Cal breaks the single season HR record for catchers.

[sutz]

I think at this point he breaks the catcher record and ends up with 50 which would be incredible. Catchers tend to fade down the stretch as they get beat up (I think, I could be wrong) so hopefully they're super smart with their usage of him and play him at DH quite a bit too to keep him a little fresher.

I'm trying to win a couple ebay auctions of his rookie autograph card while I can still afford it lol

It's pretty logical that catchers get beat up as the year goes along. Cal is old school and he hates to sit unless Wilson duct tapes him to the bench. They've given him a few days DHing and I think one game where he didn't even suit up. Long season and catcher is the most demanding position on the field. I'm good with him resting from time to time.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Could catch Ford twice a week and put Cal at DH. Just sayin.

 

[Ozzy]

Could catch Ford twice a week and put Cal at DH. Just sayin.

I'm excited to see what he can do too as a high end prospect. I'd love to see it.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

And a couple days off a week from catching would help Cal stay healthy enough during September. Catchers historically break down later in the season, for good reason. Can't just have him back there every damn game. If he doesn't like it, too bad. Dan is the manager, he need to act like it and make sure Cal is the DH a couple times a week.

 

[Sperrydogg]

And a couple days off a week from catching would help Cal stay healthy enough during September. Catchers historically break down later in the season, for good reason. Can't just have him back there every damn game. If he doesn't like it, too bad. Dan is the manager, he need to act like it and make sure Cal is the DH a couple times a week.

Making my trade proposal sound even better… garver tellez and Thornton for naylor. It’s a fair trade, I swear,

 

[bileever]

You know what's crazy? After Raleigh, the next catcher with the most homeruns is Logan O'Hoppe of the Angels with 11, 16 behind Cal.

 

[bileever]

At this rate, Cal will win MVP this year. If you hit 40 HRs and you're one of the best defensive catchers, you're definitely the MVP.

The year Buster Posey won the MVP, he hit .336, hit 24 HRs and had 103 RBIs. His OPS was .957. He too was a gold glove catcher like Cal.

Also, Cal has 8 stolen bases this year. If he hits 20, he will set another record. No catcher has ever had a 20-30. (20 stolen bases and 30 HRs)

 

[SoulfishHawk]

If Judge didn't exist, he absolutely would win it. Also, Judge is a Yankee. I highly doubt they would take a Mariner over a Yankee.
And while I hate the Yankees, he is having a ridiculous season.

 

[Chapow]

At this rate, Cal will win MVP this year. If you hit 40 HRs and you're one of the best defensive catchers, you're definitely the MVP.

The year Buster Posey won the MVP, he hit .336, hit 24 HRs and had 103 RBIs. His OPS was .957. He too was a gold glove catcher like Cal.

Also, Cal has 8 stolen bases this year. If he hits 20, he will set another record. No catcher has ever had a 20-30. (20 stolen bases and 30 HRs)

Go look at Aaron Judges numbers on the season. They are quite literally unbelievable. If he keeps up anything close to what he's done so far he absolutely deserves the MVP, and it's not close.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Nor should it be close. As much as we love Cal, Judge is having one of the best seasons in the history of the league.

 

[bileever]

Go look at Aaron Judges numbers on the season. They are quite literally unbelievable. If he keeps up anything close to what he's done so far he absolutely deserves the MVP, and it's not close.

I agree, but I'm assuming that Judge does not end up hitting .375 for the year or have a 1.300 OPS because that would be unreal and if Cal is close to him in HRs, then Cal will win because (1) Judge has already won it twice, (2) as a catcher, Cal plays a more difficult position and (3) while Judge is a good outfielder, he's not a gold glover.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Hope I'm wrong, I just don't see Cal winning it. If Judge was in the NL, he easily wins it.

 

[Maulbert]

2 more. 28 and 29. Most by a catcher before the all star break, with 22 games left. On pace for 64.

 

[Hawker]

^ 29 also ties the most HRs by a switch hitter, before the All-Star break.

 

[bileever]

MVP! MVP! MVP!

 

[Maulbert]

#30. On pace for 65.

 

[Maulbert]

#31. On pace for 66. He needs 18 to break Salvador Perez's record for most HRs by a primary catcher, but only 15 to break Javy Lopez's record for HRs AS a catcher. Perez had only 33 as a catcher, he hit 15 as a DH in 2021. Javy Lopez hit 42 as a catcher in 2003, which is the record. Cal sits at 28 as a catcher.

 

[Steve Hawk]

If Cal leads the league in HR's and RBI's and above a .275 avg as a Catcher, he deserves MVP, IMHO.

 

[Bobblehead]

He can if he sustains from being in the HR comp at the all star game....something I wish Julio never partook in.

 

[Chapow]

Hate to break it to you guys, but at this point there's basically zero chance Cal isn't in the HR derby unless he gets hurt.

Cal is one of the biggest stories in baseball this year. They're talking about him and what he's doing pretty much every day on national sports shows like Sports Center, and on all the shows on MLB Network. He's going to be the starting catcher for the AL in the all star game, and he very well might get the most all star votes or very close. He has become a star, and a very popular one, even outside of the PNW.

He's already been asked publicly by the media if he would do the HR derby if invited, and he emphatically stated, "Yeah, I would do that in a heartbeat. Who wouldn't want to do that?"

Major League Baseball is well aware that basically the whole country wants to see Cal in the HR derby. There's no way he's not in it. I'm just hoping there's no adverse effects. Plenty of guys have been in it and come out just fine. Hopefully Cal can too.