Major League Baseball's award season is almost over and now that we've got the filler awards out of the way we can get to the crown jewel, the award everyone wants to see in their trophy case. That's right, the Most Valuable Player awards go out tomorrow. For the first time in a while, we are neck and neck in both the American and National leagues.
Let's start with the far more impressive candidates coming out of the AL. Rookie phenom or perennial all-star, that's the question that will be answered when voters inevitably choose between Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera. Angels' outfielder Mike Trout exploded onto the scene this year with an unbelievably rookie campaign. Showing off his five tools on a nightly basis, Trout worked his way to an historic season, putting up final numbers of .326 and 30 as well as an astonishing 49 steals. Coming only one steal shy of the third 30-50 season in baseball history, Trout should be a no-brainer to add an MVP to his newly acquired Rookie of the Year award. That is, if not for his main competition, slugger Miguel Cabrera. If it is possible to put up better numbers than Trout did this year, Cabrera did it. The tigers' first baseman accomplished possibly the only thing that Trout didn't, he won the American League triple crown for the first time since Yaz did it in 1967. Cabrera hit at a .330 clip, launched 44 bombs and drove in 139 runs. These are absolutely gaudy numbers, but frankly none of these stats should have led the league. As far as intangibles go, Trout takes the upper hand, as he is already an elite outfielder and Cabrera's fielding is somewhere between mediocre and adequate. On the other hand, Cabrera led his team to the World Series while Trout was the only bright spot on a profoundly underachieving Angels squad. This race comes down to the big three stats (Cabrera's triple crown) vs intangibles and the paragon of a five-tool player. My money is on Cabrera; a triple crown is just too great to overcome.
The National League race features a close three-man race but frankly, it just doesn't have the same star power as the AL. Leading the pack is Giants catcher Buster Posey. Posey, the NL batting title champ, led his San Francisco Giants on and off the field to the promised land, a World Series win. As impressive as his average of .336 was Posey's catcher ERA of 3.52, placing him at 5th in the league. Posey's biggest competition will come from the reigning NL MVP, Ryan Braun. Braun led the NL in homeruns in 2012 and hit a solid .319. Despite Braun's superior offensive numbers, Posey looks like the stronger candidate between the two because of his team's success and the intangibles of sitting working behind the plate. Behind them stand Andrew McCutchen and Chase Headley. Neither Cutch or Headley pose a huge threat to win the award, as their teams were abysmal and their stats weren't too overpowering. McCutchen sported a .327 average and led the NL in hits while Headley knocked 31 homeruns and drove in a league leading 115 runs. Also in the running is Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina who is a longshot. This call is both easier and less interesting to make, Posey wins it with room to spare.
The National League race features a close three-man race but frankly, it just doesn't have the same star power as the AL. Leading the pack is Giants catcher Buster Posey. Posey, the NL batting title champ, led his San Francisco Giants on and off the field to the promised land, a World Series win. As impressive as his average of .336 was Posey's catcher ERA of 3.52, placing him at 5th in the league. Posey's biggest competition will come from the reigning NL MVP, Ryan Braun. Braun led the NL in homeruns in 2012 and hit a solid .319. Despite Braun's superior offensive numbers, Posey looks like the stronger candidate between the two because of his team's success and the intangibles of sitting working behind the plate. Behind them stand Andrew McCutchen and Chase Headley. Neither Cutch or Headley pose a huge threat to win the award, as their teams were abysmal and their stats weren't too overpowering. McCutchen sported a .327 average and led the NL in hits while Headley knocked 31 homeruns and drove in a league leading 115 runs. Also in the running is Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina who is a longshot. This call is both easier and less interesting to make, Posey wins it with room to spare.
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