... I just think Mike Trout, although not making it too playoffs, has absolutely carried that team and altered the outcome of more games that Cabrera has.
2 players in history?
...because they only get 1 shot in their careers to do it ...most rookies don't come up in april and under 19, so most nowadays get less ab and less opportunities than what trout got.
They have the Rookie of the year for that honor
The Triple Crown is available to everyone, every year of their playing career and hasn't been done since 1967.
Cabrera has to be MVP ...he carried his team into the playoffs in September
...because they only get 1 shot in their careers to do it ...most rookies don't come up in april and under 19, so most nowadays get less ab and less opportunities than what trout got.
They have the Rookie of the year for that honor
The Triple Crown is available to everyone, every year of their playing career and hasn't been done since 1967.
Cabrera has to be MVP ...he carried his team into the playoffs in September
They are both outstanding candidates having historic seasons and in my opinion, if Cabrera does win the triple crown it is almost a coin flip.
Their batting averages are virtually identical. Cabrera has 14 more HRs and 50 more RBIs while Trout has 20 more runs scored and 44 more stolen bases which basically shows the fact that one is a power hitter who hits third in the lineup (gets paid to drive in runs) while the other is a leadoff hitter (gets paid to create/score runs). If you add defense to the mix, Trout blows Cabrera away in that category and this is why the debate has become characterized as old school versus new school. Newer statistics such as WAR that include defensive metrics show Trout as having a much more valuable season because he plays an outstanding CF while Cabrera is just passable at 3B.
As for the argument that the Tigers made the playoffs and the Angels didn't, the Angels actually won more games but missed the playoffs because they are in a tougher division. And since Trout joined the team, the Angels have the best record in baseball.
Their batting averages are virtually identical. Cabrera has 14 more HRs and 50 more RBIs while Trout has 20 more runs scored and 44 more stolen bases which basically shows the fact that one is a power hitter who hits third in the lineup (gets paid to drive in runs) while the other is a leadoff hitter (gets paid to create/score runs). If you add defense to the mix, Trout blows Cabrera away in that category and this is why the debate has become characterized as old school versus new school. Newer statistics such as WAR that include defensive metrics show Trout as having a much more valuable season because he plays an outstanding CF while Cabrera is just passable at 3B.
As for the argument that the Tigers made the playoffs and the Angels didn't, the Angels actually won more games but missed the playoffs because they are in a tougher division. And since Trout joined the team, the Angels have the best record in baseball.
No. Mike Trout is going to become the third player in history with 35 homers and 45 SB's in the same season.
He's the first player ever to have 35 HRs, 45 SBs, and 125 runs in the same season and he missed the first 20 games.
Only 13 players in the history of baseball have accumulated a 10.5 WAR for the year.
Let's also not forget that the Angels were 6-14 before Trout was called up. Since Trout was up, the Angels are 82-57 (the best record in the AL in that time frame). Don't blame Trout for the Angels poor start. He was in AAA.
All of these stats are mentioned in Jayson Stark's article linked here.
He's the first player ever to have 35 HRs, 45 SBs, and 125 runs in the same season and he missed the first 20 games.
Only 13 players in the history of baseball have accumulated a 10.5 WAR for the year.
Let's also not forget that the Angels were 6-14 before Trout was called up. Since Trout was up, the Angels are 82-57 (the best record in the AL in that time frame). Don't blame Trout for the Angels poor start. He was in AAA.
All of these stats are mentioned in Jayson Stark's article linked here.
Cabrera.
A. Triple Crown and B. Playoffs
Trout will get his eventually but he has fallen off since the beginning of September (hitting something like .274) whereas Cabrera led his team to the playoffs. In crunch time Trout faded away. You can make the case against Trout where you cannot make a case against Cabrera
ETA Oh yeah Miggy's playing in a DEEP pitcher friendly park
A. Triple Crown and B. Playoffs
Trout will get his eventually but he has fallen off since the beginning of September (hitting something like .274) whereas Cabrera led his team to the playoffs. In crunch time Trout faded away. You can make the case against Trout where you cannot make a case against Cabrera
ETA Oh yeah Miggy's playing in a DEEP pitcher friendly park
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The Tigers have fewer wins than the Angels and their division includes the two worst records in the AL, so the playoff argument is really weak.
And actually Comerica has played more hitter friendly and HR friendly than Angel Stadium this season and for the past few. http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor/_/sort/HRFactor
And actually Comerica has played more hitter friendly and HR friendly than Angel Stadium this season and for the past few. http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor/_/sort/HRFactor
The MVP should just go to the player with the most WAR instead of subjective voting that's biased toward playoff and big-market teams
You nailed it.....
^^THIS, all day long. A bunch of these new stats like WAR, especially WAR, are ******** and crazy subjective. If the Triple Crown weren't a big deal, why hasn't it been done since '67? And as you rightly point out, Cabrera has his team in the playoffs. No way they get there without him. Even with Trout, the Angels didn't make it. Plus, Trout is going to win Rookie of the Year in a walk. But to me, Cabrera is the MVP.
^^THIS, all day long. A bunch of these new stats like WAR, especially WAR, are ******** and crazy subjective. If the Triple Crown weren't a big deal, why hasn't it been done since '67? And as you rightly point out, Cabrera has his team in the playoffs. No way they get there without him. Even with Trout, the Angels didn't make it. Plus, Trout is going to win Rookie of the Year in a walk. But to me, Cabrera is the MVP.
Cabrera had better years in 2010 and 2011 than this year, but since the rest of the league is down even more, then he should be MVP?