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Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera both had incredible seasons in 2012. If you go by who was the better overall player, the numbers lean towards Trout. An excellent hitter, defender and baserunner, he brought it all last season. If you go by who is the best hitter in the game -- and the first man in decades to win the Triple Crown -- then Cabrera should win Most Valuable Player honors.
As the Sporting News conducted its annual MVP balloting, their writers believed that Cabrera won the MVP. He received 108 votes compared to Trout's 71. Adrian Beltre of the Texas Rangers placed third with just five votes.
It will be interesting to see if this poll reflects the final tallies for American League MVP. The official award will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 15. Will the baseball traditionalist vote Cabrera for the title, or does the 21-year-old Trout steal the show with the new-school voters?