Los Angeles Angels skipper Mike Scioscia doesn't believe there's any reason for debate when deciding the American League's Most Valuable Player.
"This guy is the MVP," Scioscia told reporters when speaking about his outfielder Mike Trout. "I don't think there's any question."
Trout has enjoyed another stellar season and is expected to be a finalist - if not a front-runner - for the award. He led the majors in WAR and on-base percentage while tallying 29 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases.
"This guy is like the Energizer Bunny," Scioscia said. "He just keeps going and doesn't give in to anything."
Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox and reigning MVP Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be the biggest competition to Trout's crown. Both have comparable numbers to Trout's and are on teams playing in October.
Player | 2B | HR | RBI | AVG/OBP/SLG | SB | WAR |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trout | 32 | 29 | 100 | .315/.441/.550 | 30 | 9.4 |
Betts | 42 | 31 | 113 | .318/.363/.534 | 26 | 7.7 |
Donaldson | 32 | 37 | 99 | .284/.404/.549 | 7 | 7.6 |
Trout won the award in 2014 and finished second in voting in three of the last four years. What stands as likely his biggest obstacle to winning this season is that the Angels were one of the worst teams in the majors, and voters may be more inclined to vote for a player on a postseason team.
Scioscia, however, isn't buying that argument.
"What Mike does and what Mike has accomplished this year has more impact than the fact that we're a sub-.500 team," he said last week. "His numbers are incredible. You can't deny that they're a notch above anybody else that's there."