MLB స్టాక్ రిపోర్ట్: అల్ ఎంవిపికి కాల్ రాలీ లేదా ఆరోన్ జడ్జి? అదనంగా, వారపు ఆటగాళ్ళు

It’s the hottest topic in Major League Baseball.

With less than one week remaining in the regular season… What do Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge still need to do to make their cases stronger to win the American League MVP award? 

Starting with Judge, he entered Monday leading the majors in batting average (.326), on-base percentage (.451), slugging (.672), OPS+ (209) and fWAR (9.2). The right fielder also leads the A.L. in runs scored (130) and walks (117). His overall offensive production is a notch above everyone else in the big leagues. 

Plus, Judge is on track to record an OPS+ of 200 or more for the third time in four seasons. No other player has reached that mark even once since Barry Bonds in 2004.

As for Raleigh, whose MVP case is gaining momentum every time he steps up to the plate, he entered Monday leading the majors in home runs (58) and leading the A.L. in RBI (121). That’s two-thirds of the batting triple crown. The switch-hitting catcher’s batting average (.247) is ranked 43rd in the A.L. His OBP (.360) is ranked seventh. His slugging (.589), OPS+ (169), and fWAR (8.8) are all ranked second, behind Judge.

MVP voters typically consider how a player’s performance impacts his team’s success, and the Mariners’ recent divisional rise, and ensuing expected playoff berth, is a strong argument for Raleigh. 

Especially now that Raleigh’s Mariners helped slay the dragon that is the Houston Astros, placing Seattle in line to win the AL West, it’s worth thinking about whether he’s already done enough to win MVP. Raleigh’s value for the M’s has been undeniable. 

How can baseball writers justify not giving Raleigh an MVP vote when this season he set the record for:

• Most home runs by a catcher (previously Salvador Perez with 48 HRs in 2021)
• Most home runs by a switch hitter (prev. Mickey Mantle with 54 HRs in 1961)
• Most home runs as a Mariner (prev. Ken Griffey Jr. with 56 HRs in 1997 and ‘98)