Rich Eisen: Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh Is the AL MVP with His 60-Homer Season

Let me just express to you um what or who is lit. Uh it’s baseball and and and home run hitters and um as you know we’re we’re a football uh driven uh country and certainly this show football driven with my 22 plus years on NFL Network and then um we love talking ball that’s uh made out of pigkin but that baseball man there’s nothing like when baseball starts to hit winter go home time and you start to hit the possibility of records being reached and then you see balls hit so far so far when you’re hoping in the stands to see them hit so far and the player comes through and the player is not only coming through but he’s coming through to clinch your division and he’s coming through to potentially clinch himself a most valuable player award that nobody thought he could clinch. And that guy’s name is Cal Raleigh. I do believe last night if there’s any question in any voters’s minds. And I’m saying this as a diehard Yankee fan who absolutely adores Aaron Judge and knows just how valuable that man is. Last night he hit a three-run shot to put the Yankees up and then hit another one. 50 and 51. Fourth time in a row in fourth time in his career he’s hit 50 home runs. Aaron Judge. But Cal Raleigh steps to the plate last night and hits home run number 59. He’s already well past every mark for catchers in terms of hitting home runs first half of a season. Uh also just in general for a full season. Uh passes most home runs by a switch hitter passing Mickey Mantel passes Ken Griffy Jr. for the most home runs hit in the history of this franchise where the folks in the Pacific Northwest are nuts for their Seattle Mariners. He steps to the plate last night, hits his 59th home run and then has an opportunity to hit 60. Now already on the night on the East Coast, Judge hits 51 home runs. 50 and 51. Kyle Schwarber, the human fire hydrant who just cranks him out, is trying to chase down Ryan Howard’s franchise record in Philadelphia. He has a chance as he hits two himself last night. Think about it, guys. Judge hits two, Schwarber hits two, Raleigh hits one to go 59. And can he hit 60? I am getting goosebumps just telling this story, recounting for you what we were all watching last night if we’re fortunate enough to see it. Cal Raleigh steps to the plate with an opportunity to hit 60 in front of all the fans who are there excited for the Mariners to clinch their division, win the American League West that the Astros have been leading for quite some time. And could he possibly hit 60? These are the moments that you go to a ballpark to see. Could he possibly cap it all off to hit 60 while the entire crowd is chanting MVP? The answer is yes. 40,000 chanting MVP. Fly ball to right field. Number 60. A catcher has hit 60 home runs. your MVP moment Raleigh. I mean, madness. Aaron Goldmith with the call. I mean, it it’s but not not as much as many or much goosebumps as you’re about to get cuz this popped on my threads feed. a fan sitting there in Seattle last night recording the moment because you never like you know how many fans you sort take out the phone. Yeah. And it’s just like okay you’re recording a strikeout or a ground out you’re recording you know a three and two count right but the fan is recording Cal Raleigh stepping into the batters box and they’re chanting MVP for him and he goes yard. So, we decided to just take the, as they say in the business, knack sound, natural sound, just listen to the fans with no call on it and just think about it. Because my favorite sports moments are when you are hoping for it. You’re hoping for it. You’re expecting it maybe, but deep down, you know, it can’t be that good for you. It can’t uh this superstar player coming out of nowhere. I mean, it’s not like Cal Raleigh never hit home runs, but 60 60 home runs like most valuable player Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners. I I’m wondering where he was prior to the season in terms was he even on the board? He had to be part of the field, right? Let me look. If you can find out like pre-season MVP candidates, I don’t even know if he had odds and this guy steps to the plate. Can he really hit 60 in front of us? And the answer is yes. And I just wanted to capture the moment. Just listen to the delirium. