Opinion: David John LeMahieu Deserves the A.L. MVP

New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu deserves to be awarded the MVP in the crowded field this year.

By Michael Foulks, Sports O’Clock Writing Team Member

(photo credits: ESPN)

Following his first year in pinstripes where he hit .327 avg, 102 runs scored, and hit 26 home runs, both fans and the media were expecting big things from the second baseman in year two with the Yankees. He exceeded all expectations, and proved to the baseball world again why he is the best pure hitter in the sport. In 50 games, he batted .364, 10 home runs, batted in 27 runs, and had an on-base percentage of .421. Back in 2019, Gary Sanchez gave him the nickname LeMachine, because all he does is hit the ball. Sometimes I do not even think he is human, he shows no emotion, he just stares the pitcher straight in the eyes, before ruining their day. There is no pitcher he fears, whether it’s against the Marlins, or against the Rays in the playoffs, he will deliver in the biggest moments. If it wasn’t for DJ, the Yankees not only wouldn’t have made the playoffs; but they would have had their first losing season since 1993.

His Opponents slash lines:

Jose Abreu: .317/.370/.617

Jose Ramirez:.292/.386/.607

The Thing Going Against DJ:

He played for the New York Yankees: For some unknown reason the BWAA, and the media have a bias against Yankee players. They assume just because you play for the most decorated, winning-est franchise in the sports rich history, they do not need the attention or deserve the awards. If, and when DJ does not win the MVP on Thursday, he will join a long list of other Yankee members to be screwed by the writers. Some of those include: DJ himself (MVP 2019), Aaron Boone (MOY 2019), Aaron Judge (MVP 2017), and Gary Sanchez (ROY 2016).

Baseball is not the only sport to screw the actual winners from getting the award. The NBA refuses to give Lebron James the MVP each year, even though he deserves it, or why Patrick Mahomes will be screwed out of the MVP multiple times during his career. These leagues love for a good storyline, rather than give it to the deserving winner.

I hope the writers get it right and give the MVP to DJ, because without him the Yankees would be a non-playoff, losing team. Chicago would have been a playoff team in that fraudulent division without Abreu; and the Indians would have too without Ramirez.

My prediction: Jose Abreu wins because he does have the numbers, and Chicago was one of the top feel good stories of the season. Once again, they vote more so for the storyline, rather than the Most Valuable Player. MVP does not mean the best player, it means who was the MOST VALUABLE to their team and the season.

(All photos are properly cited. No copyright infringement intended.)

Sources: Baseball Reference, MLB.com, ESPN