Most Valuable Player American League

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

http://www.si.com/mlb/2016/08/25/awards-watch-mvp-cy-young-rookie-of-the-year-mike-trout-danny-duffy

1. Mike Trout, CF, Angels (2)
Season Stats: .312/.430/.553 (170 OPS+), 24 HR, 78 RBIs, 96 R, 241 TB, 21 SB (84%)
Last Two Weeks: .314/.500/.629, 3 HR, 4 RBIs, 22 TB

2. Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros (1)
Season Stats: .361/.422/.571 (171 OPS+), 20 HR, 84 RBIs, 90 R, 285 TB, 26 SB (79%)
Last Two Weeks: .356/.381/.576, 1 HR, 16 RBIs, 34 TB

Having closed the gap at the plate over the last two weeks, Trout moves back in front this week on the strength of his superior fielding and base running. It seems likely that these two will trade places a few more times in September before one of them ultimately takes home this award.

 

Too bad Sports Illustrated doesn't get to pick the winner. Trout being on a last place team and with Jose hitting around .360 doesn't seem like a hard choice. Donaldson can't be ruled out either. I doubt Trout even gets second place this year.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/bryce-harper-ejected-furious-umpire-argue-helmet-nationals

Another thing that separates Harper and Trout. Temper tantrums.

[ukyah]

3 hours ago, Ace-Of-Diamonds said:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/bryce-harper-ejected-furious-umpire-argue-helmet-nationals

Another thing that separates Harper and Trout. Temper tantrums.

 

true. that pitch may have missed outside, but it was extremely close. no way you can take that with 2 strikes and think you're not going to get rung up at least half the time.

[Angelsjunky]

That aside, since being benched for a few days (or injured?) Harper has looked like his 2015 self, hitting .389/.484/.648 over his last 14 games.

[Blarg]

Yep, screaming at an umpire and getting kicked out of a game is the old Harper.

[kevinb]

as awesome as it would be for him to win his second MVP. He just can't when his team has been in last or 4th place the entire year. 

[Stradling]

Yep, this isn't 1987 anymore.  

[Ohtaniland]

If you win an MVP award while playing on a team projected to win only 70 games it pretty much tells the story about the rest of your team.

[Second Base]

I wouldn't rule out Mookie Betts either. If the idiotic and archaic belief that being on a winning team is the only criteria for the MVP conversation, Trout would've won 3 MVP's already and would win his 4th this year.

[Ohtaniland]

10 minutes ago, ScottyA_MWAH said:

I wouldn't rule out Mookie Betts either. If the idiotic and archaic belief that being on a winning team is the only criteria for the MVP conversation, Trout would've won 3 MVP's already and would win his 4th this year.

Would it make the fans happy if Trout wins another 4-5 MVP awards coupled with no playoff wins during that span?

[Stradling]

Yea that's why he gets kicked out all the time.  Get a clue.  

[Stradling]

Yes and every manager and every team does it.  Some go overboard and get kicked out of games.  You hate him, so if he does something you are forced to hate it  

[Dick B Back]

1 hour ago, Stradling said:

Yep, this isn't 1987 anymore.  

Or 1958/59.

[Stradling]

Not sure I said it was a big deal. He obviously crossed a line, just like Marinez last night. 

[Blarg]

5 minutes ago, ANAHEIMBOB said:

So what's the big deal if Harper does it ?   

Harper isn't chirping. He slamming a helmet into the ground while spewing spittle in the umpire's face as he screams loud enough you can hear him from the subway station. Here is the visual difference. 

[m0nkey]

He's just making baseball fun again

[Troll Daddy]

Harper plays with passion and a little of stupidity.

I find it entertaining 

[Dick B Back]

Harper just likes a reason to get rid of the helmet to show off his hair.

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

2 hours ago, Kevinb said:

as awesome as it would be for him to win his second MVP. He just can't when his team has been in last or 4th place the entire year. 

ARod won an MVP while his team was in last place in 2003, and in next to last in 2006.

[ABC]

6 minutes ago, Vladdylonglegs said:

Mookie Betts and Altuve are better than Trout this year AND on relevant teams. 

Check again.

[disarcina]

I'm obviously a Halos fan.

Depending on how many hits he winds up with -- I'd probably vote for Altuve if I had a vote.

at one point, Altuve was on pace for Darrin Erstad (240) hit like numbers for the 2016 season.

 

[disarcina]

not sure why folks insist on continuing this Harper vs. Trout debate stuff.

was at a  Nats- Giants game at AT&T a few weeks ago and saw Harper play. He was hitting then (and perhaps now) about .237.

He looked awful at the plate - struck out once looking really terrible and his other ABs were nothing to write home about.

Why people insist on comparing these two players when, really, there's no comparison.  And not just because I'm a Halos fan, but really, by any standard, the two players names don't belong in the same sentence together..........Trout is so far superior not just this season -- but , truly, at this relatively early point in his career -- Trout has already achieved inclusion on the list of all - time players and will only move up that list in the next ten years (plus) -- I don't think Harper is at that level yet, if ever.

Also -- if I had to name to the top ten players (all players, position players & pitchers) in MLB right now, today -- Trout tops the list........Altuve or Kershaw might be second -- and I'm not even sure Harper makes the list. 

Trout also makes, if not tops, the list of the top MLB players (still active) over the past ten years -- including this season -- which would include retiring or near retirement guys like David Ortiz, Ichiro - I'd include Kershaw -- and there's others -- Harper may not make that list either.

Murphy of the Nats is the Washington player I'd want on my team -- not Harper.

[DoubleOffTheWall]

If trout were on a competent organization, he would be in line for probably his 3rd mvp. He would pretty much be on a Jordan trajectory. Instead, he will still just have the 1. The angels ruined his career. 

[Stradling]

Ruined his career?  I'd like to put this up for worst post of the year.  

[Docwaukee]

20 minutes ago, DoubleOffTheWall said:

If trout were on a competent organization, he would be in line for probably his 3rd mvp. He would pretty much be on a Jordan trajectory. Instead, he will still just have the 1. The angels ruined his career. 

you must not be familiar with the beginning of Jordan's career.  

His first three years, the bulls had losing records.  He won his first MVP in his fourth full season and didn't win it again until his 7th season when the bulls won the championship.  

Also, trying to compare the impact of one baseball player on their team relative to a basketball player for theirs is apples to oranges.