The Minds of MVP Voters: Miguel Cabrera

by Travis G on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 AM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

I was irked the other day listening to MLB Radio on XM. A journalist from Detroit - who has an MVP vote - was going on and on about Miguel Cabrera. To paraphrase: "(1) He was the most feared hitter in the AL... (2) No one could change a game with one swing like him... (3) I got to truly appreciate him seeing him everyday... (4) I don't pay attention to all stats, just some, like the ability to drive in runs."

1. Where to start? A feared hitter would be walked a lot, right? Cabrera certainly was (108 times), but that was 24 times fewer than Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays.

2. No one could change the game with one swing? Cabrera homered 30 times, but that was only good enough for 10th in the AL. Who was first you ask? Bautista.

3. The responsibility of being a BBWAA voter is to learn about the whole league. This argument is wrong in so many ways I can't wrap my head around it. So the players in those other cities aren't as good because you're not watching them everyday? If every voter voted for a player from "their" city, there might never be a consensus winner.

4. And yes, RBI!!! Because, you know, that has nothing at all to do with the hitters in from of him reaching base. And if you're all about RBI, Cabrera was only good enough for seventh in the league (while two Yankees led the league).

It's guys like this that prevented Derek Jeter from winning the '06 MVP because Justin Morneau had more homers and RBI.

(I have nothing against Cabrera, who did have a remarkable year. This is about the reasoning behind the voting.)

The AL MVP will be announced on Monday at 2 p.m.

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In summary, then: Voters are ill- informed morons.

And homers.

by designatedquitter on Nov 18, 2011 9:17 AM EST reply actions

also, the sky is blue

by waw on Nov 18, 2011 4:33 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with the "homer" aspect being wrong

But there are other variables involved. Walks. Being “feared” more is not a reason Bautista was walked more, imo. You have to look at the lineup around the hitter in question. Cabrera had V-Mart or Ordonez batting after him, right? Clearly better hitters than who, Kelly Johnson or Adam Lind or whichever “feared” hitter the Blue Jays can throw out there? Personally, I’d rather not have my “feared” hitter walking at all. It’s a nice stat for a number 1 or 2 hitter in the lineup, but no thanks for the big bats.

Romine!

by david d on Nov 18, 2011 10:42 AM EST reply actions

eventually, these guys will die out

Until then, just ignore the awards and do your thinking about who the best player in the league is.

by long time listener on Nov 18, 2011 10:57 AM EST reply actions

There's always going to be bias with the hometown writers

That’s why there are voters from every city, so that hopefully this bias doesn’t shift the award. This guy was clearly just trying to make a case for Cabrera as the MVP whether he had a solid argument or not. Ironically, Cabrera got rooked out of the award in 2010 for the same reasons Jose Bautista will get rooked out of it in 2011.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Nov 18, 2011 1:27 PM EST reply actions

The homer vote. It's a Detroit thing.

ARod got all but 2 first place votes in the 2007 MVP balloting. The other two, for Magglio Ordonez, were cast by a couple of Detroit writers, Tom Gage and Jim Hawkins.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3119020

by Rasputin22 on Nov 18, 2011 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

Baseball writers suck

Got it!

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Nov 18, 2011 1:43 PM EST reply actions

some of them

Some of them get a bad rap.

by long time listener on Nov 18, 2011 2:23 PM EST up reply actions

You mean they get a Soulja Boy song?

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Nov 18, 2011 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

worse

They get non-“Ice Ice Baby” Vanilla Ice.

by long time listener on Nov 18, 2011 2:54 PM EST up reply actions

That is pretty awful

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Nov 18, 2011 3:00 PM EST up reply actions

I would most definitely rather listen to Vanilla Ice

by MichaelGGBGrabow on Nov 18, 2011 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Completely agreed, Travis. Something really needs to be done about who has a vote. Ignorant comments like that indicate something is wrong with this whole process.

Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48

by Frank Campagnola on Nov 18, 2011 2:56 PM EST reply actions

Baseball writers shouldnt even be voting for things like this.

by i says on Nov 19, 2011 3:20 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Who should? Fans? Players?

I think the all-star voting proves that fans should not be trusted to tie their own shoes, let alone vote for anything meaningful in the sport. And players are just as likely to vote for people they like, vs. looking at overall production in an objective manner.

Sports writers are supposed to be able to be objective, and also knowledgeable about more than just their own team. And I think in general they are, but there will always be exceptions.

by waw on Nov 19, 2011 3:30 PM EST up reply actions