For the first time in a few years — oh, about 30 or so — I didn’t completely disappoint with my predictions last year. I’m giving myself full credit for correctly predicting AL MVP (Aaron Judge) and AL Cy Young (Tarik Skubal) and also the “This Team Will Disappoint” category (Blue Jays) plus half credit on “This Player Will Become a Big Story” (Pete Alonso, who became a big story after the year, but not as big as Juan Soto, who should have been a layup for big story). Still, not terrible, especially because I grade on a curve compared to past, not-so-great performances.
Anyway, it was good enough that they are letting me do it again, so here goes:
AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr.
Judge paid off last year, but I’m seeing a big year for Witt and the Royals after all the excellent decisions they’ve made in recent seasons. One Royals person even lamented to me that they should have beaten the Yankees in the playoffs last year, and while I can’t go along with that, I do feel that between their slightly weaker division and their much better health (to date anyway), the Royals are a better bet to make the playoffs than the Yankees, which is a factor in abandoning my winning pick from a year ago. Witt also seems underappreciated. Maybe that’s from playing in small-market Kansas City. But everyone in the game understands what a terrific talent he is. He threatened to win the award until Judge put it away late last year, but this season I think his emerging team might give him a boost.
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
OK, I’m going with the obvious chalk. But since I’m keeping score, I’m not going to take any crazy chances. Any of several Dodgers could do it, of course, but no one compares to Ohtani, who overcame his interpreter/ex-buddy Ippei Mizuhara’s spring betting scandal last year to become the first 54-59 player (54 homers, 59 steals) in history. (Remember when 20-20 was considered noteworthy?) It’s hard to realize and maybe even remember that he’s a great pitcher, too. The Dodgers hit the pause button on his pitching this spring, and no one can blame them for being cautious with a guy who’s the best player in the league as the designated hitter. It’s been 18 months since his elbow surgery, so it’s a bit worrisome he isn’t back yet. But even if he doesn’t pitch at all this year (and the Dodgers are suggesting he will) it’s very hard to pick against this all-time talent.
