Toronto Blue Jays: Top 3 MVP Snubs Ever

Today's announcement by Major League Baseball that Detroit Tigers Cy Young award winning pitcher Justin Verlander has been named the Most Valuable Player for the American League in 2011 has to rankle Toronto Blue Jays fans a little bit.

After all, slugging star Jose Bautista led the American League in home runs (43), walks (132), slugging percentage (.608) and on-base plus slugging percentage (1.056). He also drove in 103 runs and hit .302 on the season.

With another playoff-less season, an MVP title for Bautista would have boosted the team’s spirits.

Alas, George Bell remains the only Blue Jay to have ever have been named MVP, which he accomplished in 1987 by placing first in many offensive statistical categories. However, as noted by my colleague Josh Benjamin, the selection was controversial as Tigers Alan Trammell had a career year and led Detroit to the ALCS.

The selection of an MVP always seems to have controversy attached to it, as team executives, fans and sportswriters will all make their case as to why “their” guy deserves it more.

Here are the top three MVP snubs involving Toronto Blue Jays:

No. 3 — Jose Bautista, 2011

Before the 2011 season began, one of the biggest questions being asked was how Jose Bautista would perform after signing a five year, $64 million extension in the winter. It was a valid question, especially with underachieving players like Vernon Wells and Alex Rios fresh on everyone’s minds.

Joey Bats did not disappoint.

Although he hit nine fewer home runs, his batting average increased from .260 to .302 and he led the majors with 132 walks. The extent of his impact on the team’s play was influenced by pitchers and managers who got to decide whether Bautista would be intentionally walked.

Pitchers can choose which batters they want to face. Hitters do not have this choice.

MVP winner Justin Verlander made a huge difference in Detroit’s playoff aspirations, but the Jays would have been hopeless without Bautista. In addition to his offensive contributions, Bautista played both third base and right field this year.

No. 2 — Paul Molitor, 1993

In 1993, Paul Molitor had his best statistical year ever. In primarily a designated hitting role for the Jays, Molitor boasted a line of 22 HR, 111 RBI, 22 SB and a .332 batting average.

However, it was Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas that eventually took home the hardware, as he swatted 41 home runs and got 128 RBIs.

It was primarily Thomas’s power hitting that won him the award, as both teams finished first in their divisions that year.

You could argue that the 1993 Blue Jays were a stacked team, cause they certainly were, but Molitor’s consistency helped lead the Jays to another World Series victory. The White Sox were defeated by the Blue Jays in the ALCS.

No. 1 — Carlos Delgado, 2003

Carlos Delgado was a proven slugger for seven straight seasons for the Blue Jays until 2003, when he had an absolutely magical year that almost won him a Triple Crown (which he had almost won in 2000 as well).

Delgado hit 42 home runs (Tied for second in AL), drove in 145 runs (first in MLB) and had a batting average of .302 (15th in AL).

He lost the MVP award to Alex Rodriguez, who, under the influence of steroids, hit five more home runs but had a lower batting average and fewer RBIs (via NY Times). 

It was his defence that apparently made the difference.

Except for the fact that Rodriguez played for a Texas Rangers team that only won 71 games and finished dead last in the AL West. The Jays finished 10 games over .500 and were in third place for the wild card that year.

Did A-Rod really make that much of a difference?