Brad Ausmus, Yankees bench coach, recently declared the AL MVP race a landslide. A laughable assertion, some might say. But Ausmus stands firm. He sees Aaron Judge’s dominance as undeniable, eclipsing even Cal Raleigh’s impressive numbers.
The numbers don’t lie. They scream. They shout. Judge’s .327 batting average dwarfs the league. His .452 OBP? Unmatched. His .673 slugging percentage? A monument to power. His 1.125 OPS? Astronomical. Raleigh’s prodigious home run total is impressive, undeniably so. But it’s a single category in a symphony of Judge’s superior statistical performance. This isn’t a close contest; it’s a rout.
Raleigh’s Remarkable Run: A Worthy Contender, But Not Enough
Cal Raleigh’s season? Phenomenal. A career year. A testament to hard work and dedication. He’s obliterating baseballs at an alarming rate. 56 home runs. 118 RBIs. Impressive. Absolutely impressive. But even this remarkable performance is overshadowed by the sheer breadth of Judge’s excellence. It’s a stark contrast. A canyon of difference.
Ausmus’s Bias? Perhaps. But The Numbers Don’t Care.
Ausmus acknowledges his bias. He’s a Yankees coach, working directly with Judge. Naturally, his perspective is colored by proximity. But even acknowledging this bias, the sheer statistical gulf between Judge and Raleigh remains. The numbers transcend personal feelings. They are objective truth. They speak for themselves.
The MVP Debate: A One-Sided Affair
The argument for Raleigh rests on home runs and RBIs. That’s a significant chunk of offensive contribution, sure. But Judge’s overall impact, encompassing batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, total bases, runs scored, and walks, paints a picture far more complete and compelling. The narrative of a close race is simply false. It’s wishful thinking. It’s a distortion of reality. The gap is immense. Unbridgeable.
The claim of a close race is laughable. Preposterous. Raleigh’s season is noteworthy, memorable even, worthy of accolades. But in the grand scheme of the AL MVP race, it’s simply not enough. It’s not even close. Judge is the clear favorite. There is no debate. The numbers are irrefutable. The reality is undeniable. The conclusion is inescapable. Aaron Judge will win the MVP. This is not speculation. This is a prediction. A certainty.
Judge leads in virtually every significant offensive category. His overall impact on the Yankees lineup is immeasurable. His contributions transcend mere statistics; they represent a force of nature, a hurricane of hitting, a tsunami of talent. Raleigh’s power surge is a significant accomplishment, but it’s only one aspect of the overall offensive game. Judge’s dominance is all-encompassing. His performance is a masterclass in hitting.
A Season For The Ages, But Only One Can Be MVP
To reiterate: Cal Raleigh’s season is exceptional. A truly remarkable achievement. A season for the ages. Yet, even this extraordinary performance pales in comparison to the sheer totality of Aaron Judge’s season. This isn’t about diminishing Raleigh’s accomplishments. It’s about acknowledging the overwhelming statistical superiority of Judge. It’s about recognizing the profound difference between a great season and a historically great season.
The MVP award isn’t about one single statistic. It’s a holistic evaluation of a player’s overall contribution. And in that regard, Aaron Judge’s dominance is beyond question. The discussion of a close race is, frankly, insulting to Judge’s performance. It’s an insult to the sheer force of his talent. It’s a dismissal of the undeniable evidence.
Judge’s performance isn’t just good. It’s legendary. It’s historically significant. It’s the type of season that defines eras. Raleigh’s season deserves all the praise it receives, but it cannot compare. The gap isn’t small. It’s enormous. It’s a chasm. It’s a gulf. It is a monumental difference. And anyone claiming otherwise is either delusional or ignoring the blatant reality reflected in the cold, hard numbers.
The MVP race isn’t close. It’s over. Aaron Judge is the MVP. End of discussion. The numbers prove it. The evidence is overwhelming. The conclusion is unavoidable. Accept it. Embrace it. The reality is clear. Aaron Judge is the undisputed king of the American League. His reign is absolute. His dominance is total. His triumph is assured. He’s the MVP. He’s the MVP. He’s the MVP.
Felix Pantaleon is The Founder of NYYNEWS.com The First & Oldest Independent New York Yankees Content Creator Platform, Since 2005.Follow on Social Media
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