Is it fat ass Raleigh? People are saying so.
In his freakish year, he has powered the Pilots Mariners to the postseason. While Judge has been injured, and has played while injured, the lifetime .226 Mariner (this season's .246 gave him a bump) has broken Mantle's record for home runs by a switch-hitter. An achievement of sorts. Mantle's record was 54 in 1961, injuries cutting his season short. Maris, not a switch-hitter, hit 61, his hair falling out from stress and "fan" threats.
This might lead you to think that being a switch-hitter isn't really necessary, perhaps not even desirable in the scheme of things. It's a neat skill, but Maris was not a switch-hitter, Judge is not a switch-hitter, and they have the top two HR slots for a season. So, just maybe, the whole hubbub over Raleigh setting this "record" is incredibly meaningless. If Mantle's name wasn't involved, I think hardly anyone would give a shit.
Now, does Raleigh's great outlier year mean he should get the MVP? I can see where it would be tempting to those who decide such things, especially given the freakishness, the underdogness, the connection to the Mick, and--most importantly--the fact that it would screw over a Yankee.
Widen your browser window to get a complete view of the chart below. Hell of a year for Lard Ass. Gee, Judge didn't do too badly, either.
(And in the NL, Schwarber has been pretty great. Alonso also did damn well. But the NL MVP is locked up because Ohtani also did a little pitching this year [he's nowhere near the pitcher Ruth was, by the way] while hitting 50 dingers. Maybe Schwarber should get it, but, you know...OMG HE'S ANOTHER BABE RUTH! No, he isn't. Not even close. But he'll get it anyway.)
But back to the AL. Should Big Butt win? He's ahead in home runs and RBIs, having 50 more ABs and blessed with no injuries. But average, OBP, slugging, OPS--not even a contest. Judge is clearly on a different planet.
Whaddya bet Raleigh wins, regardless?
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9 comments:
As a catcher, Raleigh is exposed to injury on every pitch, and plays through the injuries and pain every game. Yesterday he took a foul ball off his throat in the bottom of the second and homered in the top of the third. Judge is one of the great hitters of his generation, no question, but Raleigh is this season's MVP, especially if he leads the upstart Mariners to a division title, which Judge is unable to do.
Raleigh has it sewn up. He'll never have a season like this again. Judge on the other hand...
Buhner's on to something. The 2025 Yankees do not deserve an MVP.
But, butt….ok
But…but…but…ERNIE BANKS, goddamn it!
By extension, though, if Judge wins via the Ernie Banks argument, then we are the Cubs, an argument I have been making for years here...
Except that Judge has actually played in a World Series
Butt, then again, who really cares about the MVP award? Seriously?
Judge really should get it based purely on his leading in so many stats...
But I can see Raleigh getting it as he basically got a really crappy team into the thick of things. Voters tend to love that. Judge had been doing this basically every year but the novelty has worn off.
I think it'll be something stupid where Judge will lead in 55% of the first place votes and Raleigh will get 45% but he'll get 55% of the second place votes while Judge will get something like 10%. Thus making Raleigh MVP.
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