Extra innings: Checking in on preseason award picks
Gleyber Torres of the Yankees bats during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on June 20. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Now that the season has reached its traditional midpoint, despite most teams already playing nearly 100 games (that’s 62 percent done, for those keeping score), this is the appropriate time to revisit our pre-Opening Day award show.
Regrets? We have a few.
But let’s wait a minute on that. Before we get to the do-overs, there’s been plenty of eyebrow-raising developments, with Matt Harvey’s resurgence (4-1, 2.38 ERA in his last six starts) since being shipped to the Reds, the buzzkill of Shohei Otani’s disappointing elbow issues and the meteoric rise of A’s castoff Max Muncy, who had 22 homers through his first 72 games to make the Dodgers look very smart.
Overall, we didn’t see the Phillies and Braves in a dogfight for the top spot in the NL East, the Mariners challenging the Astros for AL West supremacy or the Mets trying to fend off the Marlins for the basement.
And have we mentioned the strikeouts? For the first time in history, MLB is on pace to finish with more Ks than hits, fueling concerns about the game’s future. Anyway, before the countdown to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline rearranges the baseball landscape, here’s a look back to go with a fresh perspective on the BBWAA awards.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
MVP
Preseason pick: Francisco
Lindor, Indians
Tough to go wrong with Lindor, a lethal, multi-threat offensive player who excels at shortstop for a perennial contender. Picking him back in March seemed like a solid bet, and he’s definitely in the mix, with 25 homers and 62 RBIs. Trouble is, teammate Jose Ramirez has been even better, and that hurts his case, obviously.
First half: J.D. Martinez, Red Sox
Normally, I would suggest that the presence of Mookie Betts — another top MVP candidate — cancels out Martinez, based on the diffusion of such a title between two teammates. But this historic season by the Red Sox is not possible without the late-February signing of Martinez, whose run-producing powers have changed the whole dynamic of their lineup. Through Friday, Martinez already was at 79 RBIs, thanks to hitting .340 with runners in scoring position. He also had 28 home runs with a slash line of .330/.392/.644.
J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after defeating the Detroit Tigers 6-0 at Fenway Park on June 5 in Boston, Massachusetts. Credit: Getty Images / Maddie Meyer
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Preseason pick:
Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Just 20 years old, the precocious Acuña already is a big part of the Braves’ rise in the NL East. He’s just being overshadowed leaguewide by a few bats with some gaudier numbers. Acuña has seven homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games, with a .778 OPS, and his second half will no doubt improve with more experience.
First half: Juan Soto, Nationals
Soto hasn’t been up much longer than Acuña (49 games) but he already has 28 RBIs and he’s hitting .306 with nine homers. He also leads the rookie class overall with a .942 OPS, and as D.C.’s next charismatic slugger, Soto is probably making it easier for the Nats to let Harper go if his price skyrockets beyond their liking.
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