Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani MVP Wins: Voter Reactions & Player Value

Aaron Judge's AL MVP Victory

• 🏆 Aaron Judge secured his second consecutive AL MVP award, marking his third overall and placing him among elite players.
• ⚾ Despite Cal Raleigh's historic season, voters recognized Judge's "video game" numbers, including a .330 batting average and 53 home runs, highlighting his continuous improvement.
• ✨ Judge is praised as an unbelievable player and human, serving as a great ambassador for baseball, with his performance often described as "video game stuff."

Cal Raleigh's MVP Case

• 🔑 Catcher Erik Kratz and others argued that Cal Raleigh was the most valuable player for his team, citing his switch-hitting prowess and exceptional handling of the pitching staff.
• 📊 Some voters, like Tyler Kapner, supported Raleigh, emphasizing the importance of honoring his record-setting 60 home runs for a catcher across 705 plate appearances.
• ⚖️ The discussion highlighted the challenge of comparing Judge's offensive dominance with Raleigh's all-encompassing value as a catcher.

Shohei Ohtani's Unanimous NL MVP

• 👑 Shohei Ohtani unanimously won the NL MVP, making it his third consecutive MVP award, a rare feat in baseball history.
• ⚠️ There's a concern that fans might become "desensitized" to Ohtani's greatness due to his consistent, unprecedented performance as both a hitter and pitcher.
• 🚀 Ohtani's ability to perform at an elite level offensively while rehabbing from injury further underscores his unique talent and dedication.

Debating Player Value

• 💡 The panel discussed how the MVP award often goes to the "best player" rather than the "most valuable player," especially when considering positions like catcher.
• ✅ It was suggested that co-MVPs might have been appropriate this year, given the historic seasons of both Judge and Raleigh.
• ⚾ Catchers are considered the most valuable person on a baseball field due to their hitting, handling of pitching staff, and strategic responsibilities.

MVP Landscape

• 🙏 Aaron Judge is likely "super juiced" that Ohtani moved to the National League, as it removes his toughest competition for the AL MVP award.
• 🔮 Ohtani is predicted to dominate the MVP award for years to come in the NL, potentially becoming the first player with "negative money" odds for the award.
• 🏆 The consensus is that the MVP awards are "these two guys' awards to win" until other players can consistently match their historic performances.