MLB.com "Otani approval rating 25.9% P↑", but not with this...3rd unanimous MVP condition?
Jul 19, 2024
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Babe Ruth wrote a legend of pitching and hitting as a pitcher with a 9-5 record with a 2.97 ERA and 0.322-29 homers and 113 RBIs as a batter with the Boston Red Sox in 1919, but the figure is weak compared to Ohtani.
Ohtani went 9-2 with a 3.18-156 strikeout-46 homers-100 RBIs in 2021, 15-9-2.33-219 strikeouts-34 homers-95 RBIs in 2022, and 10-5-314-167 strikeouts-44 homers-95 RBIs in 2023.
In particular, Ohtani became the first major league player in 2021 and 2023 to build a unanimous MVP twice, and in 2022, he achieved both the regular innings and the regular at-bats for the first time. Then, will he be able to become a unanimous MVP this season when he is taking a break as a pitcher.
First of all, there is no disagreement that Ohtani is the strongest MVP candidate in the National League (NL).
According to the results of '2024 4th League MVP mock vote announced by MLB.com on the 19th (Korea time), Ohtani received the first-place vote from 35 (85.4%) out of 41 participating panels. In the third round of voting on June 18, 25 out of 42 (59.5%) voted Ohtani first. In the month, Otani 'Support Rate' rose 25.9 percentage points.
Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper, who received nine first-place votes in the third round, had only five votes this time. In the case of Harper, he was away for 11 days due to a hamstring injury at the end of the first half, which was 'minus', but Ohtani's rise was so strong.
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Again, we must show achievements that will go down in history. As can be seen from the fact that Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees broke the record for the most home runs in a single AL season in 2022, but did not receive unanimous opinion, unanimous votes are not easy. Ironically, the other two reporters who did not take a picture of the jersey at the time supported Ohtani.
First of all, Ohtani can aim for the triple crown. He is second to Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich (0.326) in batting average with .316 (117 hits in 370 times at bat). The difference of 1 percent in the second half of the race can be reversed as much as possible. The number of RBIs is 69, third behind Atlanta Braves Marcel Ojuna (77) and Philadelphia's Alec Bohm (70), which is also a chance to catch up.
Triple Crown in the NL was last achieved by st. Louis Cardinals Joe Medwick in 1937. As Ohtani is challenging the milestone for the first time in 87 years, the voting press corps has no choice but to keep an eye on it.
There is another milestone for Ohtani to challenge. It is 50 home runs and 30 steals. 50-30 has never been written in history. Last year, Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr. won the MVP unanimously, achieving his first-ever 40-70 home run and stealing, and while there may be differences of opinion, 50-30 is as valuable a record as 40-70. Ohtani is calculated to have 48 home runs and 38 steals if he maintains his pace in the first half.
In any case, if Ohtani wins the NL MVP, he will be the second player in both leagues to be named MVP after Frank Robinson (1961 Cincinnati Reds, 1966 Baltimore Orioles).
Meanwhile, in the AL, New York Yankees Aaron Judge remained overwhelmingly first with 38 support among 41 people. Judge ranks first in the integration of both leagues in six categories, including 34 home runs, 85 RBIs, an on-base percentage of 0.433, a slugging percentage of 0.679, and an OPS of 1.12.
jhno@sportschosun.com