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] That guy in the back. Oh my god. The guy and the girl. What you say? I’m just glad there was no cursing. Yeah, T-Mobile Park just lit by this guy. And then, you know, the big dumper as he’s known. Yeah, Big Dumper. Big name. Um, channels Major League in front of the entire crowd when he is being interviewed afterwards and what he is saying is being pumped into T-Mobile Park. Just listen to this exchange. I think last night what I kept hearing from everybody on this team was we got more work to do and it seems like this team was just even more focused tonight. Yeah. I mean, uh, you know, I think most people heard what I said last night. You know, might as well win the whole thing. Oh, that’s amazing. Major League. And everyone in T-Mobile acts like Pedro Serrano like, “Yeah, maybe they will. Maybe they will. They got the pitching. They got this guy. They believe. And there’s now conversations like, “Well, I mean, do you play him the last four games because you clinch the division?” Yeah, you play him. Yeah. Yeah, dude. He needs three home runs. He needs he needs three home runs to break Aaron Judge’s single season mark for an American League player. I don’t know. You’re just just read it. You shouldn’t read that. There’s even questions about, you know, do you play Schwarber to try and get Ryan Howard’s team record? The answer is yes. Like can get to 60. I mean, let’s let’s go, right? Like, let’s go. This is this is why you play baseball. This is why you go to games. This is why and they could the Mariners can catch the Yankees or the Blue Jays at top the American League for best record. Everybody’s got to go to the Pacific Northwest. Uh if you have a right, your thoughts are playing in the World Series cuz this is crazy, man. Listen, I know Guardians fans might be out there saying, “How come you didn’t spend maybe 10 minutes to start your program about us?” An incredible story. Uh it’s like a a slow motion car crash for the Detroit Tigers who could potentially fall completely, forget about out of the division lead, out of the playoffs. The Astros are the only or one game behind them. The Tigers have gone from leading the Central to being in the third place wild card position. And fascinatingly enough, uh the Tigers might have played themselves into going back to Cleveland where they’ve just had a night their nightmare just is they got to wake up from this nightmare and the Guardians are like stay asleep because the calls are coming from within the house. Just an Guardians can win the World Series. They’re playing the best baseball of anybody in the last few few weeks. The Yankees have been playing, you know, uh, teams that are at the bottom of the American League right now and feasting on that while the Red Sox go up to, uh, Toronto and the Blue Jays are falling apart. Vlad got ejected last night. Two of the players, including Vlad, got ejected last night. Uh, Alejandro Kirk, uh, ends the game on a base hit to right and he’s thrown out a 93 put out. So, the Blue Jays are getting getting walked off, if you will, by a 9-3 put out, and they got to be sitting there saying, “What the hell’s happening to us?” They had this American League East wrapped. They crushed the Yankees in head-to-head this year, which is why they’re still at top the East and having the same exact record as New York because the Yankees couldn’t beat the Blue Jays this year. But if the Yankees beat the White Socks tonight and the Red Sox sweep the Blue Jays, the Yankees would be in first place in the entire league. And the Mariners are just a game behind them. And their last series are home against the Dodgers who just got out of dodge in Arizona last night despite having another lead blown in the bullpen. And all the Dodgers are doing is like how many starters could come out of the pen for them because they’re they’re not touch I don’t think they could touch Otani now it’s all Otani Otani had five no hit innings and six shutout innings with eight strikeouts. I mean he’s just as lit as he possibly can be out of the starters role. That’s why they chose Sissaki. They gave him an inning last night. He looked great throwing a 100. He touched 100. Did K didn’t Kershaw pitch an inning last night out of the pen last night? So it’s just like let’s use them all. Can oral come out of the out of the booth? I mean that cuz I don’t think a do I think you want to speak of Los Angeles priv privileges being revoked like Pulp Fiction. I believe Tanner Scott is uh soon to have his privileges. I don’t think Dodger fans would to see him anymore. So I don’t know what baseball is just out of its skull in the last week of the regular season which has been its massive issue over the last few years is it doesn’t have the feeling of an end of a of an NFL season where playoff lives are on the line. Every game matters. This time around it kind of does and I know it just went higher register. It is a higher register Thursday. Um just incredible. Yeah. MVP odds. Rich can’t find any preseason on Cal