# MLB: July 2025 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 1, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357 "2025-07-01T16:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/21 "2025-07-04T21:38:48Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Dodgers are gaining a slight edge over the Tigers in the race for home-field advantage in the World Series. Meanwhile, my Cubs are only 1 game back from the Tigers and are 4-3 over the Dodgers. Early days, but this team is playing its ass off. 8 homers today against the Cards. New franchise record. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/22 "2025-07-04T22:27:21Z")
I don’t know if you were aware of this fact, which I got from ESPN: Michael Busch is the third Cubs player with a three home run game against the Cardinals. In an odd twist, all three did it on Independence Day: Moises Alou on July 4, 2003 and Hank Leiber on July 4, 1939. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/23 "2025-07-04T23:00:07Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Michael Busch is the third Cubs player with a three home run game against the Cardinals. In an odd twist, all three did it on Independence Day: Moises Alou on July 4, 2003 and Hank Leiber on July 4, 1939. That is rather amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/24 "2025-07-05T00:37:34Z")
Almost sounds like it could be a trivia question… ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/25 "2025-07-05T01:00:34Z")
Cal Raleigh hit his 34th **and** 35th homers today. > **[Mariners' Cal Raleigh joins Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Ken Griffey Jr. in...](https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/seattle-mariners/news/mariners-cal-raleigh-joins-hall-famers-babe-ruth-ken-griffey-jr-exclusive-club/caeec996b66b33ec21b94e94)** > > Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having an MVP-caliber season. He just joined a pair of Hall of Famers in an exclusive home run club. Three ahead of Aaron Judge to stay on top of the league in HRs, and tied with Seiya Suzuki for the lead in RBIs right now. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/26 "2025-07-05T09:37:22Z")
And still unlikely to get MVP. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/27 "2025-07-05T15:44:22Z")
Worst Dodgers home loss ever. 18-1 > **[L.A. routed 18-1 in worst loss at Dodger Stadium](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45673870/astros-drub-dodgers-17-la-worst-loss-dodger-stadium)** > > The Dodgers took a 17-run defeat on the chin, falling 18-1 to the Astros in the team's worst loss ever at Dodger Stadium. Interesting that the Cubs with the 8 home runs and the Dodgers with the home loss set franchise records both on July 4 and these are franchises which have been around a very long time ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/28 "2025-07-05T16:45:37Z")
Being on the Mariners makes that the case, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/29 "2025-07-05T17:55:18Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > The other two were Walter Johnson (Senators) and Bob Gibson (Cardinals). Steve Carlton had more than 3000 Ks with the Phillies, to be accurate. He did get additional Ks with other teams. John Smoltz had more than 3000 with the Braves, but had a handful with other teams. There are no other examples. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/30 "2025-07-05T17:59:01Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > And oh by the way, the Blue Jays swept the Yanks and now lead NY and Tampa Bay by one game in the AL East. Two games now. Pythagorean projections: Jays 47-45 Yankees 54-34 Rays 51-37 How can the Jays keep this up? ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/31 "2025-07-05T18:07:05Z")
Hardly. It worked out fine for Griffey jr. and Ichiro. I don’t think there’s been a deserving Mariner since then who wuz robbed. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/32 "2025-07-05T18:14:06Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > I don’t think there’s been a deserving Mariner since then who wuz robbed. Well, then I guess I can hope. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/33 "2025-07-05T18:21:03Z")
I don’t know, but I’m sure it would help if they had the same production as 2024 Anthony Santander. Is he out for the year? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/34 "2025-07-05T18:24:00Z")
> [@Jegpeg](#): > > And still unlikely to get MVP Right now Judge leads in WAR and batting average. Raleigh leads in HRs and RBIs. Judge is second in HRs and RBIs. But Raleigh is 28th in BA and, while second in WAR, is still almost 2 wins behind Judge. If the voting took place today, I think Judge would have to be the clear favorite. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/35 "2025-07-05T18:36:24Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Hardly. It worked out fine for Griffey jr. and Ichiro. I don’t think there’s been a deserving Mariner since then who wuz robbed. Yeah; all else being equal, playing in a big media market (New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, etc.) probably make it a bit easier to get votes for an end-of-year award. And, if the Mariners were a cellar-dwelling team, it’d also make it harder for Raleigh (but they aren’t, at least not at this point). As was discussed in the June thread, Raleigh is having an amazing year, and is absolutely having a “career year”: he’s hit more home runs in half a season than he has ever hit in a full season, is hitting about 50 points above his career average, and, at this moment, is leading the majors in home runs and RBI. But, even so, he has the misfortune of playing in the same league as Aaron Judge, who has been **even better**. Judge is currently just behind Raleigh in HRs and RBIs, while hitting almost 100 points higher in batting average, with a large lead over Raleigh in slugging and OPS+. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/36 "2025-07-05T18:47:11Z")
In the old way of doing these things, Raleigh would probably win even if he had less WAR than Judge (assuming Raleigh is able to carry the Mariners into the playoffs.) But WAR seems to rule these days; nearly all of the MVPs of the past 10 years have led that stat. It’s kind of funny that Judge has won two MVPs, considering how much the Yankees have spent over the years and he wasn’t even a highly touted prospect. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/37 "2025-07-05T19:01:59Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > In the old way of doing these things, Raleigh would probably win even if he had less WAR than Judge (assuming Raleigh is able to carry the Mariners into the playoffs.) But WAR seems to rule these days; nearly all of the MVPs of the past 10 years have led that stat. I was thinking about that as I was writing my earlier post: if Seattle makes the playoffs (even more so if they somehow win their division), and it’s largely because Raleigh is carrying them, then it’s a really good narrative for his candidacy. But, that said, the Mariners have three other position players (Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, J.P. Crawford) who are sitting at around a 3.0 bWAR. And, their pitching staff is a bit above average on ERA and WHIP. So, I’m not sure how much the Mariners are entirely being carried by Raleigh, at least so far. If it were 30 or 40 years ago (i.e., before sabermetrics and advanced stats), and the season ended today, I think Raleigh would have had a serious shot at the AL MVP award. But, with the modern stats, if the season ended today, I think that Judge walks away with the award. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/38 "2025-07-05T19:22:20Z")
Ugh, Clarke Schmidt headed for his second Tommy John Surgery. Pitcher’s elbows are baseball’s Achilles heel. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/39 "2025-07-05T19:56:00Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Worst Dodgers home loss ever. 18-1 Astros must’ve worn out a lot of trash cans last night. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357/40 "2025-07-05T20:10:53Z")
The thing with Raleigh is Catchers are supposed to be selected more on defence ability, and I am sure being involved in almost every defencive pitch is draining so the best batters are rarely catchers. While Judge is the better batter I am somewhat surprised his WAR is so much ahead of Raleigh given the nature of being a catcher but I don’t know enough to challenge the numbers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-july-2025/1020357.md?page=3)