2013 MLB Awards: Pirates Andrew McCutchen named NL MVP
By Matt Shetler
The awards for the 2013 Major League Baseball season wrapped up on Thursday and the Pittsburgh Pirates continued what was a spectacular season for the organization.
As many expected, that season was rewarded with some additional hardware as Pirates’ center fielder Andrew McCutchen was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player, the first Pirates player to win the award since Barry Bonds accomplished the feat over 20 years ago.
The vote was expected to be one of the closest ones of all-time, but McCutchen won in a landslide, reeling in 28 of the potential 30 first-place votes. His 409 total points in the voting outdistanced second place finisher Paul Goldschmidt (242) by a large margin.
Oct 6, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) reacts after hitting a double against the St. Louis Cardinals in game three of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
McCutchen was the face of a franchise that broke a 20-year losing streak and made the postseason for the first time since 1992.
His season spoke for itself.
McCutchen, 27, made his third consecutive All-Star team in his fifth season in the majors. He played in 157 games and hit .317 with a .404 on-base percentage and a .508 slugging percentage. Cutch hit 21 homers and stole 27 bases and earned his second consecutive Silver Slugger award.
Those numbers are strong on their own, but they look even better when compared to the rest of the league.
McCutchen ranked seventh in the NL in average, third in on-base percentage, sixth in slugging percentage, seventh in doubles, fourth in walks and sixth in steals.
In addition to the traditional numbers, Cutch had an impressive .911 OPS and 8.2 WAR, ranking among the tops in baseball in each category.
Unlike in 2012 where McCutchen and the Pirates slumped down the stretch, Cutch had a big second half and was a major factor in the Bucs making the postseason.
McCutchen finished third a year ago in voting last year, behind San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey and Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun.
Members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America voted for the award before the playoffs began, and McCutchen, Goldschmidt and Yadier Molina were named finalists last week.