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Silver Slugger Award: Winners and Snubs

By Daniel R. Epstein

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Some of the Los Angeles Dodgers Louisville Silver Slugger Awards are displayed inside Dodger Stadium before game two of the National League Division Series on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Some of the Los Angeles Dodgers Louisville Silver Slugger Awards are displayed inside Dodger Stadium before game two of the National League Division Series on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 10: Some of the Los Angeles Dodgers Louisville Silver Slugger Awards are displayed inside Dodger Stadium before game two of the National League Division Series on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 10: Some of the Los Angeles Dodgers Louisville Silver Slugger Awards are displayed inside Dodger Stadium before game two of the National League Division Series on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

MLB just announced the 2017 Silver Slugger Awards in both leagues. Which players are the rightful winners and who are the snubs?

Some awards are complicated. To wit, everyone has a different definition of “most valuable.” Others seem more straightforward, such as the Silver Slugger Award. Defense and team success doesn’t matter. To win, all you have to do is mash opposing pitching as hard as possible.

Simple enough, right? Well…not exactly. Does OBP matter more than SLG? Are counting stats, such as HR, more important than rate stats, such as OPS? What about WAR (what is it good for?) How about advanced stats like wRC+ and WOBA? What about players who missed time with an injury like Mike Trout and Carlos Correa?

"Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind maker-upper to make up his mind. -Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”"

Okay, so maybe it’s a little more complicated than it appears. Nevertheless, here’s a look at the winners from both leagues at each position, as well as one opinion on who should’ve won.

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