Rally. Julio Rodriguez was about 20 to1 preseason and then in June uh Cal Rally was 35 to1 which roughly odds is about a 3% chance to win MVP. Don’t you think it’s like a 100% chance now? He’s flipped it now. He’s minus 200 to win. I mean it’s uh you know as much again you know I’m you know you know where I’m coming from. I watch more Aaron Judge at bats than anyone in this room. Uh he’s incredible and and you know, very few people have had uh given me the joy with my 14-year-old son as as he does when he homers and and how we just exalt in it together. And the MVP is Cal Row. He’s unbelievable. He might, you know, he’s he might the way that he’s doing it. His 59th one I do believe landed in Lumen Field which is where the Seahawks play right next door. But you know I wish the NL race was a little bit closer on the odds. Otani’s minus50,000 which which means bet $50,000 to win $100. Schwarber I think deserves to be this. This should be much much closer. Without Otani the Dodgers are still probably winning the NL West. Without Schwarber the Phillies have no chance at anything. They’re not leading the division. They’re not World Series favorites. They are I mean they’re not as close as they are without Kyle Schwarber. He should be closer. This NL race should be closer in my opinion. So, and Sodto has been unbelievable this year. It’s interesting that the 80 to1 the Otani odds are um it’s exactly the Dodgers pay him. They defer $50,000 to pay him a hundred. Pretty much. Pretty much. Well, that’s baseball, man. Yeah. Rich, when you said this is why you watch. When you said about watching other games, that was last night. You know, you’re watching the Mets, we’re losing, but you’re also keeping an eye on what the Pirates are doing with the Reds and then we’re watching the Dodgers game. So, it’s like I can’t remember the last time I’m like, all right, we’re losing, but like, okay, you know, you’re scoreboard watching all these other games right now. It was great. It was the witching hour. It really was. Yeah, it truly was. Two home runs by Judge, two home runs by Schwarber, and then Raleigh has the last say. And I Okay, I got two to get to 60 and clinch the division. So cool. Oh man, cannot make it up. Love it. I agree with you though, Chris. Once Sodto’s season for some reason is he’s just getting swept aside under the rug and it makes no It’s historical numbers and he’s unbelievable. Yeah, he’s been he’s been great. Which makes it even more amazing that the Yankees could wind up with the top record in the American League in Mexico. Yes. Trying to take away from it right then and there with that take away from the greatness of his solo season. And I hope and I do hope that the Mets make the playoffs because it is a Mets town in New York. It’s solo. It’s amazing you’re still hung up on that. But the fact of the matter is one solo has been a you crapped on him for the whole first half of the season. Didn’t do a thing other than talk about his statistics. That’s all. And him saying it’s a Mets town. It’s a Mets. And if it’s a Mets town, I do hope your team can can get more breaks by the Pirates and the Dodgers beating their opponents to keep you guys from falling out when you lose. I can’t wait. I’m just cuz you know what’s going to happen. Well, I mean, if it happens, it’s the next town. So, you hopefully you can carry the banner. You’re the last person on earth who’s still hanging on that. And again, you don’t live in New York. Why? Honestly, Aaron Judge should save some of these home runs for the playoffs. Okay, fine. Say it all you will because and I understand what he’s done in the in in the postseason but again that that the Yankees lose your back. They lose somebody of Sodto’s significance and have a shot after everything at the end of the day still angling the best record in the American League. They currently are tied for such right now in a Mets town to compete just in the in the shadows of you know the Mets being four games above 500 30 for 30 on dear life. You know what I told you? Unbelievable. I’m rooting for the Red Sox and you’re rooting for the Dodgers. Cats and dogs are hanging together. Living together pandemonium. Isn’t that amazing? That’s what’s What are the Mets according to the Cubs? We’re the white socks of where the white socks of New York. You know, where’s Zu? Yes. And and hopefully at the end of the day for us Yankee fans in terms of the Mets uh to just paraphrase another f another phrase from that movie. Yes, that man has no playoffs. Can’t wait for that. That’s a giant Twinkie. Hey, you made it all the way to the end. Thanks for that. Check us out every single day streaming live on Disney Plus and the ESPN app 12 to 3 Eastern.

