The NL MVP race is game over!

LA Times reporter Bill Flasky wrote in his column on the 14th, ‘The game is over. He claimed, “Mookie Betts should be the National League MVP.”

Reporter Flasky, who appeared at the stadium the day before wearing a straw hat, prepared an article to argue that Betts deserved to be the MVP. He highlights Betts’ all-round sportsman.

Betts plays not only right field, but also second base and shortstop, and is hitting a record number of home runs (39th) as a top hitter, so he should beat Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. to become the NL MVP. Betts and Acuna Jr.’s main positions are right field and top hitters.

Since the MVP award, along with the Cy Young Award, is decided by a vote on the last day of the regular season by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), it is doubtful whether the voting committee will agree with columnist Flaski’s claim.

Contrary to Flasky’s claim, it is true that Acuna Jr. is ahead in the MVP race. In particular, if Acuna Jr. adds three home runs and joins the 40-40 club (home runs and stolen bases), it will be a decisive plus factor in MVP voting. In MLB history, there are only four players in the 40-40 club. Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, etc. All face drug charges.

As of the 15th, Acuna Jr. has a batting average of 0.335 (3rd in NL), 37 home runs, 97 RBI, 66 stolen bases, 133 runs, on-base percentage of 0.416, slugging percentage of 0.586, OPS of 1.002, and WAR of 7.6.

Dodgers Betts has a batting average of 0.312, 39 home runs, 103 RBI, 13 stolen bases, 120 runs, on-base percentage of 0.412, slugging percentage of 0.607, OPS of 1.019, and WAR of 8.1 (1st in MLB).

Although they are somewhat inferior to the two front runners, Dodgers and Atlanta first basemen Freddie Freeman and Matt Olsen are also no slouch. Both are left-handed hitters. Their performance is an MVP-type season this year. Betts and Acuna Jr. are so far ahead that the light is obscured.

Among the four candidates, Betts and Freeman have the experience of winning MVP. Betts won the AL with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, and Freeman won the award with Atlanta in 2020, when the season was shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Olson tied Atlanta’s most home runs (51) in a season this year. It is only a matter of time before Atlanta breaks the record in the remaining games. The previous record was 51 by center fielder Andrew Jones in 2005. Olson leads the league in home runs and RBI (128). He has a batting average of 0.279. Olson is benefiting from his batting average this year due to the ban on shift defense. It’s an extreme full hitter.

Freeman has a batting average of 0.337 (2nd). He is chasing league leader Luis Arraez (0.349) of the Miami Marlins. 26 home runs, 99 RBI, on-base percentage of 0.414, slugging percentage of 0.576, OPS of 0.990, and WAR of 6.2.먹튀검증

Freeman is attempting an MLB record. It’s a double hit. He currently has 55. In MLB history, there are only six players with more than 60 doubles in a season. The record for most doubles in a season is Earl Webb’s 67. It is focused on the 1920s and 1930s. George Burns (64) of the Cleveland Guardians in 1926 was the only one, and in the 1930s, Webb of the Boston Red Sox, Joe Medwick (64) of the St. Louis Cardinals, Paul Wanner (63) of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gerringer of the Detroit Tigers (60 or more), etc. am.

The stadium at that time was bigger than it is now. In particular, the left and right middle fences were deep. The reason why Freeman’s double stands out is because in the current situation where the stadium is small, it depends on whether or not 60 hits will be made.

The AL MVP is almost certain to be Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), although he has missed 11 consecutive games due to injury. However, the NL is very interesting as it is highly likely that reaching a record by the end of the regular season in a best-of-four match will determine whether or not the MVP will be awarded.