Injuries could decide AL MVP

It happened while you were at the lake over Labor Day weekend. But since the baseball schedule stops for no one, it’s my obligation to let you know what happened.

The American League MVP is different now than when you left the office (early) on Friday afternoon.

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The award is no longer a simple question of whether Josh Hamilton or Miguel Cabrera will finish the season with better overall numbers.

It could be that the healthiest man wins.

Staying on the field has become a concern for MVP candidates, particularly Hamilton. And discerning readers will note that it’s hard to display one’s value while sitting on the bench.

First, the facts:

• Hamilton exited Saturday’s game because of bruised ribs. Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told FOXSports.com on Monday that Hamilton will be out “maybe a week, give or take.”

• Cabrera left Thursday’s game with left biceps tendinitis and didn’t play the next day. He has, however, started each of the Tigers’ last three games. When asked if Cabrera will require days off, club president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said, “Not at this time, but it depends on how he feels.”

• Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, who belongs among the top five on any AL ballot, was out of the lineup on Monday because of lower-back stiffness. He told reporters that he expects to play Tuesday in Detroit.

So, among serious candidates for the award, Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is the only one without a known health issue.

(A quick aside: For those who question whether Cano belongs in this group, I’ll grant you that his offensive production isn’t quite on par with the other three. But he’s been the most consistent hitter on the best team in the majors. He’s also an elite defender at an up-the-middle position. Plus, did you really think we could ignore the AL East?)

By this time in last year’s AL derby, Twins catcher Joe Mauer had emerged as the clear frontrunner. He won the award while receiving 27 of 28 first-place votes.

I doubt there will be a similar consensus pick this season. At the moment, it’s a tossup between Hamilton and Cabrera. Konerko could become a threat if the White Sox, currently 3 1/2 games back, catch the Twins in the AL Central.

Hamilton is hitting .361 and will probably win the batting title. He has hit 31 home runs and should, if healthy, surpass the 100-RBI mark in short order.

Cabrera, though, has the more impressive offensive profile. Among AL hitters, he is second in batting, tied for second in homers and first with 110 RBIs.

Still, a couple tiebreakers point to Hamilton: He’s a better defender than Cabrera, who has nonetheless improved at first base; and the Rangers are headed to the postseason, while the

“He’s on a winning team,” Boston’s Kevin Youkilis said of Hamilton. “Usually, that takes precedent.”

But what if Hamilton misses two or three weeks, instead of one?

In baseball, showing up every day is a valuable and necessary skill. Cabrera (134 games) and Hamilton (130) have done so a comparable number of times.

Yet, what if Cabrera surges in September while Hamilton rests for the postseason?

Should the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which votes on the award, take that into consideration?

Sadly, Hamilton’s fitness for duty has been an issue before. He lost years of his career to substance abuse. He made a triumphant and productive return to baseball beginning in 2007, but he’s also been plagued by injuries. His body has gone through off-the-field trials uncommon for a 29-year-old baseball player.

Hamilton has a reputation for wearing down, and that may be happening again. Soreness in his right knee kept him from playing the outfield last week in Kansas City. Then back stiffness forced him to leave Friday’s game against the Twins. The bruised ribs came after that.

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Hamilton probably won’t feel 100 percent until sometime during the offseason. That’s not a surprise. The vast majority of major leaguers don’t feel 100 percent right now, either.

The question is whether Hamilton can rest for a week, rejoin the lineup, and resume punishing the ball as he has all season.

If he can, he has a great chance to be the AL MVP.

But if he can’t regain his groove — or if he plays only a handful of games over the remainder of the season — Cabrera will become a more appealing pick.

Of course, it’s hardly a given that Cabrera will finish with a flourish. He’s hitting .250 (3-for-12) with a double and two RBIs in three games since sustaining the injury. I can’t imagine it will be easy to hit home runs with one healthy arm.

Perfect attendance is hardly a requirement to be the MVP. Mauer didn’t debut last year until May; by season’s end, he was the near-unanimous pick.

But recent history also says that April absences are more easily excused than those later in the season. As of Sept. 1, 2008, Carlos Quentin was a legitimate MVP candidate. That day, a broken wrist ended his bid.

So if you want to know who is leading the MVP race, feel free to check the statistical leaders. Just don’t forget the medical updates, too.