Major League Baseball doesn’t work like most other sports when it comes to awards.
It names two MVPs, one for the AL and one for the NL.
Also, a player can win MVP regardless of how his team fares.
Otherwise, Mike Trout would’ve never even close to an AL MVP award, and he has won three.
That’s why Jose Ramirez is a legitimate MVP candidate this season, despite the Cleveland Guardians’ struggles.
MLB analyst Jason Foster recently shared his thoughts on the third baseman’s chances, ranking him fourth among the contenders.
“Ramirez always seems to be right in the MVP conversation,” Foster wrote. “With five top-five finishes already in his career, he figures to be in that space again this season. The switch-hitter is on pace for a second-straight 30-30 season (it would be his third overall) and he’s in the top-10 in the AL in hits (137), average (.288), homers (26), on-base percentage (.362) and slugging (.512). He’s a model of consistency.”
Numbers-wise, it’s hard to argue with the idea that Ramirez might be the best third baseman in baseball.
He’s been the most consistent player on the Guardians for about a decade, yet he doesn’t always get the credit he deserves.
That has plenty to do with the fact that he plays for a small-market team, but he’s also not a vocal self-promoter, letting his game do the talking for him.
He’s not slowing down with age, either. If anything, he’s getting better.
If he keeps it up, he might go down as the greatest player in franchise history.
Hopefully, that will also come with postseason success, and maybe an MVP trophy as well.
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