Despite winning the Triple-Crown, Miguel Cabrera isn’t
a lock for his league’s MVP Award.
There are few moments in professional sports cemented in
history. These moments are rare, remarkable, and gratifying for people who love
to follow any and all sorts of competition.
Last night on the final night of Major League Baseball’s
season, game 162 provided one of these noteworthy moments. A moment in baseball’s
history peaked by the culmination of an amazing accomplishment. A feat that
younger generations (my generation) of sports fans have yet to witness and may
never witness again.
What Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera completed
on baseball’s final day, will remain etched in the history books and in the
minds of not just baseball fans, but fans who can appreciate what Cabrera achieved.
Winning
the Triple-Crown was last accomplished 45 years ago in 1967 by Boston Red Sox
outfielder Carl Yastrzemski.
Cabrera brought an end to the Triple-Crown drought in 2012.
Cabrera put together one of the finest seasons a batter can
have. He accumulated a .330 batting average, 44 homeruns, and 139 RBI. Though, he still isn’t a lock for the American
League MVP.
Los Angeles Angels rookie Mike Trout, a lock for AL Rookie
of the Year honors, might very well take home MVP honors as well.
Trout had a phenomenal year batting .326, with 30 homers,
and 83 RBI. Truly great numbers considering Trout only played in 139 games in
2012.
A case can be made for Trout. He has MVP caliber numbers,
not to mention he shows up every night and leaves it all on the field. His 49
stolen bases paint a picture of just how hard he performed on a nightly basis.
However, everything can be up for debate in sports, but
Cabrera, who has never won an MVP Award, put the discussion to rest last night.
Not only did he win the first Triple-Crown in 45 years, he
also helped carry his team to their second straight AL Central division title.
Trout’s
Angels on the other hand, will be watching the playoffs from home.
Cabrera’s Triple-Crown is unyielding to debate on so many
levels. Baseball is thriving with great hitters and more so with pitchers. Cabrera
raised his game to a level that hasn’t been seen in 45 years during one of the
most exciting seasons in baseball history.
Yes, debate is apart of sports, but there is no MVP
race.
