Cabrera Is a Fish Out Of Water, the American League MVP Award Should Belong to a Trout

Post date: Oct 28, 2012 9:03:23 PM

Yesterday as I was watching game three of the World Series, I found myself thinking about the Angels' season. While at the same time watching in awe as sheer domination of the San Francisco Giants over the Detroit Tigers. I thought to myself, "it's interesting how the Angels better season record 89-73 compared with the Tigers who finished 88-74 they had a better record than the Tigers, yet finished in third place in the American League West, while the weaker record was good enough to win the American League Central."

That in turn made me ponder as to who will win the American League Most Valuable Player award, the Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera or the Angels' Mike Trout. I must say up front, that it would be ludicrous of me to say that I am completely unbiased; however I believe that the award should belong to Trout.

My reasoning is simple, the Angels even though they did not make the playoffs, they finished with a better record than the Tigers in the much tougher American League West. The most valuable player award is also an individual award. The award does not and should not measure team success, the World Series Trophy exist for that recognition. The most valuable player award recognizes the impact a player has made on the team as well as personal success. Mike Trout's statistical numbers are phenomenal.

Yes, I do realize that Cabrera won the Triple Crown, but I think as far as his personal success impacting the team to the extent that team succeeds is negligible. Mike Trout's success dictated the success of the Angels this season. Yes, the Tigers have made to the World Series but they have a weaker record in the Angels; thus, his impact on the team not as drastic as Trout's.

I know people may disagree with me, and that's completely okay, it all comes down to how the baseball writers interpret the numbers. I sincerely hope that they look at the individual numbers is well as each players' environment the Angels boast a better record in what proved to be the toughest division in baseball, and Mike Trout is largely responsible for the Angels dramatic turnaround.

-ICE