The American League MVP race is a two-horse race between Judge Aaron of the Yankees and Angel Shohei Ohtani. Depending on who you ask, the prize can go to either person. However, the trust of Ohtani fans is much greater than that of Judge supporters.
While the consensus among Judge supporters seems to be “Sure, Ohtani can hit and pitch, but I believe Judge should win the MVP,” defender Ohtani seems to lie more along the lines of ” If you don’t vote for Ohtani, you should be banned from commenting on baseball forever” or “If he was the unanimous MVP last season, then any season even closer to 2021 would be fine.” will lead to an MVP for Ohtani.” Obviously, those are super extremes, but also not too far away from reality.Like, guys, calm down.
Personally, I have Ohtani above Judge in my MVP rankings, which doesn’t matter at all, but it just shows that I’m not trying to be a unique snowflake or ghost advocate. devil. The truth of the matter is that both Judge and Ohtani are having crazy, historic seasons and both should be given MVP recognition. However, denying one of these players’ greatness just makes your path look unsafe. Refusing to give light to anyone who holds opposing views and claims that they “don’t know baseball,” can only harm your candidate’s MVP case.
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We know that BBWAA can be very biased. Different reporters from different parts of the country tend to be more lenient with their players and their award contenders. However, other factors may also play a role: Competition, public perception, public outcry, and personal bias. For me, I love plate discipline. I’ve also always hated Bryce Harper (don’t ask why). Therefore, if I had a vote in last year’s National League MVP race, I would put Juan Soto in first place.
In essence, the public’s attachment to Shohei Ohtani is well-deserved. He’s the best baseball player on the planet in my eyes and he’s doing things that no one alive has ever seen. However, completely firing Judge will only push those who have barriers to him. It’s like any argument. Human nature is on the side of the argument that seems more logical, and the “if you don’t believe this, you’re not allowed to have an opinion” narrative is not only harsh but unfair, and will make people angry. still trying to decide on your objection in complete defiance.
I understand that other factors may also be present. Old-school voters love the team’s success. Witnessing how the Angels have been knocked out of the playoffs, it will likely hurt Ohtani’s chances a lot. Judge’s role on the Yankees will also be a factor. He’s putting together one of the greatest offensive seasons ever (he’s defensively solid and on the trails) in America’s biggest market. He’s the center stage for the nation to watch basically every night and there’s a lot of movie going around him related to his upcoming free agency. That makes him marketable. That makes him eye-catching and attractive. He’s also never won an MVP before, and voters tend to steer clear of those who have achieved incredible success and award recognition like Ohtani.
Basically, it seems one way to some people, voting is going to be very, very close. As an Ohtani supporter, I implore anyone who wants to fire Judge 60 home to reconsider for Ohtani’s sake. Blame Yankee Stadium for the all you want size, but Judge is having a historic season. Realize that, and if the voters don’t choose the Judge, walk away gracefully. Ohtani’s skills will make him an annual MVP contender. Judge won’t hit 60 home runs per season, especially if he leaves the Yankees this season. He’ll be back and he’s likely to earn more MVP awards by the end of his career.
