Nobody better: Betts, Yelich clear choices for MVP awards
NEW YORK (AP) >> Now that the regular season is finally in the books, time to bestow baseball’s biggest individual prizes. It took one extra day to sort out the playoff bracket, but these debates have been underway for weeks.
Christian Yelich seems a cinch for NL MVP, but is it Mookie Betts or Boston teammate J.D. Martinez in the American League?
Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer for the NL Cy Young Award?
Shohei Ohtani or Miguel Andujar for AL Rookie of the Year?
Martinez has been a monster at the plate in his first season with the Red Sox after signing a $110 million, fiveyear contract. He launched 43 home runs and led the majors with 130 RBIs. He compiled
a 1.031 OPS and hit .330, finishing second to Betts (. 346) in the batting race.
All big reasons why Boston had the best record in baseball at 108-54.
Hitting at the top of the order, Betts had 32 homers, 80 RBIs, 129 runs and a whopping 1.078 OPS.
But on defense and the bases, it’s no comparison. Martinez started 57 games in the outfield but 93 at designated hitter. Betts, a sensational defender, started 115 games in right field and 13 in center. Plus, he stole 30 bases in 36 attempts.
All those elite skills. That’s why he led the majors in wins above replacement with 10.9 ( per baseball-reference.com).
“I’d vote for Betts,” Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. “The impact that he has defensively is what sets him over the top for me. I told people, he’s the best right fielder I’ve ever seen. He makes plays that people in the stands don’t realize are not routine. Throws well. Steals a base when he needs to. He’s special.”
Angels star Mike Trout merits his annual look, along with Houston third baseman Alex Bregman, Cleveland infielder Jose Ramirez and Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor.
But in the end, Betts is the clear winner after be- ing runner-up to Trout two years ago.
Voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America is conducted before the postseason opener Tuesday night, and results will be announced in November.
Here are our selections for the other top awards:
NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP: With a huge second half, Yelich practically carried Milwaukee to an NL Central championship and the best record in the league during his first season with the team. He came within a wisp of becoming the first Triple Crown winner in the National League since Joe “Ducky” Medwick in 1937. Yelich won the batting title with a .326 average and had 36 homers to go with 110 RBIs, 118 runs, 22 steals in 26 tries and a 1.000 OPS that led the league by a wide margin. He came through with three hits and an RBI as the Brewers beat the Cubs 3-1 on Monday in a one-game tiebreaker for the division crown at Wrigley Field.
That’s how MVP awards are won, and this election won’t be close. Could be unanimous.
“Down the stretch, he’s been willing that team it seems like. One night it’s the cycle, one night it’s a homer late, another night he walks five times. I think it’s Yelly,” said Don Mattingly, manager of the Miami Marlins team that traded Yelich last offseason.