"Mike Trout deserved 5 straight AL MVPs" - MLB analyst argues against Josh Donaldson’s triumph over Angels superstar in 2015
Over the years, many have argued that Mike Trout deserved more MVPs than his three. The season people highly debate is the one in 2015 when despite Trout having a statistically better year, Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays won the honor.
Among those who feel the LA Angels outfielder was robbed of his deserved 2015 AL MVP is MLB analyst Justin "Jayhay" Havens, who gave a detailed breakdown on Thursday's episode of his "Baseball is Dead" show.
"There’s little argument that Donaldson was better statistically than Trout that season," Havens said. "Everyone likely agreed then, and certainly now, that Trout’s 2015 season was superior. He had more home runs (they tied, actually), and his rate stats were universally better. Trout led the AL in slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS+.
"For context, Trout’s OPS+ was 176 that season, compared to Donaldson’s 154—a sizable gap by those metrics."
Havens believes that voters might have been swayed toward Josh Donaldson because the Blue Jays won the AL East for the first time since 1993. Meanwhile, Trout's Angels, who made the postseason a year before, saw their win total drop from 98 in 2014 to 85 in 2015, missing the October play entirely.
Moreover, Havens feels all AL MVPs between 2012 and 2016 should have been won by Mike Trout.
"This season was right in the middle of Trout’s peak era. From 2012 to 2016, he finished second in MVP voting in 2012 and 2013, won in 2014, finished second again in 2015, and won again in 2016," Havens said. "Essentially, Trout could have won MVP in all five of those years. There’s a legitimate argument that he deserved five straight AL MVPs."
Comparing Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson's 2015 season
Both Mike Trout and Josh Donaldson had a great season worthy of MVP.
They nearly played the same number of games along with the same number of home runs (41). Donaldson drove in significantly more runs with 123 RBIs, compared to Trout’s 90 RBIs.
Trout edged Donaldson in overall offensive production metrics, boasting a league-leading .991 OPS and 176 OPS+, compared to Donaldson's .939 OPS and 151 OPS+.
Defensively and in overall value, Trout's 9.6 WAR surpassed Donaldson’s 7.1 WAR.
Who do you think should have won the AL MVP in 2015? Have your say in our comments section below!