M.I.P.

The last two years in a row, the most valuable player in the American League has finished second in the MVP voting.

If there's any justice,

Mike Trout will finally win his MVP this year.  The Angels have now clinched a playoff spot, and their magic number for clinching the division is just three with twelve games left to play.

But if we're being honest, Mike Trout is not the most important player in the A.L. West race.

The most important player in the A.L. West doesn't even play in the A.L. West.

On the morning of July 31, 2014, the Oakland A's were 66-41 and 2 games ahead in the division.

Since then, the A's are 17-25, and that includes winning the last two in a row.

On July 31, the A's traded

Yoenis Cespedes away, and promptly lost 25 of their next 40 games.

You can say it was a coincidence.  I say Billy Beane underestimated the importance of Cespedes to that lineup.