Jon Heyman
Big leagues
Published June 16, 2024 at 8:52 pm ET
BOSTON – My very unscientific and extremely informal poll of the American League Most Valuable Player raised little chance of a real resolution within the Yankees clubhouse. The two leading MVP contenders reside there, separated by just a few feet inside this run-down locker room, and no more than that in the actual race.
In reality, the Most Valuable Player of the American League (and of course also in that room) is center fielder Aaron Judge or right fielder Juan Soto. He’s close enough that the vast majority of about a dozen Yankees staff members surveyed Sunday called it a tie or declined to pick.
One said Judge flatly, two seemed to lean toward Judge, and one said Soto. Other than that: blank votes.
Certainly, cases could also be made for Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Guardians third baseman José Ramírez. But a check of the ranking statistics is clear. Judge is first in most categories, Soto second.
Juan Soto celebrates with Aaron Judge after scoring with his solo home run during the first inning against the White Sox. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
If the vote were held today, one Yankee should win and the other would finish second. But as to which, most Yankees wouldn’t say.
Manager Aaron Boone answered my question by telling me I’m the Most Valuable Player. It’s fun (in his way).
Giancarlo Stanton said he would have to defer to me since I am the one who has a real vote. Not necessarily, I explained to Stanton.
I’ve only voted for MVP about four times in over 35 years of doing this. Each vote goes to two writers in each AL city, and while writers unfortunately tend to become extinct, I usually work in cities with more than two writers, so I usually get a different vote or get benched entirely. (I probably should have had more MVP votes, but since most of the players I voted for later turned out to be guys on steroids, I secretly suspect the voting committee has me on double-secret probation.)
Anyway, Stanton gingerly dragged me into my rather tedious explanation of the voting process instead of choosing between Judge and Soto. Stanton is a smart guy so I thought he would find a way to get around the question.
Anyway, I kept going.
Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus, a Dartmouth man, introduced some Ivy League evasions.
Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after hitting a single in the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Corey Sipkin for NY POST
“I think he’s a New York Yankee,” Ausmus said.
“I like both,” catcher José Treviño said. “Fortunately, they are on our team.”
Third base coach Luis Rojas asks if there could be a “co” MVP?
One of the two most definitive answers came from Judge, who wasn’t afraid to serve as a juror. He selected Soto. (Soto was not available before the game or at a hitters’ meeting, although I’m not sure why he needs him.)
“Juan definitely gets my vote based on what he’s done all year, making big defensive plays,” Judge told The Post. “The boy is always on base for me. He makes my job so much easier. “He and (Anthony) Volpe are the engine of this offense.”
Henderson, Witt and Ramirez are putting together MVP-type seasons. But as for who really is the MVP so far (Judge noted that he’s pretty early), it has to be one of the two Yankees, who are doing something like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in their freshman pairing.
Judge, who was MVP in 2022 when he set the American League home run record, and Soto are 1-2 in key categories, and the statistical case slightly favors Judge. Judge is one-to-two with Soto in slugging percentage (.681 to .599), OPS (1.108 to 1.035), runs created (76 to 71) and tight batting wins (40 to 34), while Soto is one-to-two two of Judge in on-base percentage (.435 to .427) and times on base (138 to 137).
Judge has higher power numbers, gets a slight advantage as an excellent center fielder compared to Soto’s underrated right fielder, and unlike Soto, generally doesn’t have a future Hall of Famer hitting behind him (Soto has Judge behind him).
However, Soto has been great since Day 1, when his big shot saved the opener against hated Houston. And Soto is the one who transformed the lineup that wasn’t even average last year. (That point is probably unfair to Judge, who has gone it alone at times over the last few years.)
It seems that some in the Yankees lineup are trying to emulate Soto by being more demanding at the plate, although no one, but no one, can be him. Who else could be so comfortable with two strikes?
Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits an RBI double during the third inning when the New York Yankees played the Los Angeles Dodgers. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
“If he’s not the best hitter in the game, he’s up there,” Judge said of Soto. “He has incredible hitting skills. He has such a good eye that he’s not afraid to throw two punches, even against guys he hasn’t seen before. He doesn’t mind taking it to two strikes. Two strikes, 3-2, 0-0, the guy is a great hitter.”
Judge was quite convincing in the case he made for Soto. In addition to being a great player, Judge is also a great captain. And that’s probably all I proved with my silly survey.
Load more…
Sports Keynote USA News
https://KeynoteUSA.com/2024/06/16/sports/yankees-aaron-judge-juan-soto-are-frontrunners-in-al-mvp-race/?. Follow the Twitter Page For daily update.
Copy URL to share
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.