Rich Eisen reacts to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh becoming just the 6th player in MLB history to hit 60 home runs in a season, says if the “Big Dumper” has a chance to beat out Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for American League MVP honors, and breaks down the wild MLB playoff picture.

Tune in to the Emmy-nominated Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from Noon to 3PM ET on Disney+, ESPN+, ESPN Radio, and streaming on SiriusXM channel 80.

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33 comments

  1. Got to take my 9 yr old to the Mariners game where Cal slammed 2 hrs. Let me tell ya, when that dude makes contact with the ball it sounds almost like a gun going off. It's amazing!!

  4. i wanna thank Cal for Bein a great steal in the 6th round of my Fantasy Baseball draft this yr! Its been tough here in Tacompton wa (south of Seattle) we all love the Ms but have been let down a lot always look like were gonna do good things in the preseason this time it happened and I hope we ain't a 1 and done situation in the playoffs like we tend to do up here born in 85 and been heartbreak after heartbreak with the Ms..Hopefully this is the yr it actually comes together our teams solid but don't wanna jinx us go Ms

  8. 240 batting average. As an Ichiro Suzuki fan I can’t support an MVP with an average this low. It’s not the type of player that is ideal. I want an all around player who can steal. Top defense. Has speed. Hits for average like Williams DiMaggio And Ichiro. Sorry. Big fat home run hitters dont interest me. I want an all around athlete. Not just a one tool player but a five tool player. Two tools maybe since Raleigh catches.

  11. It’s a toss up really. Judge had the most HRs back in 2017 but they gave it to Altuve bc of his batting average. Cal is having a historic season but really the only thing he got going over Judge is his defense, RBI, HRs, and I believe hits. But even all those numbers are comparable. As an old school ball player, I value batting average but honestly it wouldn’t bother me if Cal got it but I can also make a case that Judge got robbed in 2017. So if we’re going by precedent then Judge should get it over Cal. Again it’s a toss up. AL west is a joke of a division but still he helped his team win the division. If the Yanks pull off winning division with the help of Judge then yeah I think Judge gets the edge. It’d be really cool to see them in AL Division Championship.

  21. Only MLB team without a World Series appearance: Since the Washington Nationals won the World Series in 2019, the Mariners remain the sole MLB franchise without a trip to the Fall Classic. Let that sink in……..We are watching history.

  23. A catcher who does his homework to help his pitcher lower the other team’s batting avg., etc.
    A switch hitter with power .
    He steals bases .
    Zero passed balls for season. Zero.
    Figure % of play that he has a direct contact with.
    Our hometown crowd Willed that HR .
    Griffey had it easy , golfed instead of working out on days off , had to be woken up in clubhouse for a late season at bat , had short Kingdome porches and center field for his HRs with no wind , etc .
    The 5-10 average guys playing way above their normal ability and doing the hard work and prep to put them in position to keep doing it day after day is what makes a championship team .
    This team feels like the above average players are also doing that extra work .
    Enjoy the ride, we won’t be able to afford all of the contracts for all of the winning players if it plays out as it is hoped .

  25. Big Yankee fan. Judge with another banner year, but this MVP has got to go to Cal Raleigh for his unworldly performance this season. All that said, I would like to see Judge hold on to the AL single season home run record.

  26. Great to see a Yankee fan get it right. Aaron Judge is unbelievable and has had another amazing season. But what the Big Dumper this season as a catcher is historic and will likely never happen again. Cal is the MVP. Period.

  28. Oh Wow! Aaron Judge Won The AL MVP And The Batting Title. This Is Basic Knowledge. While Cal Raleigh Did Score 60 HomeRuns And Did Win The MVP It Was In The National League. Lol!

  30. 12:11 Chris doesn’t know what he is talking about. The Dodgers won the division by only *three games*. Without Shohei, the Dodgers would’ve ended the season with at least four or five fewer wins.

  32. I'll be honest greatest Ms game I've ever been to my entire section for beer showers but the entire place was rocking and this is a guy who hit 60 while playing over 300+ more innings in the field at a harder position

  33. When Johnny Bench was awarded the MVP in 1970,
    His batting AVG was only 49th
    His OPS was only 13th
    His OBP was 59th
    He was 20th in hits
    But he was 1st in HR's.

    When he was awarded the MVP in 1972
    His batting AVG was only 65th
    His OPS was 5th
    His OBP was 15th
    He was 39th in hits
    but he was 1st in HR's

    So why was he awarded the MVP in both of those years? It obviously went beyond his numbers in only hitting.

    The catcher is considered the game manager. He not only has to help keep the pitchers head in the game during critical moments, he has to guide each starting pitcher along with the middle relief pitchers and closers. Importantly, he also has to have the outfielders make adjustments with field position based on the strength and weaknesses of each hitter. Cal Raleigh is the team leader and the heartbeat of this Team. If he is not awarded the MVP, then there is nothing else he could have done to earn this award.

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