Cal breaks the single season HR record for catchers.

[Maulbert]

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.

I do feel like Cal is more consistent than Julio, who flips on and off like a light switch.

 

[bileever]

Not surprisingly, Cal now has a huge lead in All-Star balloting:

 

[Crizilla]

What is crazy is cal made his debut when he was 24. Imagine if he was called up at 21 like Cole young just was.
He could easily have 30-40 more homers. Would be on pace to break Piazza's record for most homers by a catcher.
Assuming cal plays until around 40 and healthy he needs to average 30 homers a year to break all time catcher record.

 

[Bobblehead]

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.

Yeah, I read he wanted to, just don't want him to... if he does, he needs to get the pitcher who threw for Julio... wait.. maybe not, Julio wasn't the same after...

 

[Bobblehead]

Not surprisingly, Cal now has a huge lead in All-Star balloting:

View attachment 72171

Isn't he something like 3rd overall in voting behind, Judge and Ohtani?

 

[Maulbert]

Isn't he something like 3rd overall in voting behind, Judge and Ohtani?

He's transcending Seattle stardom. He's becoming popular amongst baseball fans of other teams. I'm happy for him.

 

[Bobblehead]

He's transcending Seattle stardom. He's becoming popular amongst baseball fans of other teams. I'm happy for him.

MVP.. from Chicago.. not sure if it was Cub fans or not, but.. that's something.

 

[Stanton Sucks]

Sometimes I hate MLB

 

[sutz]

It's on the internet so it must be true.

 

[Stanton Sucks]

It's on the internet so it must be true.

View attachment 72185

Just because it is on the internet, doesn't mean it isn't true. Gandhi wrote that on his blog and I trust him.

 

[Maulbert]

#32. On pace for 68.

 

[Sperrydogg]

First we had deflated balls now we have golden balls….
Is this just an excuse to make jokes about balls?
Say no to blue balls

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

Imagine if Cal is at 40-42 HR before the break, he’d have a legit shot to break 73 but with a lack of consistent threats behind him in the order, it’ll be hard to do once contending teams start walking him down the stretch.

 

[Ruminator]

Imagine if Cal is at 40-42 HR before the break, he’d have a legit shot to break 73 but with a lack of consistent threats behind him in the order, it’ll be hard to do once contending teams start walking him down the stretch.

Makes the idea of a trade for a legit bat all the more tantalizing. Or maybe Julio will start bashing more.

 

[Ozzy]

This is incredible and he does it in a park thats much tougher than most other parks to hit homers. I'm picking up rookie cards and autographs just in case he keeps this up lol

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Waiting for teams to start pitching around him or trying to. Or just putting him on. The way the team is hitting recently though, not quite so easy to just put him on.

 

[Ozzy]

Waiting for teams to start pitching around him or trying to. Or just putting him on. The way the team is hitting recently though, not quite so easy to just put him on.

I'm trying to stay reasonable. If he can hit 50 and break the catcher record being the first ever to hit 50 that would be incredible and historical for sure. 60? He would go down as a legend especially if he can be a 30 homer guy for a few more years.

I do worry they just quit throwing to him. They've been hitting pretty well lately but I hope they get one more bat that can be a consistent threat.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Gotta add a bat. And not some .230 hitting guy who was an all-star 3 years ago.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Cal could legit have a 50/20 season. A catcher with 50 HR and 20 stolen bases.

That's just insane.

 

[Ozzy]

Cal could legit have a 50/20 season. A catcher with 50 HR and 20 stolen bases.

That's just insane.

That would be incredible. I forgot he's got 9 steals lol