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Miguel Cabrera – BBRT’s AL MVP.<\/p><\/div>\n

In the next few posts, BBRT will be taking a look at the upcoming MLB 2012 Regular Season Awards \u2013 MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year.\u00a0 We\u2019re starting with the most controversial award of 2012 \u2013 American League MVP.\u00a0 The Tigers’ Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and the Angels’ spectacular rookie Mike Trout each have plenty of supporters and statistics \u2013 from Batting Average to On Base Percentage to Wins Above Replacement \u2013 are being tossed around like hand grenades.<\/p>\n

In a tight contest, BBRT would give the AL MVP to Cabrera over sure-thing Rookie of the Year Mike Trout<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 and not just on the basis of Cabrera\u2019s rare Triple Crown achievement.\u00a0 Let\u2019s look at the logic.<\/p>\n

First, of course, we all know that Cabrera won the first Triple Crown in 45 years.\u00a0 How much an edge is that in the race for MVP? \u00a0 For BBRT, the three legs of the Triple Crown are weighed equally with a host of other stats. \u00a0Let’s look.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Batting Average<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is close, Cabrera leads the league at .330, but Trout is right behind, second in the league, at .326. \u00a0Very slight edge to Cabrera.<\/p>\n

Home Runs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cabrera enjoys a big lead in total HRs with his AL best 44, but Trout showed solid power as well. His 30 round trippers ranked 13^{th<\/sup> in the AL.\u00a0 BBRT gives a moderate edge to Cabrera. (Some might argue that Trout spent most of April in the minors, but for the season he had only 63 fewer at-bats.)<\/p>\n}

RBI<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Big edge to Cabrera, a league-leading 139, to Trout\u2019s 83 (13^{th<\/sup> in the league).\u00a0 But we need to take into account that Trout is a lead-off hitter and Cabrera is a middle of the line-up guy.<\/p>\n}

With the big three out of the way, Cabrera has a bit of an edge.\u00a0 Now, let\u2019s look deeper.<\/em><\/p>\n

Runs Scored<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Trout led the AL at 129 (despite a late-April call-up).\u00a0 Cabrera, however, was no slouch.\u00a0 His 109 runs scored were second only to Trout.\u00a0 And, here again, for different reasons, we must keep in mind that Trout was leading off.\u00a0 Still, slight advantage Trout.<\/p>\n

Hits<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cabrera\u2019s 205 were second in the league, but Trout\u2019s 182 placed him tenth (and, again, he was called up in late April.)\u00a0 Call this one a draw.<\/p>\n

Doubles\/Triples<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Cabrera had a large lead in doubles 40 to 27, but that was offset by Trout\u2019s 8 to 0 lead in triples.\u00a0 Another toss-up.<\/p>\n

Stolen Bases<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Trout by far, a league-leading 49 to Cabrera\u2019s four – making Trout a unique power-speed threat.<\/p>\n

On Base and Slugging Percentage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Trout\u2019s .399 OBP was third in the league, just besting Cabrera\u2019s .393 (AL 4^{th<\/sup>) \u2013 while Cabrera\u2019s .606 league-leading Slugging Percentage topped Trout\u2019s .564 (third). \u00a0Six of one, half-dozen of another here.<\/p>\n}

So, now we\u2019re through most offensive stats \u2013 and it\u2019s very close.\u00a0 BBRT sees a slight edge to Cabrera, but it\u2019s still debatable.<\/em><\/p>\n

Now, some offensive stats not too many are talking about.<\/p>\n

Bases on Balls<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Surprisingly, not a lot of free passes for either of these offensive stars.\u00a0 Trout\u2019s 67 walks were one more than Cabrera. \u00a0Toss up.<\/p>\n

Strikeouts<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it, K\u2019s are pretty much wasted at-bats.\u00a0 A surprise here, Trout fanned 139 times (not expected from your lead-off man) to 98 for Cabrera (a more respectable number for the middle of the line-up). \u00a0Trout fanned 41 more times \u2013 in 63 fewer at bats.\u00a0 Edge \u2013 Cabrera.<\/p>\n

Defense<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Trout takes the lead here, a potential Gold Glove candidate.\u00a0 But, we have to keep in mind that Cabrera moved over the third base to enable the acquisition of Prince Fielder \u2013 a valuable concession from a team point of view. \u00a0 Ultimate advantage, still a healthy one for Trout, but not weighted as heavily here as in some other quarters.<\/p>\n

Other factors<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, this is not a Best Player or even Best All-Around Player award; this is Most Valuable Player \u2013 what you mean to your team.<\/p>\n

BBRT give Cabrera an edge here, with Detroit coming back to win the Division<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Mike Trout – spectacular rookie a close second in BBRT’s book.<\/p><\/div>\n
and the Angels at home watching the post season after finishing third in their Division and four games behind in the Wild Card race. The fact is, without Cabrera, the Tigers, like the Angels, would already be home.\u00a0 Without Trout, the Angels would probably still have finished third \u2013 just a little closer to Seattle. \u00a0<\/strong>BBRT agrees that Trout did spark the Angels, just not enough to make a difference in the final division standings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
And what about the impact as the pennant race unfolded?\u00a0 Consider what the two accomplished through the \u201cDog Days\u201d of August, and the critical September\/October time frame. \u00a0As Bill Madden of the NY Daily News noted: from August 1 on, Cabrera .344, 19 HRs and 54 RBI \u2013 Trout .287, 12 HRs and 28 RBI.\u00a0 As the race heated up, Cabrera got hotter, while Trout seemed to fade a bit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
Further, Cabrera went through the season with the expectations placed on a veteran<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>leader \u2013 to inspire, mentor and motivate – to be a clubhouse leader. \u00a0Trout was a rookie, expected to learn from team leaders<\/strong><\/span> like Albert Pujols and Torii Hunter.<\/p>\n
So yes,\u00a0 Trout, at 21, became the first rookie and youngest member of the 30-40 club (30 homers and 40 stolen bases) \u2013 and, to BBRT even more impressive, was only one stolen base from joining the elite 30-50 club, which includes only Eric Davis and Barry Bonds. An argument may, in fact, be made for Trout being very close to \u2013 if not the \u2013 best all-around, five-tool player of 2012.<\/p>\n
But, again, this award does not recognize the \u201cbest\u201d player, but rather the \u201cmost valuable.\u201d \u00a0 When you add it all up, BBRT\u2019s MVP vote goes to Miguel Cabrera (WAR not withstanding) \u2013 not just for for his full-season performance on the field (all those stats being tossed around), but also for his contributions down the stretch, his willingness to cross the diamond from first base to third base for the good of the team, and the expectations placed on him as a veteran and team leader. \u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n
Watch BBRT for a soon-to-come (and briefer) look at the other 2012 Awards:\u00a0 NL MVP; AL & NL Cy Young; AL & NL Rookie of the Year; and AL & NL Manager of the Year.\u00a0 There\u2019s some spirited competition, but far less controversy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the next few posts, BBRT will be taking a look at the upcoming MLB 2012 Regular Season Awards \u2013 MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year.\u00a0 We\u2019re starting with the most controversial award of 2012 \u2013 American League MVP.\u00a0 The Tigers’ Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and the Angels’ spectacular […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9,5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n