In our daily Wake-Up Call, we get you ready for the day with a complete look at all things Pittsburgh Pirates.
It’s the Cubs’ World, we’re just living in it
In the least surprising announcement, the Cubs’ Kris Bryant won the NL MVP award. This completes maybe one of the best years in league history. Bryant was an All-Star, A World Series Champion and now the league MVP. This following his Rookie of the Year award from 2015. Not a bad start to a career, right? Bryant hit .292/.385/.554/.939 with 39 home runs, 102 RBIs and a league-high 121 runs scored. He was the best player on the league’s best team. If that isn’t “most valuable” I don’t know what is?
I don’t think anyone is going to argue the result. Unlike the AL Cy Young, there isn’t going to be any controversy or angry tweets from super models. Bryant was the best and most valuable player in the NL this year. There is no denying his talent and he could still only be scratching the surface.
MVP of a non-playoff team?
Mike Trout winning the AL MVP award should be a pretty obvious slam dunk, right? Trout slashed .315/.441/.550/.991 with 29 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 123 runs scored. He also lead the league in OBP, walks, and OPS+. He was also worth a league-high 10.6WAR.
The Angels, however, finished 74-88 and weren’t anywhere close to making the playoffs. Every few years this debate jumps back into the mainstream. Can the MVP really be the best player on a bad team? Or should only players on contending teams qualify? I don’t think there should even be a debate here.
Mookie Betts would have been a fine league MVP and I wouldn’t have argued against it but Trout is far and away the best in the game. He’s now won two MVPs and has five straight top-two finishes in MVP voting. We are watching greatness unfold before our own eyes.
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