One guy almost won the triple crown while breaking a 61 year record on a team that won the best division in baseball basically carrying the team. The other guy was not close and his team came in third place in a weak division. Very good year, absolutely, yes.
I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't even close. I thought more writers would vote for Ohtani. I'm glad they didn't. He may be unique, but he isn't as good or valuable as Judge. His WAR is crazy.
But, for me, it was a breakdown of the second half that seals it. Judge's split after the All Star break was something like .349/.502/.745. Insane. But, even more important, the rest of the lineup was .220/.3something/.3something. He literally carried an otherwise bottom of the league lineup. And a ton of walk off hits.
It always seemed to me a player should be considered valuable only if a team has a winning season. Judge was valuable. Ohtani had a great season. Like Pirates general manager Branch Rickey allegedly said to Ralph Kiner who was asking for more money, "We finished last with you, we can finish last without you."
I'm in the camp that believes that Ohtani, if healthy, deserves the MVP nearly every year. I saw a stats equivalent comparing his numbers to Stanton as a hitter and Scherzer (I think) as a pitcher. A player that good at both hitting and pitching is going to be MVP pretty much every year, unless there is another player with an absolutely incredible year. Judge had one of those years, and deserved it.
I'm in the camp that believes that Ohtani, if healthy, deserves the MVP nearly every year. I saw a stats equivalent comparing his numbers to Stanton as a hitter and Scherzer (I think) as a pitcher. A player that good at both hitting and pitching is going to be MVP pretty much every year, unless there is another player with an absolutely incredible year. Judge had one of those years, and deserved it.
I really agree with this. What Ohtani has been doing is incredibly valuable, and seasons like that will deserve the MVP most years. Judge had a historically great season, and easily deserved it this year.
better than A-Rod's 2007 season. That was A-Rod at his best, 54/156/.314 with plus speed (24 steals) and fielding.
Yet here comes Judge with a season even a tier above that. His basic hitting stats match or exceed A-Rod despite it being a much lower run scoring environment in 2022 compared to 2007. Not only that, but A-Rod had a far superior lineup protecting him. Judge also has pretty good speed and fielding.
A-Rod's 2007 was an All-Time Yankee season. Judge's 2022 will go down as an All-Time Baseball season.
And Yankees might have been a .500 ball club.
Or worse.
Keep smoking that San Fran chronic brother.
You think Mike Trout may have contributed a touch???
Why?
One guy almost won the triple crown while breaking a 61 year record on a team that won the best division in baseball basically carrying the team. The other guy was not close and his team came in third place in a weak division. Very good year, absolutely, yes.
But, for me, it was a breakdown of the second half that seals it. Judge's split after the All Star break was something like .349/.502/.745. Insane. But, even more important, the rest of the lineup was .220/.3something/.3something. He literally carried an otherwise bottom of the league lineup. And a ton of walk off hits.
And Yankees might have been a .500 ball club.
Or worse.
Never speak that mans name again.
And Yankees might have been a .500 ball club.
Or worse.
I really agree with this. What Ohtani has been doing is incredibly valuable, and seasons like that will deserve the MVP most years. Judge had a historically great season, and easily deserved it this year.
Yet here comes Judge with a season even a tier above that. His basic hitting stats match or exceed A-Rod despite it being a much lower run scoring environment in 2022 compared to 2007. Not only that, but A-Rod had a far superior lineup protecting him. Judge also has pretty good speed and fielding.
A-Rod's 2007 was an All-Time Yankee season. Judge's 2022 will go down as an All-Time Baseball season.