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Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani sent Cal Raleigh-coded sigh of relief
Alright, let's break this down like we're dissecting the final minutes of a Game 7. Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers' two-way phenom, just snagged his fourth MVP, making it a three-peat that feels both inevitable and, for the first time, maybe a little bit vulnerable.Think of it as LeBron winning another title, but the narrative isn't about his dominance; it's about who *wasn't* there to challenge him. This wasn't the earth-shattering, 50/50 season Ohtani had with the Angels; this was a version of him working his way back from the surgical table, a superstar operating at, for him, a merely mortal level.He drove in 102 runs, sure, a number most players would sell their soul for, but it was a step down from the 130-RBI monster he was. He stole 20 bags instead of 59.He gave the Dodgers 47 innings on the mound—a cool cameo, not a starring role. It was like watching Steph Curry hit 'only' 300 threes in a season; it's still legendary, but the air of invincibility had a small crack.And that's where the real drama, or lack thereof, comes in. Over in the American League, you had the Mariners' catcher, Cal Raleigh, playing the role of the pesky, underdog contender, pushing Aaron Judge to the absolute limit.Raleigh wasn't just a guy having a good year; he was the heartbeat of a Mariners team that revived its entire fanbase and stormed into the postseason, a symbol of hope and grit. He was the Ja Morant to Judge's established superstar, the young gun making the vet sweat for every vote.But in the National League? There was no Cal Raleigh. There was Kyle Schwarber, who mashed 56 homers but was glued to the DH spot, a one-tool player in a contest that values a Swiss Army knife.There was Juan Soto, who turned into an absolute flamethrower for the Mets in the final two months, but by then his team was already planning their offseason vacations—it was too little, too late, like a team going on a 20-0 run in the fourth quarter when they're already down by 40. So Ohtani cruises, almost by default, which is a wild thing to say about a season where he was still arguably the best player on the planet.The path was clear because the competition, for once, didn't have that signature, narrative-changing rival. Now, he's staring down history, gunning for a fourth straight MVP to tie Barry Bonds' untouchable record. And you have to wonder, with the Dodgers' machine around him and his body healing, who in the NL is going to step up and be the Cal Raleigh to his Aaron Judge next year? Because right now, it feels like he's running a fast break with no one in his way.
#Shohei Ohtani
#MVP
#Los Angeles Dodgers
#Cal Raleigh
#Aaron Judge
#featured
