Trout wins 2014 AL MVP

[StanMarsh51]

Google already awarded Mike Trout the 2014 AL MVP award | For The Win

 

[podsox]

he would really have to go into a slump not to win it. Abreu has fallen off. Michael Brantley is the only guy having a season close to trout but his team isn't contending

 

[navamind]

he would really have to go into a slump not to win it. Abreu has fallen off. Michael Brantley is the only guy having a season close to trout but his team isn't contending

Donaldson's slump really hurt his numbers, though he's been hitting better of late (.312/.421/.559 in his last 114 PA). His OPS+ is back at 129, I think it was near 110 not too long ago. His OPS+ before then was around the 150 range.

His 6.2 WAR is ranked 2nd in the AL behind (you guessed it)... Trout. Even with the offense taking a step back (though still being pretty damn good), defensive metrics love his defense.

 

[navamind]

Oh yeah, and that Alex Gordon guy is pretty darn good.

 

[broncosmitty]

Oh yeah, and that Alex Gordon guy is pretty darn good.

Yes he is. But he has no chance IMO. His defense won't factor in with voters who never/seldom see him play.

It's too bad, because he really epitomizes the V part of MVP. As well rounded of a player as there is.

 

[navamind]

Yes he is. But he has no chance IMO. His defense won't factor in with voters who never/seldom see him play.

Oh, I agree. He almost certainly won't. A shame too, he's become a very underrated player. Not quite the hitter people were expecting, but he's still become a pretty awesome player.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Yes he is. But he has no chance IMO. His defense won't factor in with voters who never/seldom see him play.

=====================
Oh, I agree. He almost certainly won't.
=====================
Kind of funny how he was hyped to no end initially when he came up only to fall under the radar when certain metrics would argue he is a MVP candidate.

 

[broncosmitty]

It stinks that Trout will win with his least impressive season, but I still think he's absolutely deserving this year. Like to see him have a SB or HR tear to finish the season just for good measure.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Realistically I think it is down to King Felix and Mike Trout for MVP. Some other quirky candidates, but I don't think they'll get serious consideration in the mind of the writers. On another note, really phenomenal pitching these days.


Top 5 in fWAR in the AL (obviously a guidepost more than a leaderboard)


Felix Hernandez SP: 6.2
Alex Gordon LF: 5.7
Corey Kluber SP: 5.6
Mike Trout CF: 5.6
Jon Lester SP: 5.3

 

[seahawksfan234]

I'd give the MVP to Trout because of the year he is having and due to the fact that he had MVP caliber seasons in 2012 and 2013 and didn't win due to the incredible years by Miguel Cabrera.

I believe that Felix should have serious consideration for the MVP. He's having the best year by any AL pitcher since Pedro Martinez in 2000.

The year Felix is having blows Verlander's 2011 season out of the water, unless you're old school enough to believe W/L is actually an indication of a pitcher's ability and not hugely influenced by the offense of the team he pitches for.

Felix's stats (Projected over 34 starts): 1.99 ERA 0.874 WHIP 2.15 FIP 185.1 IP (242 IP) 197 (258 K)
Justin Verlander in 2011: 2.40 ERA 0.920 WHIP 2.99 FIP 251 IP 250 K

 

[seahawksfan234]

Felix has given up more than 2 ER in only 3 times this season (2 starts with 3 ER, 1 with 4 ER).

In 2011, Verlander gave up more than 2 ER in 15 starts. (9 starts with 3 ER, 4 with 4 ER, 1 with 5 ER and 1 with 6 ER).

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Seattle needs to make the playoffs if Felix wants to win MVP. Simple as that... ask Paul Goldschmidt.

 

[seahawksfan234]

Seattle needs to make the playoffs if Felix wants to win MVP. Simple as that... ask Paul Goldschmidt.

I'd still give it to Mike Trout, plus I believe the pitchers have their own version of the MVP with the Cy Young award. I was just stating that it warrants consideration because I believe the season Felix is having so far is far superior to the one that Verlander had when he won the MVP.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

I'd still give it to Mike Trout, plus I believe the pitchers have their own version of the MVP with the Cy Young award. I was just stating that it warrants consideration because I believe the season Felix is having so far is far superior to the one that Verlander had when he won the MVP.

No doubt, I think he will finish second behind Trout regardless, but if he continues to dominate and leads Seattle to the playoffs then all of the sudden he becomes a legit threat to win MVP. He has Cy Young in the bag.

