Or Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney, who has enjoyed an amazing resurgence this season as part of the Joe Maddon Revive A Closer's Career program?
Rangers falling apart :/
Rangers clinch postseason berths for themselves, Orioles and Yankees
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...s-for-themselves-orioles-and-yankees/related/
but yeah, they are definitely not going into the playoffs on a high note...
Amazing that they can't even win their division with Sabathia, Kuroda 1-2 punch and a legit closer. And that offensive lineup as well. Just sad. Hopefully the Bosox will take it to em in the next 3 games and the Rays throw meatballs down the middle for the O's.
Since the divisional era began in 1969, there have been just eight seasons where a positions player compiled a 10-WAR season: Barry Bonds three times and one apiece by Joe Morgan, Robin Yount, Cal Ripken, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa.
...
The Triple Crown chase is fun, but that in itself isn't value; in fact, Cabrera actually had a higher OPS in both 2010 and 2011 than he has this season (his OBP is 56 points lower than a year ago). He won't be a terrible MVP choice (his current WAR is 6.6) -- he's not Juan Gonzalez or Jeff Burroughs in 1974 or Andre Dawson in 1987 or anything close to that.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/29325/pantheon-seasons
Only two players in the majors ever have had 30 homers and 50 stolen bases in a single season -- Eric Davis in 1987 and Barry Bonds in 1990.
Right now, I don't think the Bosox can take it to anyone. And the O's are good enough that they don't help from the Rays. Plus, the Rays are at home and want to leave on a good note.
The Rays were doomed with the lack of offense, but congrats to Price for being the first Ray with 20 wins in a season. I'm still hoping he gets the Cy.
It counts as a Triple Crown if he's tied - they've been counted that way before.
The thing that everybody just needs to get their head around is that statistical milestones are irrelevant to the MVP debate. Whether Miggy can keep the HR lead has nothing to do with it. Whether Trout gets 30/50 has nothing to do with it. Granderson and Rollins both had 20-20-20-20 seasons in 2007 - only done by Frank Schulte and Willie Mays previously. Rollins won the MVP, but Granderson didn't. Statistical milestones are a separate thing.
That said, I think that Miggy is going to win since he has retained his Triple Crown position heading into the last week. He's just gotten too much coverage lately.
What? That's not what I said. Obviously it's about stats.You can say it's not about stats but that's what the writers will look at.
Considering just last season, the voters went with Ryan Braun over Matt Kemp, I think Cabrera is fairly "safe" if he wins the TC. Since the high-payroll Angels missed the playoffs and Mike Trout wasn't on the ML roster for the first four weeks. It could be a close vote but I don't see the MVP voters going with WAR over the Triple Crown, and also overcoming their postseason bias.Million dollar question my baseball friends: If Miggy Cabrera wins the Triple Crown, do you still give the MVP to Trout (first 40 steal/30 HR rookie ever, crushing Cabrera in WAR 10.6 - 6.6, leading MLB in steals)?? Holy hell, this could be one of the toughest votes ever. Also, does Miggy win the triple crown if he's tied in HR's with Hamilton (43 apiece right now)?? Or would he still need to hit one more (as well as maintain his .325 - .323 lead on Mauer in average). I don't think the Triple Crown in the AL has been done since Yaz did it in the late 60's.
Some other stuff to ponder in such a decision:
and
Trout is only 2 SB's away with 4 games left to play, he could easily do it. I can't see how you don't give it to him then, even considering Miggy's monster offensive year.
Voters also look at who helped their team make it to the playoffs. Rightly or not, Cabrera's team is going and Tout is not and some voters will take the player that helped their team make it to the playoffs. Trout is also fading towards the end of the season, hitting just .270 for August/September (he hit .257 in Sept) . Cabrera is about .330 and Posey is .371. I want to see Posey get the batting title and win the NL MVP and Cabrera in the AL.