Shohei Ohtani Retains Boosting MVP Credentials – CBS San Francisco
(CBS Los Angeles) – The MLB season starts in September and the various MVP and division races remain interesting. With a month of play, Shohei Ohtani looks like the American League MVP favorite save for injuries or a complete breakdown. Last weekend, he added another line to his résumé and record books. The New York Yankees eventually lost, ending their 13-game winning streak just four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. On the other side of town, the New York Mets are moving just as quickly in the opposite direction. Some players thought it was kind of wise to express their displeasure with the fans.
This week’s baseball report takes a look at Ohtani’s 40-20 milestone, the winning streak of the Yankees and the Mets giving their fans the thumbs-down gesture.
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Ohtani’s 40-20 season
It’s not even September yet, and Shohei Ohtani has the American League MVP race under control. This is what happens when a two-way player excels on the plate and on the hill. His latest achievement also shows his ability on the Basic Paths. Ohtani is now the only player in the history of the Los Angeles Angels team to have scored 40 home runs and stolen 20 bases in a single season. He is also the third in American League history to accomplish this feat before September. Ken Griffey Jr. (1999) and Alex Rodriguez (2007) are the other two, and Rodriguez won the MVP that season.
By the time Ohtani stole his 20th base, he had already blown 41 homers, which brings him to the top of the majors. Last Saturday night against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani found himself in the middle of his second 0-4 night in a row. At the end of the fifth inning, he pulled a one-out walk from Austin Adams. He then got a good jump on a 0-1 fastball to steal second. A double two strokes later would get him home.
Its 20 stolen bases make it a top 10 in the category, which Starling Marte of Miami Marlins tops at 42. Ohtani also cuts .264 / .363 / 0.623. Of course, what sets him apart from all other quality rackets in the majors is his pitching success. Ohtani is also set up 8-1 with a 3:00 ERA and 127 strikeouts in his 105 innings.
His stolen base and the resulting run helped the Angels achieve their second win in eight games. But they are 10.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for last wildcard place.
While the Angels have little chance in the playoff race, it seems that just an injury could hurt Ohtani’s chances in the MVP race. So there was some concern in the organization on Friday night when a fastball hit him with his throwing hand at 93 mph. An x-ray showed no damage and he played the rest of the game. Ohtani should be ready to play the New York Yankees again on Tuesday night.
The Yankees’ winning streak ends
The Yankees will look to start another winning streak when they visit the Angels this week. That was after the Oakland Athletics finished their last one of the weekend. The A’s beat the Yankees 3-2 on Saturday to end their 13-game winning streak, the team’s longest in 60 years. The double home run of Slugger Aaron Judge in the ninth inning drove Anthony Rizzo in after his bloop single. But it was all the team could handle with a lost effort.
When the Yankees recently won so many games in a row, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle lit the pitchers. It was only the sixth longest team in its history. The Yankees won in episode 19 in 1947 and were close at 18 in 1953.
When that last streak began, the Yankees were 63-52, seven games behind the leading Tampa Bay Rays and five games behind the Red Sox. It included three-game sweeps of the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. When the streak ended, the Yankees were 76-52, just four games behind the Rays. They have the inside bar on a wild card field, although they may end up playing the Red Sox.
Thumbs down for Mets and their fans
The Mets led the National League East for about half of the season. But they haven’t been very good lately, losing 19 of their 27 games in August as well as their four-game lead in the division. They are now 7.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and 4.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. What once promised promising playoff hopes is quickly disappearing.
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The fans at Citi Field, home of the Mets, have expressed their displeasure. That’s what fans do. They cheer when their team is okay and boo when they don’t. Mets players don’t like being booed and three of them decided to essentially boo their fans back when the team is fine.
After hitting a 444-foot homer in Sunday’s 9-4 win over Washington Nationals, the recent acquisition gave Javier Baez a “thumbs down” gesture that he later declared as a message to fans.
“It feels bad when I hit and get booed. It’s not really my business, but I want to let them know that if we succeed we will let them do the same [fans] know how it feels, ”Baez told reporters. “… you have to get better. I play for the fans and I love the fans. If they do that, they’ll put more pressure on the team. “
Kevin Pillar and Francisco Lindor also gave the thumbs-down gesture.
The Mets organization was not pleased. A statement from team president Sandy Alderson read as follows:
“In a post-game press conference today, Javy Baez stated that his thumbs-down gesture during the game was a message to fans who recently booed him and other players for poor performance. These comments and any gestures made by him or other players with similar intent are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Mets fans are understandably frustrated with the team’s recent performance. The players and the organization alike are frustrated, but Citi Field fans have every right to express their own disappointment. Booing is the right of every fan.
The Mets do not tolerate player gestures that are unprofessional in meaning or that relate negatively to our fans. I will meet with our players and staff to get this message across directly.
Mets fans are loyal, passionate, knowledgeable, and more than ready to express themselves. We love them for each of these qualities. “
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Mets fans were also understandably upset and turned to social media to express their feelings. It remains to be seen whether this little spit leads to a better representation on the field. The Mets have 30 games – 15 at home – to make up for lost ground.
