Oakland Athletics: Marcus Semien won’t win MVP, but it doesn’t matter
By Justin Fried
Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien put together an incredible 2019 season in unexpected circumstances. However, he’s unlikely to be named the American League MVP, despite being a finalist.
The Oakland Athletics proved that they weren’t a one-year wonder this season by following up a 97-win campaign in 2018 with an equal win total in 2019. Much of that was due to the surprising breakout of shortstop Marcus Semien.
Coincidentally, Semian might be out to prove that he isn’t a one-year wonder when he takes the field next season after putting together a career year in 2019. That career year earned him a spot as a finalist for the American League Most Valuable Player award.
And it really came out of nowhere too.
Prior to 2019, Semien was a capable shortstop who had posted average-at-best stat lines. Semien had been with the A’s since 2015 and not once did he finish with a batting average over .260 or an OPS over .735.
Semien had finished with more than 15 home runs just once and his career-high in walks came in 2018 when he totaled just 61.
Yet, in 2019, Semien checked in with a .285 batting average, .892 OPS, 33 home runs, and 87 walks — far and away career highs in each statistic. Tack on a team-leading 92 RBI despite hitting from the lead-off spot and a whopping 8.1 WAR too.
It was truly a magical season for the former Chicago White Sox infielder and it has culminated with a spot among the American League’s elite as a top-three finalist for the AL’s MVP award.
Unfortunately, A’s fans shouldn’t be counting their breath that he wins it.
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Semien is up against two of the best players in all of baseball in Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Based on name value alone, Semien would finish a distant third.
And even when looking at the statistics, it’s clear that he really has no shot.
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Both Bregman and Trout finished with higher WAR’s per Baseball Reference’s calculations and that’s despite the latter having his season shortened by a mid-September foot injury. On top of that, both had significantly more home runs, RBI, and walks combined with much better slash lines.
Semien was great, but he’s competing against two of the greatest hitters of this generation of baseball. And while he has some metrics on his side — primarily his 123 runs and 162 games played — pretending he stands a chance is foolish.
But that doesn’t matter.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if Semien is named the American League MVP or not. His 2019 season was indicative of his continued growth as a player — something that isn’t exclusive to this year.
At one point, Semien was considered one of the worst defensive shortstops in the MLB and he had the advanced metrics to back it up. Fast-forward to 2018 and he was one of three finalists for the Gold Glove award — an honor he repeated once again in 2019.
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Semien has managed to become perhaps the face of the Oakland Athletics in the unlikeliest of ways. Sure, Matt Chapman still resides in the middle of the lineup and in the center of all our hearts, but perhaps no player better represents Bay Area baseball than Semien.
The way he plays the game, the way he carries himself on and off the diamond, and now, his production.
Semien was not only an American League MVP finalist in 2019, he was the Athletics team leader — both in his on-field play and his off-field leadership. He may never be Alex Bregman or Mike Trout, but he doesn’t have to be.
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Because A’s fans are just fine with Marcus Semien being Marcus Semien any day of the week.