Seriously?

[Halldan1]

Shohei Ohtani ‘wasn’t happy’ Aaron Judge beat him out for AL MVP

Shohei Ohtani did in 2022 what no other player in baseball history had done.

nypost.com

Shohei Ohtani ‘wasn’t happy’ Aaron Judge beat him out for AL MVP​

By Brian Wacker

Shohei Ohtani had a historic season in 2022, but it wasn’t enough for him to earn American League MVP honors. The Angels’ two-way star finished second to Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.

And Ohtani apparently wasn’t happy about that.

“I know he’s determined to have an even better year from last year. He wasn’t happy about not winning the MVP, I can tell you that,” Angels manager Phil Nevin told MLB Network Radio last week. “But he wants to win, first and foremost.”

While the Angels struggled to a 73-89 record and failed again to reach the postseason, Ohtani put up otherworldly numbers.

The 28-year-old finished fourth in the AL in homers (34), seventh in RBIs (95), 10th in OPS (.875) and sixth in OPS+ (145). He also had his best pitching season, going 15-9 with a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts while leading the AL in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9) and finishing third in total strikeouts (219).

He was also the first player with 30 homers and 10 wins in the same season in MLB history, though his OPS and OPS+ were both lower in 2022 than in 2021, when he finished at .965 and 157 while winning the AL MVP.

Last season, Judge set an AL record for home runs with 62 and led the majors in RBIs (131), on-base percentage (.425), slugging (.686), OPS (1.111), OPS+ (211) and total bases (391).

In the end, the 30-year-old Judge earned 28 of the 30 first-place votes, while Ohtani got the other two.

Now that the Angels have added Tyler Anderson, Gio Urshela and Hunter Renfroe, among other moves this offseason, Ohtani is said to be more concerned with looking ahead than back.

“He’s excited about the pieces we’ve added,” Nevin said. “And he’s really excited to get started with what we have lying ahead of us.”

Ohtani and the Angels recently agreed to a one-year, $30 million deal to avoid arbitration. The Post’s Jon Heyman wrote that Ohtani is poised to become MLB’s first $500 million man this offseason as he hits free agency for the first time.

Adding a second MVP trophy to his accolades wouldn’t hurt his chances.

 

[cernjSHU]

It is closer than you think. Judge should have won this based upon his near Triple Crown and the fact that he played for a playoff team. However, as an all around player, you cannot deny Ohtani's brilliant year offensively and as a pitcher. I mean we haven't seen this since Babe Ruth. And Babe Ruth never was dominate as a pitcher and hitter in the same year. Btw, Ruth is king of all crazy stats. (He only won (1) MVP award and when he hit 60 HR, Avg .356 with 137 RBI's, he didn't win the MVP and lost out to Gehrig who batted .373, 47 HR and 173 RBIs In 1928 he lost to Micky Cochrane? )

This would have been a much closer race had the Angels been a playoff team.
What Ohtani is doing at this level is legendary immortal baseball. Judge hits homers. Normally solo shots. We have seen this before. We have have not seen any player like Ohtani.

 

[Halldan1]

Respectfully disagree as 28 first place votes to 2 clearly indicates.

And I'm not even getting into what MVP really means as the title should be best player, as the Yankees led by Judge, were in a different stratosphere than the Angels, led by Otani.

 

[SH_Alum]

Don't understand the point of the article. (1) The words didn't not come from Ohtani's mouth; and (2) of course a competitive athlete was not happy with losing out on an award.

 

[Halldan1]

Don't understand the point of the article. (1) The words didn't not come from Ohtani's mouth; .

I orginally thought that too until I read this line.... He wasn’t happy about not winning the MVP, I can tell you that,” Angels manager Phil Nevin told MLB Network Radio last week.

 

[seton1996]

Don't understand the point of the article. (1) The words didn't not come from Ohtani's mouth; and (2) of course a competitive athlete was not happy with losing out on an award.

Agree BS article just for headlines.

Also, neither he or Nevin indicated he didn't believe Judge deserved to win it, just Nevin saying Ohtani wasn't happy he did not win.

