On July 23, New York Yankees’ megastar outfielder Aaron Decide had a commanding lead within the AL MVP race. Decide led all hitters in batting common, on-base proportion and slugging proportion. The one main stat he lagged in was residence runs, as Seattle Mariners’ slugging catcher Cal Raleigh had edged him by two lengthy balls, 39 to 37. In consequence, these two gamers had been jockeying for the lead within the AL MVP race.
Decide’s wonderful marketing campaign was interrupted by a flexor pressure he suffered when making a throw from the outfield on July 23, nevertheless. He performed the following recreation on July 25, going 0-3, an was then positioned on the 10-day IL.
The excellent news is that Decide’s IL stint lasted for the minimal 10 days, returning on August 5. Nonetheless, since Decide has returned, he hasn’t been acting at his regular customary. Within the month of August coming into Sunday (10 video games), Decide is hitting .219/.405/.438 with two residence runs. He’s nonetheless drawing a wholesome variety of walks, however his batting common, slugging proportion and residential run price are on the downtrend.
There may be some measure of hope on the horizon, as Decide went 2-for-3 with a house run and two walks in Saturday’s victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. This may very well be an indication that his elbow is getting effectively and his hunch will quickly be over. Nonetheless, the query that now lingers is whether or not or not Raleigh rushed previous him within the AL MVP race throughout this transient however consequential interval. It’s time for a better take a look at the stats.
All rankings for American League solely coming into Sunday
HR
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Cal Raleigh
46 (1st)
.250 (forty sixth)
.358 (eleventh)
.595 (2nd)
.953 (2nd)
Aaron Decide
39 (2nd)
.333 (1st)
.445 (1st)
.689 (1st)
1.135 (1st)
As issues stand in the present day, Decide nonetheless leads not solely the AL, however all of baseball, in batting common, on-base proportion and slugging proportion regardless of the dip in his productiveness. If Raleigh goes to grab the crown from the reigning MVP, it is going to be due to his MLB-leading residence run complete. However is that doable?
For the reason that award’s creation, there isn’t a non-pitcher who gained MVP with a batting common under .260 (Shohei Ohtani hit .257 with 46 residence runs and a 3.18 ERA in 2021). Though they’re vital in in the present day’s recreation, residence run totals don’t at all times deliver residence the gold. To check, let’s take a look at the 2017 AL MVP race that was finally gained by Jose Altuve. The Astros second baseman slashed .346/.410/.547 with 24 residence runs, edging out Decide and his league-leading 52 residence runs for the MVP.
