It’s an age-old debate in each of the major sports leagues.
One of the best players in the league plays on one of the worst teams in that
league. But, that one player has a season that was arguably better than anyone
else in his sport and therefore should be honored with the Most Valuable Player
award nonetheless right? Sometimes, it’s not that simple and this week’s American
League MVP race was an example of said debate on display yet again.
This season, Mike Trout, outfielder for the Los Angeles
Angels of Anaheim in case you haven’t heard of him, had a .315 batting average,
homered 29 times, stole 30 bases, posted an astounding .441 on-base percentage
and several advanced statistics were another measure of just how good Trout’s
2016 was. However, to be nice, Trout’s teammates were not exactly on his level.
The Angels finished the year 74-88 and in fourth place in the American League
West. However, as evidenced by Rick Porcello winning the American League Cy
Young award, voters in the Baseball Writers Association of America value wins,
perhaps too much, as Porcello won the award despite several other statistics
suggesting his wins were a result of the team around him. It seemed like
Porcello’s teammate in Boston, Mookie Betts, was going to win the AL MVP for
that reason.
Several of Betts’ numbers were similar to Trout’s. However,
Trout’s on-base percentage was 78 points higher and the analytics favored
Trout. Not to take anything away from Betts, but Trout is a better player. Then
again, you can say that about any player compared to Trout. The Millville, New
Jersey native is the best player in baseball and it would have been a travesty
for his season to not be honored with an MVP award because his team won 74
games and Betts and the Red Sox won the AL East.
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| David Zalubowski/Associated Press The first five full seasons of Trout's career have been nothing short of spectacular. |
To get an idea of just how good Trout’s career has been so
far, consider this. First off, he was drafted in June 2009 and got to the majors
late in 2011 at the age of 19. It’s unheard of for a high school player to make
the majors in about two and a quarter years after being drafted. Then, 2012 was
his first full season in which he ran away with the AL Rookie of the Year
award. In all five of his full seasons in the big leagues, Trout has finished
in the top two of AL MVP voting, with this year being the second time he won
the award. He has been an All Star and won a silver slugger award in all five
of those seasons as well. His career batting average is over .300 and his
career on-base percentage is over .400. With all that said, he just turned 25
in August. There is plenty more to come.
Thankfully, in the eyes of the baseball writers, the Angels’
incompetence did not get in the way of Trout’s greatness. However, the real
winner throughout all of this is Major League Baseball. Not only is Trout still
very young, but Betts is one year younger. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve
came in third in the AL MVP voting and is only 26. Cubs third baseman Kris
Bryant won the NL MVP award and like Betts, Bryant is 24. Dodgers shortstop,
22-year old Corey Seager won the NL Rookie of the Year award easily and
finished third in NL MVP voting. All of these youngsters collected some
hardware just weeks after the Cubs and Indians played a World Series that was
loaded with young talent in addition to Bryant. The future of Major League
Baseball seems to be in good hands. Thankfully, the face of the sport, was
rewarded accordingly this season.
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