I took it as he needs to play better (as Nevin indicated) if he wants to win it in the future, that is what you want from any superstar athlete.

 

[cernjSHU]

Respectfully disagree as 28 first place votes to 2 clearly indicates.

And I'm not even getting into what MVP really means as the title should be best player, as the Yankees led by Judge, were in a different stratosphere than the Angels, led by Otani.

Judge deserved it especially in light of the team's performance. I am not disagreeing with you. But are you saying if the Angels were a playoff team, this isn't a very tight race? Personally, if the Angels made the playoffs, I would have voted for Ohtani. But, the Angels were terrible. so it was clearly Judge.

 

[SH_Alum]

I orginally thought that too until I read this line.... He wasn’t happy about not winning the MVP, I can tell you that,” Angels manager Phil Nevin told MLB Network Radio last week.

Oh i just meant that Ohtani wasn't quoted. Nevin doesn't actually say that Ohtani said that to him (unless I missed that). Maybe it was his demeanor after being told the news?

 

[Halldan1]

Judge deserved it especially in light of the team's performance. I am not disagreeing with you. But are you saying if the Angels were a playoff team, this isn't a very tight race? Personally, if the Angels made the playoffs, I would have voted for Ohtani. But, the Angels were terrible. so it was clearly Judge.

Tighter? Probably. But as I see it more because of the anti NY Yankee bias. Comparing the stats of the two players IMO clearly shows that Judge easily had the better season.

 

[Burnsly]

MVP of a team that finished 16 games under .500 maybe but definitely not MLB MVP. Angels haven't finished over .500 since Ohtani arrived.

 

[cernjSHU]

MVP of a team that finished 16 games under .500 maybe but definitely not MLB MVP. Angels haven't finished over .500 since Ohtani arrived.

It’s a team sport two once in a lifetime players doesn’t make you a good baseball team.

 

[The SHUttle]

My vote would have gone to Ohtani, and it would continue to each year if he posts similar statistics. There is no comparing what he is doing to hitting a lot of home runs.

 

[Fishjam]

Judge had one of the elite offensive seasons ever. Since 1975, the only hitter to have a higher WAR in a season was Barry Bonds (juiced player in a juiced ball era dominated by hitters). Judge hit more HRs than anyone in American League history in a year dominated by pitchers and an un-juiced ball. He also was a few percentage points from winning a Triple Crown (which has happened once since the 1960's) and was excellent on defense. He's much more than a solo-HR hitter, he had a historic season for a winning team. Only a performance like that could beat out Ohtani who was also excellent but not as valuable (by WAR or anyother metric) than Judge was and played on a losing team.

Ohtani had a great year on the mound and a very good year as a DH. But he doesn't measure up to Judge's value as an offensive and defensive force last year. What Ohtani is doing is revolutionary because MLB has never really allowed pitchers to DH on their rest days. But that alone doesn't make him the MVP. It doesn't take away from Ohtani's greatness, just that Judge was greater for 1 particular year. If Ohtani has another year like that, he'll probably win the MVP becaue Judge is unlikely to repeat a career year.

I expect Ohtani's success will lead the next generation of players to be allowed to Pitch and Hit more often. In the U.S. and Latin America, pitchers were always "protected" from hitting starting in high school and college even though they were often the best players on their teams. Now that Pitchers are becoming better athletes while also not being asked to throw 250-300 Innings per year, the pitchers who can swing it should be given a chance. It will make the Game greater and we have Ohtani to thank for breaking the barrier and changing old thinking.

 

[SHUSource]

My vote would have gone to Ohtani, and it would continue to each year if he posts similar statistics. There is no comparing what he is doing to hitting a lot of home runs.

This. Judge had an all-time year this year at the plate and it will be memorizable. But Ohtani also had a fantastic year at the plate, and the he was also Carlos Rodon — for one salary and one roster spot.

 

[hallstorm]

Judge had one of the elite offensive seasons ever. Since 1975, the only hitter to have a higher WAR in a season was Barry Bonds (juiced player in a juiced ball era dominated by hitters).

