MLB Quarter-Season Awards: Who Is the American League MVP?

You would think that Miguel Cabrera would be a lock to be my quarter-season MVP for the American League. I mean, he’s having another remarkable season for the Detroit Tigers and he is the defending MVP and Triple Crown winner, too.

However, Chris Davis is my most valuable player.

Thus far, this MVP race is about as tight as it was last season when it was Mike Trout battling Cabrera, so there really isn’t a “loser” in this debate. I just think the Baltimore Orioles wouldn’t even be in contention if it wasn’t for Davis, while the Tigers would likely still be leading the division.

After all, each player’s slashlines are almost identical. Davis is sporting a .353/.441/.754 line while Cabrera’s is .369/.443/.659, so Cabrera gets more hits when Davis has more power. Other than that, I believe they are the same type of hitter.

If one were to look at traditional statistics, Davis’ 19 home runs and 50 RBIs is basically the same as Cabrera’s 15 home runs and 57 RBIs, too. Basically what I’m trying to say here is that Davis has right on par with Cabrera’s phenomenal season. In fact, he has actually been better than Cabrera has in 2013, just like Trout was better in 2012.

Although Davis is my MVP now, I’m willing to bet Cabrera will pull away from him over the next quarter and be the odds-on favorite to win by the all-star break. But, I think Davis deserves to be awarded with this fictitious award, because it’s probably the only one he will win by year’s end, unless he truly is the second coming of Roy Hobbs.