Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs last night against the Baltimore Orioles to help the New York Yankees take the victory and pull within two games of the American League final wild-card spot. This is no fluke though; Soriano is a major reason why the Yankees are where they are at this point in the season.
After hitting a solo and two-run shot yesterday, Soriano now has seven two-home run games this year. This is by far more than the second most, which is four. He’s hitting .395 with runners in scoring position, which is insanely timely, and he showed that clutch gene last night when he smacked the go-ahead tater which took the air out of Camden Yards. He also leads the team with three go-ahead hits in the eighth inning or later. Since becoming a Yankee, Soriano has had 15 homers and 47 RBI in 43 games; 15 home runs is the second most on the team as Robinson Cano has the most.
If the Yankees do make the playoffs, he would be the best mid-season acquisition since the Milwaukee Brewers picked up CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians in 2008. He went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA for the Brew Crew, even pitching on short rest down the stretch, carrying them on his left arm into the playoffs. Ironically Sabathia is on the Yanks right now and is somewhat of a liability, but that’s beside the point.
Soriano is undoubtedly the MVP for the Yankees, but he should also get consideration for the American League MVP if the Yanks do play into October. Of course Detroit Tigers‘ slugger Miguel Cabrera is definitely the favorite, threatening to repeat in the Triple Crown, but that doesn’t mean he will be a unanimous decision. If the Yanks do make the postseason Soriano and his 35-inch bat would be the reason, and resurrecting a team that seemed down and out like the boys in pinstripes did before his arrival deserves at least one first place vote.
Related:
http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/09/02/top-10-candidates-for-al-mvp/
