Home runs, that has been the recurring theme for Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. Thanks to his power display this year, records he has broken, he is now the favorite to win the American League MVP Award better yet should he be?
There is one major problem though, the award is not given out towards mid-to-late June. Raleigh who now has 57 home runs has struggled since he had his highest batting average of the season on June 24. At the time he was hitting .281 with 81 hits, 15 doubles, 32 home runs, 69 RBI, an OBP of .386, a slugging percentage of .667, and an OPS of 1.053.
Since Raleigh plays the more demanding position of catcher some were giving him the edge over New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge. Who was also putting up impressive numbers. On June 24 his average was .364, with 107 hits, 18 doubles, 2 triples, 28 home runs, 62 RBI, an OBP of .464, a slugging percentage of .724, and OPS of 1.189.
While Raleigh has continued to hit home runs, he has not done much else as he has hit .211, with 59 hits, 7 doubles, 25 home runs, 50 RBI, a OBP of .334, a slugging percentage of .504, and OPS of .838.
Also, the saying it is not about how you start it is about how you finish applies here. With how Raleigh has performed for nearly three months, he is definitely not the MVP regardless of the records he has broken.
Arguably he is not even the MVP of the Mariners. Bryan Woo arguably is, as he has a record of 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA, thrown 186.2 innings, struck out 198 while walking 36, and has a WHIP of .927.
Center fielder Julio Rodriguez who started the season slowly has come alive since that June 24 date, as he has hit .286 with 90 hits, 20 doubles, a triple, 20 home runs and 53 RBI. Prior to that date he was hitting .252 with 80 hits, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs and 41 RBI.
It is also hard to argue MVP for Raleigh with his current batting average of .246, that would represent the lowest batting average for an MVP in either the AL or the National League.
While Judge’s numbers have certainly come down since that .364 average, he is still hitting .329 and will win the AL Batting Title. He also leads the AL in runs scored, walks, intentional walks, OBP, slugging percentage and OPS.
Athletics first basemen Nick Kurtz also puts a dent in Raleigh’s MVP consideration as well. Since June 24 he has hit .316 with 80 hits, 20 doubles, a triple, 23 home runs, 56 RBI, a .427 OBP, .676 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.103.
Shea Langeliers of the Athletics arguably has been better since he returned from the IL on June 30. He has hit .278, with 70 hits, 18 doubles, 20 home runs, 41 RBI, a .321 OBP, .587 slugging percentage, and .908 OPS.
Regardless of how the season ends, Raleigh simply is not the MVP. Also, cannot even put his season as one of the top for catchers either.