Red Sox Slugger JD Martinez Drops Strange Take on Media Members Over MVP Votes

MLB All-Star voting concludes on Thursday evening, and despite holding a staggering lead over American League designated hitters, Boston Red Sox slugger JD Martinez is no fan of the system.

Martinez is a staunch believer in the players and coaches voting on who should make the All-Star Game. While Martinez was on that topic, he took aim at the baseball writers voting for league MVPs.

Despite finishing with monster numbers last season, Martinez finished fourth in AL MVP voting. Martinez believes that the reason he finished that far back in the voting is due to agendas from writers who want to earn front office jobs with MLB teams.

"The writers would never allow (a DH to win MVP). They'd get blackballed... You've got to think of it like this: Writers want to be what?"

J.D. Martinez sounds off on All-Star, MVP Award voting:https://t.co/BlwLixrwoc
— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) June 26, 2019

"They want to work where? They want to work in the front office," Martinez told the Eagle Tribune. "They want to get jobs with teams and (expletive). These guys that do all the analytics and all the stuff like that. To me, that's what they look at. That's what they're going to value. That's my opinion. If you go against the grain and you're the guy that says that, then you have everybody saying you're bad at your job. It's easier to go with the crowd."

Martinez stresses his belief that writers fear being blackballed from their profession if they were to choose against the popular vote.

Man why can’t we let the players get what they deserve in baseball? JD Martinez not in the final three of league MVP voting is a disgrace to the game!! As far as I’m concerned he deserves the award along with his teammate Mookie Betts! 330avg/130 rbis/111 runs/43 Hrs #W.S.Champs
— Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35) November 6, 2018

Last season, Martinez batted .330 with 43 home runs and 130 RBI, with the latter being the most in the entire league. Even with those numbers, Martinez didn't even get the proverbial bronze medal, as he finished behind winner Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, and Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez.

Martinez feels if his fellow colleagues and coaches were allowed to vote for the end-of-season awards and All-Star Game, the right people, in his eyes, would receive recognition. As of now, however, Martinez will continue his skepticism when it comes to the power being in the media's hands.