Donaldson’s numbers back up MVP chants
Blue Jays’ infielder is the people’s choice
TORONTO — When Josh Donaldson steps to the plate at Rogers Centre and the strains of Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight fade out, the crowd noise fills in with chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!”
Sometimes it’s just a few hundred fans, until the star Blue Jays slugger hits a home run and some 40,000 more join the call.
“I try not to listen to it too much, but it’s nice,” Donaldson said. “Obviously all year the fans have really supported me. So far this year it’s kind of worked out, and we’ll see how it goes.”
To say it has worked out is the understatement of the year from the third baseman, a front-runner to be the American League’s Most Valuable Player. Donaldson leads the league with a .589 slugging percentage, 111 runs batted in, 304 total bases and 104 runs scored. He has passed, and even lapped, last season’s MVP Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels by being at the forefront of the Blue Jays’ surge into first place.
“I don’t think we’re anywhere close to where we’re at without him,” starting pitcher Mark Buehrle said. “If he doesn’t win, I’d be disappointed.”
Donaldson would be the first player in 31 years to win AL MVP honours after being traded before opening day. Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos pulled off the steal of the off-season by acquiring Donaldson from the Oakland Athletics for oft-injured third baseman Brett Lawrie, pitchers Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin, and minor league infielder Franklin Barreto.
The 29-year-old hit 29 home runs last season and 24 in 2013. Coming off an all-star appearance, expectations were Donaldson would be an upgrade, but few could have predicted this.
“Two years in Oakland he had good years, but not this good,” Buehrle said.
“If somebody says they thought he was going to have this good of a year, I think they’re crazy.”
Donaldson, the No. 2 hitter in front of power righties Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in baseball’s most feared and productive lineup, is batting a career-best .304 and already has 36 home runs.
Using the wins above replacement stat, Donaldson’s 7.64 trails only Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.
“He’s having a career year,” Toronto starter Marco Estrada said. “What he brings on the field is everything. He’s been our best hitter, his defence is incredible and he brings a lot of energy to the clubhouse. I’m glad he’s on our side.”
Donaldson leads Trout in wins above replacement and has been much better since the all-star break. Trout’s Angels also have fallen 5-1/2 games back of the second wild-card spot in the AL, while the Blue Jays lead the New York Yankees by 1-1/2 games in the East Division.
“I think he’s been consistent, he’s played great defence,” Jays catcher Dioner Navarro said. “He’s doing it on a team that we’ve got two or three guys that could be doing the same. Eddie, Bau, when those guys were struggling, he’s been really consistent throughout the whole year.”
Even after replacing a homegrown Canadian in Lawrie, Donaldson became a fan favourite almost right away. As his MVP-calibre season has gone by, he has only picked up more support.
“It’s been surreal,” Donaldson said Sunday at his first Basebowl charity event benefiting Jays Care and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto. “I feel since Day 1 everybody’s been open arms for me and just kind of excited for not just what I have to offer but the team has had to offer.
“We’ve really been playing well as of late. It’s exciting to be a part of this team.”