2012 American League MVP

[Cowtipper]

Here is a list of 10 players likely to garner votes for AL MVP.

Mike Trout
Miguel Cabrera
Derek Jeter
Josh Hamilton
Edwin Encarnacion
Josh Willingham
Robinson Cano
Adrian Beltre
Prince Fielder
Joe Mauer

Who will win the award?

[RaysFan_98]

Trout for me

[GiambiJuice]

There's no question that Trout's been the best player, but the Angels are in 3rd place in their own division and currently out of the playoff picture (though that can change). I don't think he should win if the Angels don't make the postseason. That team is loaded with superstar talent and would be considered a huge disappointment if they aren't playing in October.

Also, it's kind of strange to include two Twins players in the top 10 when they are the worst team in the AL.

[Brooklyn]

how is Jeter an MVP candidate? If you are determined to vote for a Yankee, it has to be Cano

But it is Trout for me, right now

[Ben Grimm]

Trout's been the most fun to watch.

But if the ChiSox hold on and win, I wouldn't be surprised to see somebody like Chris Sale getting it while Verlander/Price wins the Cy Young.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I put Trout but I think Alex Rios is starting to garner attention.

[Zoltan]

I voted Cabrera because I think he is just having another fantastic season, and is flying under the radar again because of another standout season by someone else. Its got to be either Trout or Cabrera IMO, but yet its possible neither players will play in the postseason.

[GiambiJuice]

If it's not Trout, I think it will be Josh Hamilton. 40+ HR and 130+ RBI is hard to ignore.

[RaysFan_98]

By the way how is Jeter on here? He hasn't really had a MVP worthy season.

[GiambiJuice]

By the way how is Jeter on here? He hasn't really had a MVP worthy season.

Just because he's not MVP worthy doesn't mean he's not in the discussion for top 10.

Why are you only asking about Jeter? Is he the only player on the list who hasn't had an MVP worthy season in your opinion?

[RaysFan_98]

Just because he's not MVP worthy doesn't mean he's not in the discussion for top 10.

Why are you only asking about Jeter? Is he the only player on the list who hasn't had an MVP worthy season in your opinion?

He is the one that stood out and i agree. The two twins players on the list are hardly deserving either.

[swingman24]

If it's not Trout, I think it will be Josh Hamilton. 40+ HR and 130+ RBI is hard to ignore.

I agree 100% with you here but...there is always a but. Hamilton's slow June and horrendous July after having an amazing first 2 months of the season are going to hurt him. He had a good August and a good September so far but many voters are going to look at his season as a bit of a failure or what could have been.

Now, keep in mind I'm a huge Hamilton fan and agree that his season has still been great and should be hard to ignore but I just have a feeling Trout and Cabrera are going to run the table on 1st place votes (with the possible exception of the Texas voters going for Hamilton).

[1905 Giants]

I went with Hamilton, but I could see Cabrera or Trout

[fenrir]

I was tempted to go with Cabrera, who I consider the best hitter in baseball, but I had to give it to Trout.

[ipitch]

White Knight, your MVP voting privileges have been revoked!

[RaysFan_98]

White Knight, your MVP voting privileges have been revoked!

Lol That's hilarious didn't know you could see who voted for what.

[Tenorman]

Lol That's hilarious didn't know you could see who voted for what.

Just click on the number of votes for each player, and it will list the voters.

BTW, I went with Trout. If not for him, the Angels would likely be well below .500 for the year. Yes, I realize the Angels are in 3rd in the division and the Tigers are in 2nd, but they are in 2nd in a very weak AL Central. In either of the other two divisions, they would be in 4th... hell, the division-leading White Sox would be in 4th in the East or West. And the Angels are 2.5 up on the Kittens in the Wild Card.

