Kris Bryant, Mike Trout win baseball’s MVP awards

It’s the classic debate about how to define that one word, “valuable”. Please see our terms of service for more information. The BBWAA has voted for the award since 1931. Who needs all this ambiguity and debate about what the word valuable means?

Mike Trout finally overcame his team’s incompetence.

According to Thomas, Bryant is ready for anything – winning back-to-back MVPs as Thomas did, leading the Cubs to another World Series, and one day even following Thomas’ path to Cooperstown. And the debate will intensify. I’m on record saying that a team’s finish should in no way affect MVP consideration.

Washington Nationals infielder Daniel Murphy finished behind Bryant as he got the one first place vote that didn’t go to the Cubs slugger. Betts had 311 points. Furthermore, he hit one home run and drove in two runs in the Cubs failed postseason run. He batted.315 with 29 homers, 100 RBIs and 30 steals. That’s value to a fourth-place team.

It was close, but Mookie Betts will have to wait.

Trout was considered by many to be the most deserving MVP candidate in each of his first four seasons, but he finished second in the three years the Angels missed the playoffs. He was in the middle of the order all year for the Red Sox creating and driving in runs. Maybe, but maybe not. He led the NL with 121 runs and posted a.939 OPS, while playing third, first, shortstop and all three outfield positions for manager Joe Maddon.

That’s why he elicited so much emotion when he won.

Before the start of the 2016 season, Ortiz announced he was going to retire at the end of the year.

There was nothing “strategic” about voting Betts first and Trout fifth. The other was Barry Bonds in the National League in 1992 and 2001.

Trout received 19 of 30 first-place votes.

Bryant joins Dustin Pedroia (2007-08), Ryan Howard (2005-06) and Cal Ripken Jr.

Bryant led the National League with a 7.67 WAR and was the only NL player in the top ten in that category.

Bryant batted.292 while hitting 39 home runs and driving in 102 runs.

Bryant was versatile on defense. He won his first in 2014.

Trout, 25, is the 27th player to ever win multiple MVP honors and the third youngest behind Detroit’s Hal Newhouser and Cincinnati’s Johnny Bench.

Bryant was also the second player in history to have two 5-for-5 games with five RBIs in the same game. “Obviously, MVP, just to be in the conversation, it’s pretty surreal, and just a little bit ago I was just a little kid in high school”.

The last Cubs player to win the MVP award was Sammy Sosa in 1998. Those numbers indicate that Trout, known for his propensity to rob home runs with leaping catches, has descended into average territory as a fielder. It’s not hard to imagine Trout, a plus-6 defensive center fielder this season, as a plus-20 (or better) defensive right fielder.