Donaldson wins MVP!!

By now you all know that Josh Donaldson is the 2015 American League MVP.  23 of 30 1st place votes went to JD, with the other 7 going to Trout.  That probably doesn't tell you just how close the race was.  The reality is that Trout had another monster year and many of his stats are actually better than Donaldson's.  Donaldson had more RBI's and runs scored, but one could argue that is because he was in a better lineup.  Certainly 7 of the 30 baseball writers who voted argued that, and you can't really blame them.

The thing is though, that Donaldson had so many big moments during the year.  So many of his home runs either tied the game or put the Jays ahead, some in walk-off style.  He did it consistently all year long.  When the Jays made their big push in August, Donaldson had a monster month.  At the same time that the Jays surged, the Angels faded out of a playoff spot and Trout had a terrible month.  It was the contrast down the stretch that sealed it for Donaldson.  I believe that had the Angels made the playoffs, that Trout would have won.   For many voters, it's hard to be considered most "valuable" on a team where the value didn't pay off into a postseason birth.

At some point in August as the "MVP MVP" chants grew louder, Gregg Zaun made a comment on air that Josh Donaldson had as much chance of becoming the MVP as he did of becoming the Prime Minister (many Canadians may want that now).  It was an absurd comment then, and Zaun had to take it back within the week as JD kept piling up big numbers, big moments, in big games.  But it remind us that this was not a foregone conclusion throughout the year.

I can recall watching MLB Network in June or July, where their "experts" boasted about the Angels having the most potent lineup in baseball.  So the argument that Trout is disadvantaged cause JD hit in a better lineup is said in hindsight.

All of that said, it's a proud moment for Blue Jays fans.  Probably a proud moment for Alex Anthopoulos in a bitter sweet kind of way.  That trade with Oakland last year sure looks good.  Although to be fair, it will take years to fully judge it, since many of the pieces Oakland got are still prospects.

Congrats to Josh Donaldson!

@bluejaystwit