BBTF.org/m/cy_young_award : NL Cy Young Award conversation starts with closers Chapman, Kimbrel

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Cabrera, Trout Both Had MVP Cases But Triple Crown Means Something

(www.baseballamerica.com)

posted on December 04, 2012 at 07:18 PM by pep21 to cy young award, keith law, mvp | 12 comment(s)

DENVER—The biggest joke about the American League MVP vote was all the moaning and groaning about the results.

The Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera is the 2012 AL MVP. The Angels’ Mike Trout is the runner-up.

That’s no disgrace. Trout’s in high cotton, too. Cabrera, however, won the award. And the final tally was decisive, with Cabrera outpointing Trout 362-281.

Among the most vocal critics was Keith Law of ESPN, a one-time analyst in the Blue Jays front office who now is quick to proclaim his ...

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Pat Rapper's Delight posted on August 08, 2012 at 02:07 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

So what we have here are two closers who are (A) allowing less hits per nine innings than anyone ever has while (B) striking out more batters per nine innings than anyone has…

You can see who would get my vote Cy Young [sic], if the season ended today: Aroldis Chapman. But I would settle for Craig Kimbrel.

If sportswriters cared about these records as much as they cared about home run records, Chapman and Kimbrel wouldn't even be on their sanctimonious ballots due to the taint of steroids.

2. madvillain posted on August 08, 2012 at 02:16 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

MLB K rates are at an all time high, so it takes a little sparkle off what Chapman and Kimbrel are doing. Hitters just aren't afraid to strike out anymore and don't "shorten up" when in a 2 strike count. That said, their performances are extraordinary, but giving the Cy Young to someone who is going to throw around 60 innings is absurd. By bWAR, Chapman is 13th in the NL for pitchers and Kimbrel is 24th.

3. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong posted on August 08, 2012 at 02:20 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

I can see why this guy is looking at relievers, since these two are having historically great seasons in the metrics he cites. The starters -- Johnny Cueto and RA Dickey aren't that exciting and Clayton Kershaw is no better than he was last year, or if he is it's not obvious. A guy looking for a new story will look at Chapman and Kimbrel.

4. The District Attorney posted on August 08, 2012 at 02:21 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

Duplicate thread

5. John DiFool2 posted on August 08, 2012 at 07:24 PM # hit 0 | hit 0

The dupe thread is getting a lot more responses, but at the risk of killing this one I will say that hitters today aren't any better w/ 2 strikes than they were say 24 years ago: .184/.248/.266 in 1988, and .177/.244/.269. K rate with 2 strikes was about 33% then, 40% now. If they are gaining an edge by not "cutting down their swings", I don't see it-works both ways tho I don't see an advantage in the 1988 numbers either.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

/m/cy_young_award

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Cabrera, Trout Both Had MVP Cases But Triple Crown Means Something

Reader Comments and Retorts

Cy Young Award Think Factory