[Dude Paskert]

I don't think Cabrera is the best player in the AL, but he's my best guess for winning the MVP.
I think Trout will continue to fade a bit with the bat...some voters will note that he didn't play the whole year, some will figure that he'll get ROY anyway, maybe he won't reach 30 HRs, definitely won't have 100 RBI, etc. I see that he's back on top for the batting title, that would sure help him.
Miguel will have the better counting stats and voters will give the guy credit for moving to 3B and not being a disaster there (surprised me, too).
Trout's been amazing and I'd take him in a heartbeat, but I think Cabrera looks more like a classic MVP winner this season.

[pheasant]

Although Cabrera has been arguably better at the dish, Trout's 45 SB and Gold Glove play in centerfield easily make him the MVP.

[Tenorman]

Although Cabrera has been arguably better at the dish, Trout's 45 SB and Gold Glove play in centerfield easily make him the MVP.

^ This.

It is not all about hitting. Trout has been stellar on defense (while Cabrera hasn't sucked too badly) and leading the league in steals is just gravy. Clearly Trout is a better all-around player - truly a 5-tool guy - where Miggy is simply a good hitter. He's a 2-tool guy at best; hits for power, hits for average.

What the hell is a "classic MVP winner" anyway? Verlander proved last year that there's no such animal.

To me, the MVP is the guy who, by virtue of how good he is - in as many aspects of the game as possible - raises the level of play for his team.

[riverfrontier]

I have to say that I WOULD be very surprised if Chris Sale gets any MVP votes. Cy Young award? Yeah, sure. I can see a few second or third place votes going his way, but I think that award is Price's to lose at this point. he (Sale) hasn't been nearly as dominant as a pitcher needs to be to take it from one of the everyday players.

Oh...I voted for Cabrera, and as worthy as he is, I have to tip my cap to Trout. He's a hustler, that one. I think it'll all come down to the batting title.

[yankillaz]

Josh Hamilton has his team almost in October, but Adrian Beltre has done plenty to garner attention too. Trout is having an historic season, but this is mostly thanks to WAR, because it's a historic WAR season. If this would be 1990, trust me, the kid wouldn't be in the top 5. Miguel Cabrera is having another Miguel Cabrera season, but the Tigers are having a tough time to catch the White Sox. That's the top 3 right now. Those 3 are having the best season, and one of them will win.

But, when we speak of MVP we have to mention the best players on the best teams, don't we?

Texas Rangers: Even though Hamilton is having a fine season, he's not his team MVP. If this would be 1990, of course he would be. But this 2012, and by WAR, Adrian Beltre beats him by 5.6 to 3.6. And it's not a defense thing, since in OWAR Beltre tops Hamilton 4.6 to 4.1.

New York Yankees: Robinson Cano, and it's not even close.

Chicago White Sox: This team isn't gonna get awarded. Because if Chris Sale wins the MVP, he should win the Cy Young, and he won't. Alex Rios is very inferior to the competion, but has the best WAR for position players. The Dark Horse? AJ Pierzynski. Has the best season by a catcher not named Mauer, and with 26 home runs, he has a shot for 30. Due to a premium position, I think he's the best candidate for this team.

Baltimore Orioles: When JJ Hardy has your best WAR, you know you aren't having an awarded season by any player. The best bet on this team is Adam Jones, but WAR has been very unfair to him. It shocks me to see that Jones hasn't had a +3.0 WAR season to this date. But he's your best pick in this team.

Oakland Athletics: While Josh Reddick is at 4.0. He's the logical pick on this surprising Oakland Team.

Tampa Bay Rays: David Price's season is hardly dominant for him to win both MVP and Cy Young Awards. But he's in the hunt, since he's the best pick for this Tampa Bay team. Rodney is doing alright for a closer, but I don't think that our knowledge of baseball will make us commit the same mistake of voting for a closer as an MVP.

Anaheim Angels: Trout, if they get in.

Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, if they get in.


My Pick: Mike Trout anyway, since it's a crowded field.

