Is Ohtani's 3rd MVP also unanimous? 40-40 in different dimensions, and 50-50 for the first time ever, a warranty check
Aug 24, 2024
|
|
MLB.com said in a postgame commentary after Ohtani hit 40 steals and 40 home runs for the season against the Tampa Bay Rays on the 24th (Korea time), `If Ohtani wins the NL MVP, this will be the first time for a 40-40 member to win the highest player honor for the second consecutive year. The only time the previous 40-40 achievement won the league MVP was in 1988 by Oakland Athletics Jose Canseco, he said.
Ohtani's winning the NL MVP was considered a given, but the media said that 40-40 had lost its reputation for 17 years, and last year, Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. was named MVP with 41 home runs and 73 steals, and Ohtani will take over the baton this year.
Ohtani stole his 40th base of the season by stealing second base at Freddie Freeman's at-bat after hitting an infield hit to shortstop in the bottom of the fourth inning at home against Tampa Bay at Dodger Stadium. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded with two outs, he hit a slider from left-hander Colin Forsche to hit a walk-off grand slam to right-center to mark his 40th home run of the season. It can't help but be the most impressive moment in 40-40 club history.
Ohtani is only focusing on hitting as he moves to the NL this season. He had surgery on his right elbow when he was with the Los Angeles Angels last fall, and is taking a season off as a pitcher. It was a brief pause in the pitching and hitting jobs, but Ohtani's cartoon-like genius never disappeared.
|
As mentioned by MLB.com , among the five players who achieved 40-40 earlier, only Canseco and Acuña Jr. are MVP. In 1996, Barry Bonds (42 home runs - 49 steals) finished fifth in NL MVP voting, and in 1998, Alex Rodriguez (42 home runs - 46 steals) was ranked ninth with 92 points in AL MVP voting. In 2006, Alfonso Soriano (46 home runs-41 steals) remained sixth in NL MVP voting.
In other words, 40-40 was not historically an MVP guarantee check. However, Ohtani's 40-40 is a different dimension. It not only achieved it at the fastest pace ever, but also had a dramatic element in that it was achieved together in one game and completed with a walk-off grand slam at the same time.
As of today, Ohtani ranks first in home runs (40), runs (97), slugging percentage (0.614), OPS (0.992), slugging (75), and Ruta (307) in NL. The RBI (92) and the stolen base are second, bWAR (6.5) first, and fWAR (6.1) second, respectively. Even if it's not 40-40 there's actually no player to match Ohtani in the NL.
If Ohtani wins the NL MVP, he will be the first designated hitter ever, and the MVP of both leagues could be the second player after Frank Robinson (1961 in Cincinnati and 1966 in Baltimore).
What should be noted is whether it is unanimous or not. Ohtani received unanimous opinion both times when he was named AL MVP in 2021 and 2023. This is also the first time ever. If he conquers from 40-40 to 50-50, chances are high that he will also win his third MVP unanimously.
jhno@sportschosun.com