That’s not true:

Both Ripken and Betts had higher WAR years (1991 & 2018 respectively) and Robin Yount had the same WAR in 1982. Plus Mike Trout had 2 seasons that were just .1 below in 2012 and 2016—2012 being the year he lost the MVP to Cabrera because Cabrera actually won the triple crown.

 

[Fishjam]

That’s not true:

Both Ripken and Betts had higher WAR years (1991 & 2018 respectively) and Robin Yount had the same WAR in 1982. Plus Mike Trout had 2 seasons that were just .1 below in 2012 and 2016—2012 being the year he lost the MVP to Cabrera because Cabrera actually won the triple crown.

My mistake, was going by memory. It was wRC+. Judge had the highest Runs Created (weighted) of anyone since 1961 besides the Bonds steroid years.

 

[shu09]

I actually think there is a pro-Yankee bias when it comes to stuff like this. A Yankee is always going to get the benefit of the doubt nationally. That said, Judge deserved it this year. I have a hard time giving Ohtani (and Trout) awards like this when their team is never any good. If they're so valuable, try making the playoff or even just get in contention. They can't even do that.

 

[shudude]

I actually think there is a pro-Yankee bias when it comes to stuff like this. A Yankee is always going to get the benefit of the doubt nationally. That said, Judge deserved it this year. I have a hard time giving Ohtani (and Trout) awards like this when their team is never any good. If they're so valuable, try making the playoff or even just get in contention. They can't even do that.

Total diversion thread to a move from a team that should but can’t seem to compete. Focus to X now. Need
a statement win

 

[Gritty5837]

As a professional athlete and competitor I have no issue with Ohtani being upset he didn't win MVP.

I will be honest and say I think its a poor take people are still saying they would have voted for Ohtani over Judge. Most years? Sure. Not 2022.

Judge's fWAR was tied for 15th all time. He's also an elite gold glove caliber RF.

Judge's team was better and in terms of who had more statistical value in gaining his team more victories it was Judge. And it was historically great.

 

[rcodey]

Since 1961 I have been a huge Angel fan and I must agree that Judge deserved the award but I disagree with the notion that the award has to go to a player on a winning team . Using that logic Ernie Banks should never had been a MVP in the NL . A player on a bad team might contribute more wins to his team than a player on a first place team . Why should a player be punished because he was surrounded by bad teammates ?

The bad teammates on the Angels are a direct result of having the worst owner in baseball, Atre Moreno . I forget which newspaper it was, either the LA Times or Orange County Register , had a series about Moreno's poor ownership . The worst off season news was Moreno's decision not to sell . I know a former Angel farmhand whose host family lived 60 miles away from the stadium in another state .

 

[Halldan1]

My vote would have gone to Ohtani, and it would continue to each year if he posts similar statistics. There is no comparing what he is doing to hitting a lot of home runs.

Is that all you think Judge did? He finished a few batting points shy of a Triple Crown while being an outstanding defensive player in all aspects. And his WAR was off the charts.

He also played CF when needed and right field as well as anyone. BTW, run on him at you own risk. One of the best and most accurate arms in the sport.

 

[TheHall87]

Judge was rightfully the MVP last year.

Ohtani is a unicorn. A top flight offensive player who is also a staff-ace level pitcher. How many players finish in the top five of the MVP and Cy Young Award voting?

If Aaron Judge is worth $40 million a year and Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander $43 million per, what is Shohei Ohtani worth?

 

[Abbo71]

Tighter? Probably. But as I see it more because of the anti NY Yankee bias. Comparing the stats of the two players IMO clearly shows that Judge easily had the better season.

Someone telll him that's' life. What happened. to "Losing gracefully.?, He lost out, suck it up, That should be the worst thing that ever happens to him

 

[SH_Alum]

Someone telll him that's' life. What happened. to "Losing gracefully.?, He lost out, suck it up, That should be the worst thing that ever happens to him

What? Where does it say he didn’t lose gracefully? This is hearsay. Ohtani has not commented on any of this.