Los Angeles Angels: Five Bold Predictions For 2014
By Jason Gold
Mar 4, 2014; Tempe, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) bats against the Texas Rangers at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
1. Mike Trout Will Win AL MVP
Did I say we were going to be bold? Perhaps some of these are bolder predictions than others and this would be the least bold pick we have on the list.
Mike Trout, the 22-year old phenom, is the best position player in baseball and the records he has broken over his 2+ year career are incredible. He has the highest WAR in baseball over the past two years and he wasn’t able to have an alcoholic beverage for part of it. He is, without question, the best position player to come into the big leagues in at least five years. He might be the best since Ken Griffey Jr., to be completely honest.
Selecting Trout, who has been the AL MVP runner-up for the past two seasons to Miguel Cabrera, isn’t exactly bold. He’s the heavy favorite to win the award this season. However, do you understand how difficult it is to win the MVP in Major League Baseball? Let’s take a look at some of the best players who have never won a MVP award:
Fred McGriff, Ozzie Smith, Gary Carter, Albert Belle, David Ortiz, Todd Helton, Roberto Alomar, Kirby Puckett, Lou Brock, Rafael Palmeiro, Gary Sheffield, Mark McGwire, Wade Boggs, Al Kaline, Duke Snider, Craig Biggio, Dave Winfield, Tony Gwynn, Mike Piazza, Manny Ramirez, Derek Jeter, Eddie Murray, Eddie Mathews and Mel Ott.
A lot of those guys are Hall of Famers, future HOFers or would be HOFers if not for steroids. Those guys NEVER won an MVP award. Simply put, it’s tough to win the award. You have to be on top of your game, be healthy for a majority of the season, and then hope/pray that you’re better than everyone else. On top of that, it’s a completely subjective voting process. Mike Trout was probably a more worthy MVP than Miguel Cabrera in one of, or both of, the past two seasons.
However, this year it all changes. Trout is going to bring it all together while hitting in the best lineup of his career. We should expect nothing short of a .320/.410/.515 split with 30+ HR’s, 100+ RBI’s, 40+ Steals, and 110+ runs scored. Trout will win the AL MVP this season.