The Sweet Spot Awards: Part Three

PART THREE OF THREE

Most Valuable Player

American League: The pride of Anaheim can finally say that after three spectacular seasons, he has the most value in the American League. Mike Trout, the Angel’s 23 year-old phenomenon, has been nothing short of sensational. The five-tool player has astounded fans in virtually every aspect of his game and the case could be made that he hasn’t even hit his prime yet. He has led the league in runs for three straight years, has two (soon to be three) Silver Slugger awards and has captured the hearts of baseball fans everywhere. Now, after a season in which he hit for a respectable .287 average, crushed 36 homeruns, knocked in 11 runs and led all hitters with 7.9 WAR, Trout can finally take his much-deserved seat on the AL throne.

2014: Trout Season.

As fans, we all knew that this year would be special for the baseball world thanks to Derek Jeter’s season-long swan song. What we didn’t know was that we would get to experience a touching moment at the All-Star game when Jeter would be passing the figurative torch down to the new face of the game, Mike Trout. For the past 20 years, Jeter brought energy, excitement and jaw-dropping skill to America’s pastime. Now, fans get to witness a new rising-star become the face of baseball.

Passing of the torch.

Honorable mentions: Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox (.317 average, 36 HR), Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros (.346 average, 56 stolen bases), Victor Martinez of the Detroit Tigers (.335 average, 32 HR) and Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners (2.14 ERA, 236 innings pitched).

 

National League: Like I stated in one of my previous blog posts, I believe that Clayton Kershaw is the LeBron James of baseball. Is he the best in the game? That remains to be seen. But if he continues on the torrid pace that he has been riding the past four years, then we just might be witnessing the best that the game has to offer. Kershaw has already won the Cy Young award twice in his career and will most likely be the unanimous pick for the award this time around. He is the first pitcher to lead the league in ERA for four consecutive seasons.

Four years straight and no signs of stopping.

Some people might say that the MVP should be reserved for hitters, after all, pitchers have their own prize in the Cy Young. My issue with that argument is that the award is for the Most Valuable Player. Pitchers act as players in the game just as much as anyone else. If they hold more value than any hitter, why should they be ruled out?

Soaking it all in.

This race should be a lot closer than that of the American League. While I would cast my vote for Kershaw, Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins has had a MVP-deserving season of his own. Some might even call his numbers Trout-esque. The star outfielder hit 37 homeruns and drove in 111 runs even with an injury-shortened season. If only Stanton had played the last three and a half weeks with comparable numbers, he just might have dethroned Kershaw.

Honorable mentions: Stanton, Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates (.314 average, 25 HR, 18 stolen bases) Buster Posey of the San Francisco Giants (.311 average, 22 HR) and Justin Morneau of the Colorado Rockies (.319 average, 82 RBI).