"Do you want to stop Otani's MVP?" MLB's atmosphere is abnormal... Are you keeping the tradition of driving Harper for two consecutive months and not being able to be named as a designated hitter

"Do you want to stop Otani's MVP?" MLB's atmosphere is abnormal... Are you keeping the tradition of driving Harper for two consecutive months and not being able to be named as a designated hitter

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Until now, a designated hitter has never been named MVP in the Major League.

In May, the U.S. media had a fierce debate over whether Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) could become the first designated hitter MVP.노래방알바

However, as of July 4 (Korea Standard Time), after the first half of the 2024 season, the atmosphere is changing strangely.

It gives the impression of pushing Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) as MVP, not Ohtani.

USA Today's Bob Nightingale claimed Harper was the MVP of the first half of the National League.

Harper is among the top five in the batting average (.303), home run (20), RBI (58), on-base percentage (.399), slugging percentage (.582), and OPS (.981).

But Ohtani's record is better than Harper's.

Ohtani is far ahead in stolen bases. Ohtani has 16, while Harper has only four.

Ohtani is also better in the WAR category. Even considering that Harper played fewer games due to injury, Ohtani is better than Harper in general.

Still, why did he turn a blind eye to Ohtani?

It seems to be due to the rooted perception that a player who does not defend cannot become MVP.

A "conspiracy theory" to exclude Ohtani from MVP may have begun.

Ohtani hit 12 home runs in June. His batting average was 0.293. He had four doubles and an OPS of 1.10.

Harper batted .374 with 10 doubles, seven homers and an OPS of 1.166 in June.

MLB, which values home runs over batting average, ruled in favor of Harper, who has unusually few home runs.

If this atmosphere continues by the end of the season, Ohtani's winning the MVP award of the two major leagues may become difficult.