For only the second time in team history, the Toronto Blue Jays have the American League’s Most Valuable Player. It’s been 28 years since left fielder George Bell won the award in 1987 and now, finally, third baseman Josh Donaldson has also won the award for Toronto.
It doesn’t come as too much of a
surprise as Donaldson’s numbers were better than his main challenger, Mike
Trout of the Los Angeles Angles. While Trout, the 2014 MVP after finishing
runner-up to Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in both 2012 and 2013, had a slight edge
in batting average (.299 to .297), and the two players finished equal in home
runs (41), Donaldson’s 123 RBIs dwarfed Trout’s 90. Add to that Donaldson’s
stellar defense at the hot corner, combined with the Blue Jays in the playoffs
and the Angels not making it, there was never any doubt who the AL MVP would
be.
I’m sure former Toronto general
manager, Alex Anthopoulos, will be happy, as his decision to trade Canadian
hero, but injury-prone and hot-headed Brett Lawrie to the Oakland Athletics for
Donaldson during last year’s off-season has been justified. Donaldson had an
amazing season while leading the Jays to their first-postseason appearance
since 1993.
Despite losing to the eventual
World Champion Kansas City Royals in six games in the American League
Championship Series, the Jays took a huge step forward in 2015 and the MVP for
Donaldson is the icing on the cake for the team’s best season in more than two
decades.
However, I’m sure the latest
Toronto success will be met with more negative attitudes from the American
media. For example, even before the award was announced, Sports Illustrated
writer Cliff Corcoran, was already lamenting Donaldson’s victory, trying to
pull out all kinds of reaons as to why Trout should win. But Corcoran forgets that
his is only one opinion and it’s the combined opinion of many voters that decides
the award.
I have a feeling the SI writer is one of those bitter individuals south of the border, who instead of
appreciating what the Blue Jays did this year, comes up with excuses as to why
a Canadian team has success. I saw it more than 20 years ago when the Jays were
winning multiple division titles and two World Championships. There’s no reason
to think otherwise now. However, that’s just one person’s opinion and maybe I’m
reading into it wrong, but that’s what it feels like.
But forget the negativity from
the haters, Donaldson is the MVP, the Jays are back where they belong, an
American League contender, and here’s looking forward to 2016.
On the National League side,
Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals was the unanimous choice for that
league’s MVP. Harper becomes the first MVP award winner in the history of the
franchise, which includes the 36 years the team spent as the Montreal Expos. He
batted .330 this season, hitting 42 home runs and adding 99 RBIs.
Unfortunately, his success didn’t translate into team success as the Nationals
finished seven games behind the New York Mets in the NL East.
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