The Statistical Case Against Cabrera for M.V.P.
Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press With his speed and good judgment on the bases, Mike Trout increased his contribution to the Angels’ offense. On Thursday, the American League will announce the recipient of its Most Valuable Player award. The winner is likely to be Miguel Cabrera, the Detroit Tigers star who won the league’s triple crown by leading in batting average (.330), home runs (44) and runs batted in (139). It might seem as if these statistics make Cabrera, the first triple crown winner in either league since 1967, a shoo-in for the M.V.P. But most statistically minded fans would prefer that it go to another player, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels. The argument on Trout’s behalf isn’t all that...