Mike Trout or Miguel Cabrera?
Now you can add Chris Davis to the list.
After last year’s season-long debate, this year could be an even more intriguing race for the American League MVP award.
Cabrera didn’t exactly get the dreaded Triple Crown hangover and responded with the best first-half performance of his career.
The Tigers slugger’s numbers have been impressive to say the least but the real surprise of the first half has been the dominance of Davis in Baltimore.
And hey, Trout and Dustin Pedroia are no slouches either.
With that mind, we take a look at the top candidates for the award heading into the all-star break.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CANDIDATES:
Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles
Age: 33 | Position: First Base | Acquired: Trade (’11)
2013 Stats: 70 R, 37 HR, 93 RBI, .315/.392/.717/1.109, 5.1 WAR
The skinny: Can he keep up the phenomenal pace? He may need to to hold off Cabrera. Davis has already exceeded his career-high home run and RBI totals with more than 60 games to go. Texas may regret giving up on this guy so early.
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
Age: 30| Position: Third Base | Acquired: Trade (’07)
2013 Stats: 73 R, 30 HR, 95 RBI, .365/.458/.674/1.132, 6.0 WAR
The skinny: Watch out Albert Pujols, Cabrera is making the case to become the best power hitter of this generation. Cabrera has looked unstoppable at times, leading the AL in batting average, walks, runs, RBIs, OPS, and FanGraphs’ wins above replacement.
Dustin Pedoria, Boston Red Sox
Age: 29| Position: Second Base | Acquired: Draft (’04)
2013 Stats: 57 R, 6 HR, 56 RBI, .316/.396/.436/.832, 3.7 WAR
The skinny: He may not have the power numbers of Cabrera or Davis but Pedoria has been the driving force, third in the AL in on-base percentage, for a Boston Red Sox team that has the best record in the league. Not bad for a club that finished worse than the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Age: 21| Position: Left Field | Acquired: Draft (’09)
2013 Stats: 65 R, 15 HR, 59 RBI, .322/.399/.565/.964, 5.7 WAR
The skinny: After an uneventful first month, Trout has gotten back into the MVP conversation with stellar numbers across the board. The Angels outfielder may be the most complete player in the field but his team’s disappointing record could hurt his case.
Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
Age: 21| Position: Third Base | Acquired: Draft (’10)
2013 Stats: 57 R, 7 HR, 45 RBI, .310/.337/.470/.807, 4.2 WAR
The skinny: We all knew Machado was one of the league’s best prospects but no one figured it would come this quickly. Machado has been a hitting machine, leading the AL in doubles and stabilizing the Orioles’ decade-long hole at third base.
Honourable mentions:
-Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
-Josh Donaldson, Oakland Athletics
-Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
-Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
SPORTSNET EXPERT PICKS:
Buck Martinez, Blue Jays broadcaster: Miguel Cabrera
Mike Wilner, Sportsnet 590 The Fan: Miguel Cabrera
Ben Nicholson-Smith, sportsnet.ca: Miguel Cabrera
Mike Cormack, sportsnet.ca: Miguel Cabrera
Scott Carson, Sportsnet statistician: Miguel Cabrera
Tao of Stieb, Sportsnet blogger: Miguel Cabrera
Jeff Simmons, sportsnet.ca: Miguel Cabrera
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NATIONAL LEAGUE:
None of the leading candidates for NL MVP has a definitive edge over the competition.
The defending MVP, Buster Posey, is having another fantastic season. But he might not even be the best player at his position the way Yadier Molina is playing on offence and defence.
David Wright, Carlos Gonzalez and Joey Votto are among the league’s best hitters and could claim the award with a big second half.
Gonzalez leads the league with 25 home runs, Votto leads the league with a .434 on-base percentage and Wright offers a balance of power and on-base skills while playing a more challenging defensive position.
Carlos Gomez of the Milwaukee Brewers ranks among the league leaders in FanGraphs’ wins above replacement thanks to his 14 home runs, 21 stolen bases and impressive defensive skills in centre field.
Here’s a look at the leading MVP candidates in the senior circuit:
Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals
Age: 31| Position: Catcher | Acquired: Draft (’00)
2013 Stats: 40 R, 7 HR, 49 RBI, .341/.386/.489/.875, 4.2 WAR
The skinny: Molina leads the National League with a .341 batting average, so he’d be generating MVP buzz even if he wasn’t one of the top defensive catchers in the game.
Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
Age: 25| Position: First Base | Acquired: Draft (’09)
2013 Stats: 60 R, 21 HR, 77 RBI, .313/.395/.557/.952, 4.2 WAR
The skinny: With 21 home runs and a .952 OPS for the first-place Diamondbacks, Goldschmidt is an MVP candidate in just his second full season.
Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
Age: 27| Position: Left Field | Acquired: Trade (’08)
2013 Stats: 68 R, 25 HR, 64 RBI, .302/.370/.610/.980, 4.5 WAR
The skinny: There’s no longer any doubt that Gonzalez is an elite offensive player. He leads the NL in home runs, slugging percentage, OPS and total bases.
Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
Age: 29| Position: First Base | Acquired: Draft (’02)
2013 Stats: 66 R, 15 HR, 42 RBI, .318/.434/.506/.939, 3.7 WAR
The skinny: Votto gets on base more frequently than any other player in the National League. On the basis of that accomplishment alone he’s one of the most valuable players in the league.
David Wright, New York Mets
Age: 30| Position: Third Base | Acquired: Draft (’01)
2013 Stats: 50 R, 13 HR, 44 RBI, .304/.396/.507/.903, 4.9 WAR
The skinny: Wright has always been good, but he hasn’t been this good in any one of his previous nine seasons. The 30-year-old is hitting .304/.396/.507 while playing third base.
Honourable mentions:
-Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
-Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee Brewers
-Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
-Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
SPORTSNET EXPERT PICKS:
Buck Martinez, Blue Jays broadcaster: Yadier Molina
Mike Wilner, Sportsnet 590 The Fan: Carlos Gonzalez
Ben Nicholson-Smith, sportsnet.ca: Yadier Molina
Mike Cormack, sportsnet.ca: Yadier Molina
Scott Carson, Sportsnet statistician: Yadier Molina
Tao of Stieb, Sportsnet blogger: Carlos Gomez
Jeff Simmons, sportsnet.ca: Carlos Gonzalez
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