BALTIMORE — The American League MVP race has a new voice weighing in, and his argument might just settle the debate once and for all.
Brad Ausmus, the New York Yankees bench coach and former big league catcher, delivered a knockout punch in favor of Aaron Judge during a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio. His reasoning? Simple math that exposes the gap between Judge and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh.
“I understand, as a former catcher, Cal Raleigh is having an unbelievable year as a catcher,” Ausmus said. “Certainly deserving of MVP votes. I actually don’t think it’s close.”
The math that changes everything
Ausmus then dropped the statistical bomb that has baseball analysts buzzing.
“I saw a tweet a few days ago that said if you subtracted 180 OPS points from Aaron Judge, he’d be Cal Raleigh,” Ausmus explained. “And if you subtracted 180 points from Cal Raleigh, he’d be an average major league player.”
The numbers back up his claim. Judge currently owns an OPS of 1.124, nearly 200 points higher than Raleigh’s .943 mark. That massive gap illustrates just how dominant the Yankees captain has been all season long.
“So, I don’t think it’s close,” Ausmus continued. “I think when you really look into the numbers, Judge, he’s got him. He’s had a phenomenal year. He just happens to be playing in a year where Aaron Judge has been phenomenal.”
Judge’s dominance across the board
The Yankees slugger isn’t just leading in one or two categories. He’s dominating the American League in nearly every major offensive stat.
Judge sits atop the league in batting average at .327, more than 10 points ahead of Oakland Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson at .317. His on-base percentage of .452 leads all of baseball. So does his slugging percentage of .673.
The 32-year-old outfielder has blasted 49 home runs and driven in 104 runs. He leads the majors with 127 runs scored, 345 total bases and 116 walks. His 8.6 WAR towers over the competition.
These aren’t just good numbers. They’re historically great.
The case for Raleigh
To be fair, Raleigh has put together a spectacular season of his own. The switch-hitting catcher has crushed 56 home runs, breaking the single-season record for both catchers and switch-hitters. He surpassed Mickey Mantle’s mark in the process.
Raleigh also leads the majors with 118 RBIs. Those two categories represent two-thirds of the Triple Crown.
The main argument in Raleigh’s favor centers on his position. Catching is widely considered the most physically demanding spot in baseball. Producing elite offensive numbers while handling those defensive responsibilities deserves recognition.
Ausmus acknowledged his own bias as a former catcher and current Yankees coach. But he maintained that the gap between the two players remains too wide to ignore.
A unique place in history awaits
Judge’s season has been so remarkable that he could make history even while falling short of another achievement.
If the Yankees star hits one more home runs over the final days of the regular season, he’ll reach 50 for the fourth time in his career. That would place him in exclusive company.
Judge would become just the second player ever to win a batting title while hitting 50 home runs and driving in 100 runs without capturing the Triple Crown. The only other player to accomplish this feat was Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx in 1936.
Foxx hit .349 with 50 homers and 175 RBIs that season. But Hank Greenberg’s 58 home runs kept him from the Triple Crown.
This statistical oddity highlights just how impressive Raleigh’s power numbers have been. Yet it also shows how thoroughly Judge has dominated every other offensive category.
The MVP debate intensifies
The last player to win the Triple Crown was Detroit Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera in 2012. Before that, Carl Yastrzemski achieved the feat with the Boston Red Sox in 1967.
Judge was never truly in the Triple Crown race this year because of Raleigh’s home run and RBI totals. But his across-the-board excellence has made him the clear favorite for what would be his third MVP award.
The debate between Judge and Raleigh represents one of the closer MVP races in recent memory. Voters will need to decide whether defensive position and specific category leadership outweigh superior performance in most statistical measures.
Numbers don’t lie
Judge’s superiority shows up in advanced metrics as well. His OPS-plus of .454 demonstrates how far above league average he’s performed. His total bases of 345 dwarf the competition.
The Yankees captain has reached base at a rate few players in history can match. His walks total of 116 shows the respect opposing pitchers have for his ability.
Meanwhile, his .327 batting average would give him his first batting title. That achievement, combined with his power numbers and run production, paints the picture of a complete offensive season.
Ausmus’s mathematical argument cuts through the noise of the MVP debate. By breaking down the OPS difference in such stark terms, he illustrated the chasm between the two candidates.
Whether voters agree with the Yankees bench coach remains to be seen. But his logic has given Judge supporters their strongest talking point yet as the regular season winds down and MVP ballots loom.
The numbers tell a clear story. Judge has been the best player in the American League this year, and it’s not particularly close.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
