# AL MVP: Trout vs Cabrera **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 3, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-mvp-trout-vs-cabrera/636595 "2012-10-03T16:24:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 94
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-mvp-trout-vs-cabrera/636595/94 "2012-10-05T18:26:53Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > How does someone arguing that Cabrera’s had MORE value equate to Trout’s having NO value? So please show me where any of Cabrera’s supporters have said Trout’s season had no value. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > the fact remains that Cabrera has a chance to earn a ring and Trout doesn’t. The Tigers don’t get in the postseason without Cabrera, the Angels fell short even with Trout. […] But he did what he had to do within his role to get the Tigers in the postseason. If Cabrera fell short of either the Triple Crown or the postseason, then I’d consider Trout. But he didn’t. > [@Who will win the AL MVP in 2012?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-win-the-al-mvp-in-2012/636467/15): > > The goal of every player, every year, is to win the World Series (at least, it should be). In order to win the Series, you must first make the playoffs. The Tigers have done so this year, and the Angels haven’t. By that measure, the Tigers have had a more ‘successful’ season. They still have a chance to achieve the ultimate goal, and the Angel’s don’t. > > Now, whether or not the MVP voting should be influenced by the team’s success is another argument, but if you think that it should (and I do), then Cabrera should get the nod, because his team is still in the race. Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. I admit neither of these posters said Trout’s season was worthless, but they’re using the logic I talked about: we can subtract Trout’s value because the Angels didn’t win anyway (neglecting the obvious truth that without him they probably would have been nowhere in contention) while Cabrera’s contribution counts more because the team would not have made the playoffs without him (which is probably true but is largely out of Cabrera’s control). > [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > I’ve seen plenty of people stating that the stats Cabrera lead the AL in are pert’near meaningless. No, you haven’t. They’re arguing the stats are bad measurements of performance, not that Cabrera’s play had no value. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-mvp-trout-vs-cabrera/636595)._