As far as the Cabrera/Trout debate goes.. I can see arguments for each sides.
It's probably easier for me to be objective, as I'm not a Tigers fan.
The Triple Crown is a huge accomplishment... asn't been done since Yaz in '67. But, the Triple Crown is also a bit of a luck thing when you really sit back and think about it. Statistically, Miggy has put together a better year this year than any other offensive player. Again, this year.
Consider this.. Carl Yastrzemski(in 1967), hit .326 with 44 homers and 121 RBIs and won the triple crown. In 2003, Pujols hit .359 with 43 home runs and 124 RBIs and only led the league in batting. Who had the better year, Yaz or Pujols? Pujols. It just so happens that the year Yaz won the TC, the statistics and luck broke his way and he came out on top in all 3 categories (well, he tied in HR with Killebrew that year.)
Luckily, Miggy caught a little bit of a break a couple of weeks ago when Hamilton missed 5 games due to a sinus infection. But that's baseball.. that's how things go.
In my opinion, if you take Miggy off of the Tigers... they don't win the division and don't make the playoffs If you take Trout off the Angels... they still finish behind the A's and Rangers and don't make the playoffs.
I'm not a big fan of the argument that your team has to make the playoffs in order to be the MVP. I think helping your team make the playoffs should be considered, but like I said above, how valuable are you to the team?
Here's why I'm against the argument that your team has to make the playoffs... the Angels actually have a better record than the Tigers!! So because of how the divisions are aligned, the Tigers get in and the Angels are out. Heck, both of the Wild Card teams are going to have better records than the Tigers. If you throw Detroit in the West, they finish ahead of the Mariners and behind the Rangers, A's, and Angels. 2nd to last. They don't make the playoffs. Again, that's how the game goes.. right, wrong, fair, or unfair.. that's how it is.
On the flip side... Trout has put together a historical year himself. No player in MLB history has scored 125 runs, had 40 stolen bases, and hit 30 homers in a season. No player. Ever. Since Trout was called up.. the Angels have the better record. Not to mention, Trout started the year in AAA. He's 21 freaking years old!
Trout is the better defender. Trout has more triples. He has a bigger impact on the game without a bat in his hand.
You can talk about how their respective supporting casts benefit each of them.. Fielder vs. Pujols... starting pitchers, etc.
You can also look at what each of the players have done since Aug. 1, with the Angels and Detroit Tigers scrambling for playoff position, Trout has hit .284 with 12 home runs. Cabrera has hit .343 with 19 home runs. The edge goes to Cabrera.
However, if you look at WAR.. Trout's is higher than Miggy's. But if you look at Trout's WAR as a percentage of the entire Angels team vs. Miggy's as a % of the Tigers, Cabrera actually comes out on top.
It's a great debate. In my mind, you can make a case for each player.. I don't think either side is wrong and I don't think it's a travesty if one is given the award over another player.
However, after all of this, in my opinion, I'd give the award to Cabrera. Without him, the Tigers would have been long gone a month or two ago and not in contention. He's performed better over the last 2 months of the season... when the heat and daily grind of the grueling schedule takes it's toll. Two great players.. two historic seasons. I love baseball.
On a side note....
I'm excited for the Rangers-A's game today at 3:30. Unfortunately, I'm at work.. so I need to find out a way to listen on the radio (worst-case scenario has me purchasing the MLB Game Day app for $3.99.) I'm a huge A's fan.. and what the team and Beane have managed to do this season is incredible. I'd prefer to avoid the 1 game wild card game and just win the division outright :)