 

[StanMarsh51]

Seattle needs to make the playoffs if Felix wants to win MVP. Simple as that... ask Paul Goldschmidt.

I'd argue that Goldschmidt being a 1B while McCutchen being a CF played a bigger factor in the voting than who made the playoffs.

 

[Lemon Harang Pie]

I'd argue that Goldschmidt being a 1B while McCutchen being a CF played a bigger factor in the voting than who made the playoffs.

Clayton Kershaw (2013) and Justin Verlander (2011) are probably better comparisons and the lesson, as I see it, is if Felix Hernandez wants to win the MVP then he needs to figure out a way to win at least 10 more games, which basically means Wins is the absolute dumbest way to evaluate a pitcher.

 

[Loneranger]

Oh, I agree. He almost certainly won't. A shame too, he's become a very underrated player. Not quite the hitter people were expecting, but he's still become a pretty awesome player.

all good points about Gordon. It's taken a while but he's turned into a good ML player and a valuable one at that. He certainly isn't the hitter we all thought he was gonna be but he's a good one. It would seem the Royals would have someone to at least make a case for MVP but they don't. Trout will win this for a lot of reasons , one of them being he should win it. Another reason is many feel he should have won the last 2 so we can pretty much bet on him getting this one as long as he's breathing when the season ends.

 

[always]

I know the media has already gone and declared Trout the MVP, but why can't Donaldson win it? I know his batting average is way too low for an MVP in most cases.

But why not? Especially if he catches fire and the A's win the division and lock up the best record.

 

[navamind]

I know the media has already gone and declared Trout the MVP, but why can't Donaldson win it? I know his batting average is way too low for an MVP in most cases.

But why not? Especially if he catches fire and the A's win the division and lock up the best record.

Donaldson certainly should be in the conversation. His BA is very underwhelming, but he does have a .340 OBP and .461 SLG% despite playing in the one of the toughest ballparks to hit in. A 127 OPS+ is still quite good, especially for a 3B. And Donaldson is arguably the best defensive 3B in baseball right now. After a poor June/early July, Donaldson's been batting .299/.403/.496 since the ASB. He's showing good plate discipline again, posting a 21:28 BB:K ratio. And his BABIP is only sitting around .270 (I think it was around .250 a month or two ago?), so improvement is certainly possible.

Not sure how much weight you put into WAR, but BB-Ref does have Donaldson at 1st in the AL at 6.6. Trout's 2nd at 6.3. Fangraphs' WAR has him pegged at 5.0, tied for 4th with Seager in the AL. Cano (5.2), Gordon (5.9) and Trout (6.1) are ahead.

Unless Trout falls off a cliff though, I'd be shocked if he didn't win. There seems to be a pretty good consensus that he's the best player in the game right now and his offensive stats are vastly superior to Donaldson's. Only player in the AL with a higher OPS+ than Trout right now is Abreu, and he's a below average defensive 1B.

 

[always]

Donaldson certainly should be in the conversation. His BA is very underwhelming, but he does have a .340 OBP and .461 SLG% despite playing in the one of the toughest ballparks to hit in. A 127 OPS+ is still quite good, especially for a 3B. And Donaldson is arguably the best defensive 3B in baseball right now. After a poor June/early July, Donaldson's been batting .299/.403/.496 since the ASB. He's showing good plate discipline again, posting a 21:28 BB:K ratio. And his BABIP is only sitting around .270 (I think it was around .250 a month or two ago?), so improvement is certainly possible.

Not sure how much weight you put into WAR, but BB-Ref does have Donaldson at 1st in the AL at 6.6. Trout's 2nd at 6.3. Fangraphs' WAR has him pegged at 5.0, tied for 4th with Seager in the AL. Cano (5.2), Gordon (5.9) and Trout (6.1) are ahead.

Unless Trout falls off a cliff though, I'd be shocked if he didn't win. There seems to be a pretty good consensus that he's the best player in the game right now and his offensive stats are vastly superior to Donaldson's. Only player in the AL with a higher OPS+ than Trout right now is Abreu, and he's a below average defensive 1B.

I think at this point we have enough sample size and tape that we can conclude that Trout's defense is/was overrated. Not saying he's a slouch, but his value doesn't really come from his defense. It's his bat and speed.

Donaldson though is pure magic at 3B though. With Machado gone down he's probably the defensive class of the AL.

In the end this is irrelevant though unfortunately. Voters don't really care about defense in the MVP voting.