Miguel Cabrera did not improve in all three triple crown categories
He would have been the first man ever to do so in the year after winning the Triple Tiara, but he didn't make it because of his nagging injuries. He came close. He raised his batting average 18 points. He hit the same number of dingers. He dropped only two RBI.
He finished second in the league in HRs and RBI.
Important to note: Cabrera played in only 148 games this year, compared to 161 last year. Based on his performance per at bat, he did improve in all three categories. He improved his OPS from .999 to 1.078, having led the league (and the majors) both times. He improved his adjusted OPS+ significantly, from 164 to 187, and he improved his offensive WAR from 7.8 to 9.0.
In other words, he did in fact have a much better offensive year than the year he won the triple crown. The man can hit.
Should he be MVP in 2013? The situation is precisely the same as it was in 2012. Mike Trout had a higher WAR in both seasons because of his speed and defense, but Trout's Angels had a poor season, while Cabrera plays for a good team and has flashier offensive stats in the categories that people notice the most. I reckon that means Trout will have to settle for another runner-up. Well, the kid's only 22. You have to think he'll win a few MVPs before he retires.
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