Could the AL 2012 MVP Be Historic?

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

As I write this, I do not know the winner of the AL MVP. What I do know is that this has the potential to be the most contested title ever issued in baseball. Furthermore, it could have lingering effects.

On one hand is Miguel Cabrera, winner of the first Triple Crown since 1967. Fifteen years ago, the award would've been his unanimously. Then there's Mike Trout, the five-tool 20 year-old who made a bigger debut than even the golden boy Bryce Harper. His 10.7 WAR not only makes history for a rookie, it makes history period. It places him with the likes of Williams, Mantle, Ruth, Yaz, And Hornsby.

For what has been brewing for years culminates tonight: traditional vs. sabermetric fans. The outcome could lead to an even further split between the two factions. Sabermetrics are growing. I even heard WAR mentioned today on the radio.

Could this decision mark the beginning of a sabermetric takeover? Will it divide even those fans who casually watch baseball? Is the sabermetric community creating a monster by assigning everyone weighted numbers and subsequently turning an athletic competition into a math class? Is this change a long needed coming for fans?

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I'm deff gonna watch it on the MLB channel at 5:00. I really do feel Trout deserves it. Although Caberra did win the triple crown, I just don't feel he really had a monster year. I think he got kinda lucky with the homeruns and even his batting average wasn't anything to get to excited about. But still winning a triple crown is pretty impressive.

[Blackout]

Cabrera earned it

Trout's team couldn't even make the playoffs!

[Ben Grimm]

This will likely be debated simply because both players represent opposing sides (somewhat) of baseball statistical thinking in an era in which both voters and fans alike are looking into more things than simply HRs, AVG and RBIs as so heavily dominant in the past. The gap between the "calculators" and "eyeballers" is closing and we've seen that in voting the past decade.

I think both players have a very legitimate chance and there's arguments equally why each shouldn't. You have Trout who came out of the gate firing and sparkplugged a team with high expectations and turned their season around almost single-handedly. Then you have the 3C winner in Cabrera who didn't let his ego get in the way, moved to a position many thought he'd fail at, and still was able to be one of only two players in baseball to accumulate 200 hits.

Had Trout not been brought up or not been successful, there's a chance the Angels could have completely collapsed. If Cabrera couldn't stick at 3B, it could have been a major problem for detroit. Quality 3B replacements aren't exactly falling out of trees these days.

Whomever wins it, I think it's well-deserved.

[Blackout]

the only people who pick Trout are stat nerds with no life

[Honus Wagner Rules]

the only people who pick Trout are stat nerds with no life

Why do you make these kind of derogatory, mindless, useless statements? They add nothing to BBF and just cause argument and dissension. Lots of folks truly believe that Trout should be the AL MVP. Who are you to say they are nerds?

[Ben Grimm]

Prior to Trout's arrival, the Angels were 6-14 (.300).

After he came up, they went 83-59 (.585). The A's, who won the AL West, had a winning % of .580. Can't rerwite history of course, but there's a chance the Angels could have won the West had Trout started from day one.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

the only people who pick Trout are stat nerds with no life

I do gotta admit it was funny watching Harold Reynolds arguing with the saber guys today on the MLB Channel. But I do think Caberras triple crown is a tad overrated. I mean who would have the edge for MVP if say Hamilton stayed healthy and beat Caberra in homeruns by 1. I doubt Caberra would have the edge had that happened.

[filihok]

I do gotta admit it was funny watching Harold Reynolds arguing with the saber guys today on the MLB Channel. But I do think Caberras triple crown is a tad overrated. I mean who would have the edge for MVP if say Hamilton stayed healthy and beat Caberra in homeruns by 1. I doubt Caberra would have the edge had that happened.

Exactly.

Does Miguel Cabrera become less valuable because of something that Josh Hamilton did? Makes no sense

[dgarza]

Anyone praying for a tie?

[ipitch]

Trout's team couldn't even make the playoffs!

That just means that Cabrera had better teammates than Trout. Why would you hold something against him that he has no control over?

They didn't make the playoffs mostly because of their pitching, which would have been even worse if it weren't for Trout's great defense. Trout's team hit better.

[Blackout]

Why do you make these kind of derogatory, mindless, useless statements? They add nothing to BBF and just cause argument and dissension. Lots of folks truly believe that Trout should be the AL MVP. Who are you to say they are nerds?

how is nerd a derogatory statement??


anyways all these stat NERDS point out crap like Mike trout deserves the award becasue of his amazing WAR in the 5th inning or because his WARP in the 7th inning with 2 outs is the best and when you try to tell them nobody cares they dismiss it like you don't know baseball unless you throw out useless stats like an algebra class

[filihok]

That just means that Cabrera had better teammates than Trout. Why would you hold something against him that he has no control over?

They didn't make the playoffs mostly because of their pitching, which would have been even worse if it weren't for Trout's great defense. Trout's team hit better.

They didn't make the playoffs because the A's won more games than the White Sox.

How does what Yoenis Cespedes and Adam Dunn do make Cabrera more valuable than Trout?

[filihok]

how is nerd a derogatory statement??


anyways all these stat NERDS point out crap like Mike trout deserves the award becasue of his amazing WAR in the 5th inning or because his WARP in the 7th inning with 2 outs is the best and when you try to tell them nobody cares they dismiss it like you don't know baseball unless you throw out useless stats like an algebra class

I can promise you that no 'stat NERD' is talking about 5th inning WAR or 7th inning 2 out WARP.

Stats would be in a stat class, not an algebra class.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

Anyone praying for a tie?

I am. I think that would be the best outcome.