MVP

Alright, I'll just come out and say that I think Mike Trout is the MVP of the AL this year. 

No, I'm not that big on all the latest metrics.  WAR is a nice number, but there are two different versions.  There is only one RBI number--and everybody knows how it works.  There is a "historic" WAR number in the possession of Mike Trout--which is pretty cool, considering the fact that he wasn't an Angel until a month into the season.  But that can also be said of all his other numbers.  For example, he is the only player to ever have 30 HRs, 40+ SBs, and 125+ runs.  He came very close to getting into an exclusive 30 HR / 50 SB club, but everybody in the stadium on the last night knew he was going for it, so an average catcher caught him doing so.  Which, by the way, was only the fifth time this year that he was caught stealing.

Who would have thought that Mike Trout would tie Albert Pujols in HRs for the year? 

Nobody.  Not even I, who believed Pujols was already on the decline. 

But Mike Trout hit a HR in the major leagues before Pujols did this year.  Yup, beat him by one day, though Pujols had played 27 games by the time he hit his first, while Trout had played in six.  In the end, they tied at 30. 

Thirty?!  Ten years and 240 million dollars for a man who hasn't hit .300 in two years, hit only 30 HRs, had 105 RBIs, OBP of only .343, and a WAR of merely 4.6.  He was in 8th for RBI's (a stat that many of the new folks think is meaningless... which I still don't get, because runs are kind of important), 10th in HRs (tied with his rookie teammate who didn't play a whole season), and nowhere near the top ten in WAR. 

I'm sorry, I really like Pujols, but his year totally indicates the Angels made a huge mistake.  I can (and do) hope that he comes back and wins the Triple Crown next year. 

And, speaking of the Triple Crown, ... really?  How did Cabrera end up being the one to get this unusual award?  Well, for one, by the sad demise of Pujols, who should have earned at least one of those leading categories.  Also, by the Yankee skipper removing Granderson from the last game when he was hot on the trail of the HR lead.  Also, by the caffeine-free Hamilton bailing out during the last two weeks of the season. 

Cabrera had a tremendous year, yes.  It is arguable that this isn't his "career year".  I congratulate him on winning the Triple Crown, but I wish he hadn't.  First, because he plays for Detroit (remember--I'm an Indians fan).  Second, because I would prefer having Hamilton or Pujols or Votto pull it off (there are no Indians who would be even remote possibilities--at least not since Manny).  Third, because it will probably mean all the stodgy old reporters will vote for him rather than Trout, who clearly deserves the award. 

[Sigh].  Whatever.