The American League MVP race is a two-horse race between the Yankees’ Aaron Decide and the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani. Relying on who you ask, the award may go to both particular person. Nevertheless, the adamancy of Ohtani followers is way larger than that of the followers backing Decide.
Whereas the consensus amongst Decide backers appears to be “Positive, Ohtani can hit and pitch, however I consider Decide ought to win the MVP,” the Ohtani protection appears to lie extra alongside the strains of “In case you don’t vote for Ohtani, you have to be banned from having an opinion on baseball eternally” or “If he was the unanimous MVP final season, any season even near 2021 ought to end in an MVP for Ohtani as properly.” Clearly, these are hyperboles, however neither is just too far off from actuality. Like, geez of us, settle down.
Personally, I’ve Ohtani above Decide in my MVP rankings, not that that issues in any respect, however it simply goes to point out that I’m not making an attempt to be a singular snowflake or play satan’s advocate. The very fact of the matter is that each Decide and Ohtani are having insane, historic seasons and each ought to be given MVP recognition. Nevertheless, denying one in all these gamers’ greatness solely makes your facet of the aisle look insecure. Refusing to offer anybody with an opposing viewpoint the sunshine of day and claiming that they simply “don’t know baseball,” can solely hurt your candidate’s MVP case.
G/O Media could get a fee
We all know that the BBWAA could be very biased. Completely different reporters from completely different areas of the nation are usually extra lenient to their very own gamers and their award candidacies. Nevertheless, different components can play a task as properly: Rivalries, public notion, public outcry, and private biases. For me, I really like plate self-discipline. I’ve additionally at all times hated Bryce Harper (don’t ask why). Therefore, had I had a vote in final 12 months’s Nationwide League MVP race, I might’ve put Juan Soto in first place.
In essence, the general public’s attachment to Shohei Ohtani is well-deserved. He’s one of the best baseball participant on the planet in my eyes and he’s doing issues no person alive has ever seen. Nevertheless, dismissing Decide solely will solely push the folks which can be on the fence about him. It’s like several argument. It’s human nature to facet with the argument that appears extra rational, and the narrative of “when you don’t consider this, you shouldn’t be allowed to have an opinion” just isn’t solely harsh, however unfair, and can push folks nonetheless making an attempt to resolve towards your opposition purely out of spite.
I perceive that different components could also be at play too. Old skool voters love group success. Seeing as how the Angels have already been eradicated from playoff rivalry, that can most likely damage Ohtani’s probabilities immensely. The truth that Decide performs on the Yankees will even be an element. He’s placing collectively one of many biggest offensive seasons ever (he’s stable defensively and on the basepaths, too) within the greatest market in America. He’s heart stage for your entire nation to see principally each evening and has quite a lot of drama surrounding him concerning his upcoming free company. That makes him marketable. That makes him eye-popping and intriguing. He additionally has by no means gained an MVP earlier than, and voters are inclined to draw back from individuals who’ve already amassed unimaginable success and award recognition as Ohtani has.
Basically, as one-sided as it could appear to some folks, the voting shall be shut, actually shut. As an Ohtani backer myself, I implore anybody who needs to dismiss Decide’s 60 residence runs to rethink for Ohtani’s sake. Blame Yankee Stadium for its dimensions all you need, however Decide is having a historic season. Acknowledge that, and if the voters do wind up selecting Decide, stroll away with grace. Ohtani’s skillset will make him an MVP candidate yearly. Decide won’t hit 60 residence runs each season, particularly if he leaves the Yankees this offseason. He’ll be again, and he’ll doubtless earn a number of extra MVP awards by the top of his profession.