[Dude Paskert]

I thought I made it clear that I was talking about who might win the award, not who is actually the best player...I agree with Trout on that point.
A "classic MVP winner" is a guy with lots of HRs and RBI and an at least reasonable BA...Andre Dawson, Juan Gonzalez, Hank Sauer, George Bell, Harmon Killebrew, Justin Morneau, Ryan Braun, Kevin Mitchell, that kind of guy. Obviously not every MVP fits this bill, but those guys always get a lot of attention from MVP voters, even if their defense is not so hot (or worse). Pitchers come into play more with unusually high win totals (even if the ERA is not incredible), and sometimes the all around great guys will get their due. Just look at the list of winners, though...it's pretty obvious.

^ This.

It is not all about hitting. Trout has been stellar on defense (while Cabrera hasn't sucked too badly) and leading the league in steals is just gravy. Clearly Trout is a better all-around player - truly a 5-tool guy - where Miggy is simply a good hitter. He's a 2-tool guy at best; hits for power, hits for average.

What the hell is a "classic MVP winner" anyway? Verlander proved last year that there's no such animal.

To me, the MVP is the guy who, by virtue of how good he is - in as many aspects of the game as possible - raises the level of play for his team.

[Tenorman]

Josh Hamilton has his team almost in October, but Adrian Beltre has done plenty to garner attention too. Trout is having an historic season, but this is mostly thanks to WAR, because it's a historic WAR season. If this would be 1990, trust me, the kid wouldn't be in the top 5. Miguel Cabrera is having another Miguel Cabrera season, but the Tigers are having a tough time to catch the White Sox. That's the top 3 right now. Those 3 are having the best season, and one of them will win.

But, when we speak of MVP we have to mention the best players on the best teams, don't we?

Texas Rangers: Even though Hamilton is having a fine season, he's not his team MVP. If this would be 1990, of course he would be. But this 2012, and by WAR, Adrian Beltre beats him by 5.6 to 3.6. And it's not a defense thing, since in OWAR Beltre tops Hamilton 4.6 to 4.1.

New York Yankees: Robinson Cano, and it's not even close.

Chicago White Sox: This team isn't gonna get awarded. Because if Chris Sale wins the MVP, he should win the Cy Young, and he won't. Alex Rios is very inferior to the competion, but has the best WAR for position players. The Dark Horse? AJ Pierzynski. Has the best season by a catcher not named Mauer, and with 26 home runs, he has a shot for 30. Due to a premium position, I think he's the best candidate for this team.

Baltimore Orioles: When JJ Hardy has your best WAR, you know you aren't having an awarded season by any player. The best bet on this team is Adam Jones, but WAR has been very unfair to him. It shocks me to see that Jones hasn't had a +3.0 WAR season to this date. But he's your best pick in this team.

Oakland Athletics: While Josh Reddick is at 4.0. He's the logical pick on this surprising Oakland Team.

Tampa Bay Rays: David Price's season is hardly dominant for him to win both MVP and Cy Young Awards. But he's in the hunt, since he's the best pick for this Tampa Bay team. Rodney is doing alright for a closer, but I don't think that our knowledge of baseball will make us commit the same mistake of voting for a closer as an MVP.

Anaheim Angels: Trout, if they get in.

Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, if they get in.


My Pick: Mike Trout anyway, since it's a crowded field.

I don't subscribe to the theory that "it's all about WAR". I don't particularly like WAR as a "stat", mainly because it can be skewed in so many ways (see the Brett Lawrie defensive shift debacle), and also because even those people/organizations who put forth WAR as a viable metric can't seem to agree on what "version" of WAR is better.

And Mike Trout should win hands down simply because he leads the majors in highlight reel plays this season

[White Knight]

New York Yankees: Robinson Cano, and it's not even close.

It's really weird with the Yankees. Cano has better numbers, but he's not really doing his job and driving Jeter in as much as he should. Cano should have 100 RBI now, and Jeter should have 100 runs. Cano makes me shake my head a lot, Jeter never does.

If Jeter didn't have that putrid May and June, I can only imagine what his numbers might look like. As it is now, his OPS+ is 121. Far and away the best hitting ML SS. That gives some extra points, and a sympathy 38 years old may too.