Since Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners won the MVP in 2001, Otani is expected to win the second MVP as a Japanese player. Like NPB, MLB is decided by a reporter’s vote, but I think there are many reporters who are particularly worried about this year’s American League.
[Related article: “Shohei Otani” talked by a high school classmate Cheers every time he walks in the school]
This season, Salvador Pérez (Royals) broke the MLB home run record as a catcher, and Johnny Bench (Reds) was the second to achieve two home runs and RBIs in 1970 and 1972. be. With only two people in 145 years of history, and the highest number of home runs as a catcher, it’s safe to get an MVP in the normal season.
In the first place, the catcher has a heavy defensive burden, and even if the batting record is not overwhelming, he has won MVP. The most recent catcher’s MVP was Buster Posey (Giants) in 2012, who was the top hitter of the year, but homer was 22nd in the league and RBI was 6th. However, the team won the World Series.
The previous catcher’s MVP was Joe Mauer (Twins) in 2009. After all, he was the top batting average in the league, and he had a high batting average of .365, but he was 17th in the league and 16th in RBI, and although the team won the district, the playoffs were lost in the division series.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays), on the other hand, was said to be the closest to the Triple Crown this year, but eventually shared the home run with Perez and was crowned. Even so, the batting average is 3rd in the league and the RBI is 5th, which can be said to be an MVP class activity. In the first place, MVPs tend to be selected from the top teams, and although the Blue Jays who fought for wild cards until the final round of the season ended up in 4th place in the district, they were better than the Royals and Angels who dropped out early from the playoff fight. It is a high-ranking grade. In a recent example, it’s closer to Bryce Harper (Nationals), who won the MVP in 2015 in a different league. The Nationals missed the playoffs in second place in the district that year, and Harper was second in batting average, first in home runs, and fifth in RBI.
By the way, Guerrero Jr.’s father was a so-called “5-tool player” with a high batting average, long hitting ability, fast legs and strong shoulders. The best season is batting average .345 (2000), 44 home runs (2000), 131 RBIs (1999), 40 stolen bases (2002). Although he never won the title in these four fielders, he won the American League MVP in 2004. The team that was enrolled at that time was the Angels. If Guerrero Jr. wins MVP this year, he will be the first parent-child MVP in MLB history. There are many fans and reporters who want to see it.
Let’s first look at the negative factors of Otani, who is competing with these two leading candidates.
1. 1.Low batting average
Otani’s batting average is .257. The lowest batting average among MLB MVP winners was Marty Marion (Cardinals) .267 in 1944. If Otani with a batting average of .257 wins an MVP, he will be the MVP with the lowest batting average in MLB history, except for pitchers.
Among the MVPs of both leagues in the last 10 years, there are a total of 18 fielders, but the lowest batting average is .281 of 2017 Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins). The league ranking is 24th, the lowest in the last 10 years. On the other hand, 59 home runs and 132 RBIs were double crowns. Otani’s batting average this season is 45th in the league.
2.Being active for the first time in about 100 years
In 2021, Otani became a player who played an active part in throwing throughout the season for the first time in about 100 years since Babe Ruth. Having been active for the first time in about 100 years should be a “plus factor” for choosing Otani as the MVP …
However, there is also an argument that you should wait for a while here. Otani showed an activity that only he could do, but he is only 27 years old. If you are healthy, next year and next year, no, I think you will get similar results for another 5 to 6 years. Then, in 2021, if Otani, who played an active role that no one can do, was selected as the MVP, and if the results are the same from the following year onward, Otani will be the MVP every year. Is that ok? It is an argument.
In fact, the commentator had such a discussion in the local broadcast. It may seem like a sophistry, but it may be a possible argument as there are only Otani players on the planet at the same time as throwing and hitting.
3. 3.The team performance was not good
As mentioned in Guerrero Jr., MVPs are often selected from the top teams. This season’s Angels were 4th in the district, and although they were 4th in the district as a result, it can be said that they are a lower team than the Blue Jays of Guerrero Jr. who fought for the playoffs until the final round. Poor team performance is a negative factor in being selected as an MVP.
As mentioned above, there are several possible reasons why Otani is not selected as an MVP, but on the contrary, I would like to add that there are also the following three positive factors.
1. 1.An activity that more than compensates for the low batting average
Low batting average is a negative factor, but it doesn’t matter if the batting average is low in other fields! If you are active enough to say that, it will not be considered much. 1944 MVP Marion (Cardinals) has a batting average of .267, 6 home runs, 63 RBIs, 1 stolen base and a rude but mediocre batting average. However, Marion was 190 cm, which was a super-large short at that time, and was called “The Octopus” because he used his long limbs to catch the ball well, and was said to be the best short. In other words, in the case of Marion, even if the batting score is mediocre, the batting score does not matter! It means that the defensive splendor was outstanding.
The second lowest batting average among MVP winners was Roger Maris (Yankees) in 1961 at .269. Batting average wouldn’t have been a problem for Maris that year, as Babe Ruth recorded 61 home runs in excess of 60, which was the most home runs of the season in 1927.
Needless to say, Otani has achieved top-level results in terms of extra-base hitting ability and running ability, and has also achieved top-notch results as a pitcher. It doesn’t matter if the batting average is low! You can say that.
2.Being active for the first time in about 100 years
This was mentioned as a negative factor, but of course it is also a positive factor. Even if you simply compare by the number of years, Otani is the first player in about 100 years, Perez has achieved the double crown of home base hitting king and RBI king as a catcher for the first time in 49 years since the bench in 1972, and Guerrero Jr. is the triple crown king. Even if he missed the title, it was the first time in nine years since Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) in 2012.
Of these, there is no doubt that the player who has been active for the first time in about 100 years is “Most Valuable”. A reporter’s vote will answer each year what happens if they achieve similar results for the next five or six years.
3. 3.The team’s performance was not good
This was also mentioned as a negative factor, but it is also a positive factor. Guerrero Jr. had six teammates with more than 20 home runs, but Otani was the only one, 29 Jared Walsh. Guerrero Jr. was in a season protected by these smashers, but Otani was in a lonely struggle in the batting line. If there was a smasher in the back, there would be fewer walks and more games.
In fact, teammate Mike Trout, who has won the MVP three times in the past, has won the MVP in 2016 and 2019, even though his team performance is fourth. Poor team performance means that it is difficult to achieve good results if you turn it over.
Sentence, former Major League Baseball interpreter, current MLB player association official agent, Kazutaka Kojima * All teams belong to those days
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