Michael Brantley is a real MVP candidate

Going into the 2014 season, most fans probably perceived Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley as a solid but unspectacular player. His showing this season not only changed that perception, it also earned him a Silver Slugger Award and a spot as one of the three finalists in the American League for MVP honors. While Mike Trout is the front runner and Victor Martinez is no slouch, Brantley is deserving of both a great deal of credit and recognition. His 2014 productivity epitomized the definition of enjoying a “break out season.”

Consider what this balanced player accomplished. His defensive skills earned him a nomination as a finalist for the Gold Glove Award. His offense? He finished in the Top 10 in 16 offensive categories. That truly displays his balanced blend of prowess.

Want an itemized account of some of his most impressive stats? Take a deep breath. Here goes: he compiled exactly 200 hits (#2 in his league), making him the first Indian since Kenny Lofton (1996) to reach that level; he hit .327 (#3 in AL play); belted 20 homers; banged out 45 doubles (#3); had 67 extra base hits (#5); accumulated 308 total bases (#6); produced a .890 OBS% (#7); and came through with 97 RBI. With 23 stolen bases to go with his 20 home runs, he joined the 20/20 club while making his first All Star squad.  His 8.1 WAR ranked third in the league and his offensive WAR was one notch higher at 8.3. He also led the league in batting with men in scoring position at a sizzling .376.

There’s a bit more. Coming off a season in which he turned in a perfect (1.000) fielding percentage, Brantley committed just one error this year—way back on April 2nd which halted his streak of 247 errorless games— while displaying fine range in the outfield and an accurate arm, chalking up 12 outfield assists (#4). In addition, another aspect of his multi-faceted game was his ability to make contact. He was the third most difficult batter to fan in the AL at 10.9 at bats per strikeout.

The 27-year-old son of former big leaguer Mickey has clearly earned the nickname Dr. Smooth as it seemed as if there was nothing he couldn’t achieve on a diamond.

Incidentally, off the field he is a class act. When I interviewed him once, the young player displayed modesty and maturity, giving thanks to his father for guiding him in baseball and in life. In my 2012 book, Baseball Dads (Skyhorse Publishing), he stated, “One of the greatest quotes I live by is one that [my father] told me.  He said, ‘Whatever you do in life just make sure you give it 110 per cent.  I don’t care if it’s vacuuming the floor to cleaning your own room to playing baseball to running down the line hard.’”

Brantley added that he is seen as being even keeled, “And I take my hat off to my mom and my father for that.” He also credited his father for sharing his insights into what life in the majors is like and for allowing him to join him at times when Mickey was wearing a big league uniform as a coach.  “Just growing up in a clubhouse watching guys your whole life and how they act and how they handle [matters] and go about their business makes it easier for you,” he observed.

When Brantley, who began his baseball days as a four-year-old playing T-ball, was only nine years old, he was in a league in which he was often pitted against hard-throwing 12-year-old.  When he succeeded there, he came to realize for the first time that, as he put it, “Hey, I’m a pretty good player.”

Now, some 18 years later, many argue he’s no longer a good player, but a great one. If Brantley does manage to cop the MVP, he will become the first Indians player to take that trophy home since 1953 when Al Rosen won that honor. Not too shabby for a player who signed a contract extension going into the 2014 season, a four-year deal worth $25 million, an amount almost tantamount to petty cash by today’s standards.

Remove Mike Trout from the AL and Brantley would have had a legitimate shot at winning the league’s MVP award, Victor Martinez notwithstanding. Even if Brantley should finish third in the balloting, his stats stack up well against the other two candidates as this quick look at a few random numbers from Trout and Martinez shows:

Martinez—.335 batting; OPS of .974; 33 doubles; 32 HR; 103 RBI; and 87 runs.

Trout—.287 batting average; a .939 OPS; 39 two-baggers; 36 homers; 111 ribbies; and 115 runs scored.

Due to Brantley’s superb 2014 season it’s quite apparent that he belongs in mighty fine company, up there with all the big boys.