In nearly every other 12 months, Francisco Lindor’s 2024 marketing campaign would have earned him his first MVP Award. If Shohei Ohtani was nonetheless enjoying within the American League, the award would have been Lindor’s to lose.
However Lindor got here in second in NL MVP voting, with Ohtani being named the winner Thursday evening just because the Los Angeles Dodgers DH is in a category of his personal. There isn’t any unicorn award for baseball’s unicorn, so the remainder of the mortals should compete with him. So have a look at Lindor’s second-place end this fashion: He was the MVP amongst everybody not named Shohei Ohtani.
The award is voted on by members of the Baseball Writers’ Affiliation of America and voting is carried out earlier than the beginning of the playoffs, so postseason performances weren’t an element. Ohtani was a unanimous winner regardless of having not performed a single inning within the subject final season. He acquired 30 first-place votes to complete 420 factors.
Lindor acquired 23 second-place votes and 7 third-place votes, totaling 263 factors. Ketel Marte completed third with 5 second-place votes and 13 third-place votes for 229 factors.
A second-place end for the Mets group chief is perhaps disappointing to followers, however it shouldn’t be. It needs to be celebrated. Lindor had an incredible season, cementing himself within the MVP dialog by carrying the Mets to a playoff berth, turning round his personal season and sparking the group’s turnaround as effectively.
After hitting lower than .200 in Could, Lindor hit almost .300 in June and posted an OPS of almost 1.000 in September when the Mets had been preventing to get into the playoffs.
Think about what the final month would have regarded like had he not missed time with a again harm.
Oddly sufficient, it was that harm which may have taken him out of the working for the MVP Award. Ohtani was already cruising towards the primary 50-50 season in historical past and was the heavy favourite to win all season. Lindor introduced a unique argument as an elite participant enjoying a premium place.
The shortstop persistently charges among the many greatest within the league defensively and that was no completely different in 2024. His +16 Outs Above Common was the second-highest amongst all shortstops and the sixth-best amongst all certified defenders in baseball final season. The 12 runs Lindor prevented had been greater than all however one shortstop (Dansby Swanson prevented 14) and if he had his approach, he would have performed all 162 video games.
However enjoying 162 video games isn’t a egocentric objective. For Lindor, it’s about setting an instance as a frontrunner and “posting up.” One of the best means is availability and Lindor takes satisfaction in enjoying on daily basis as a result of it exhibits his group that he’s there for them.
Ohtani gained as a result of amongst different issues, he hit 54 dwelling runs and stole 59 bases. Unable to pitch, he nonetheless contributed at a prolific price. He added baserunning as a brand new talent in his age-30 season, having not swiped greater than 26 in one other season.
However Lindor did all the things, particularly in wins. He had an OPS over 1.000 in wins and 29 of his 33 dwelling runs got here in profitable contests. With out Lindor, the Mets don’t make the postseason.
At 30, Lindor slashed .273/.344/.500 with 33 dwelling runs, 91 RBI, 29 stolen bases and 56 walks. Transferring him as much as the leadoff spot was among the finest selections the Mets made all season.
Buying and selling for Lindor and subsequently signing him to a 10-year contract was arguably the perfect determination the Mets have made within the Steve Cohen period. It units the Mets up for fulfillment for years to return as a result of so long as Lindor is in Queens the Mets have a frontrunner on the sphere at one of the vital positions and within the clubhouse.
That’s what issues probably the most to Lindor. The person awards are good and he was honored to be a finalist. However each time Lindor was requested in regards to the MVP Award, he turned the eye again to the group. His precedence helps the Mets win a World Sequence. He almost did that this 12 months and his second-place end exhibits simply how impactful he really was in 2024.
