Podcast Summary: The Windup - Starkville | Dave Sims and Rick Rizzs Debate AL MVP: Judge or Raleigh

Host: Jason Stark (with Doug Glanville)
Guests: Rick Rizzs (Mariners Radio Broadcaster), Dave Sims (Yankees Radio Broadcaster)
Date: September 30, 2025
Episode Focus: The American League MVP Race – Is it Aaron Judge or Cal Raleigh?

Episode Overview

This lively episode of Starkville centers on the most hotly contested MVP debate in years: Should the AL MVP be Aaron Judge of the Yankees, or Seattle’s Cal Raleigh? Veteran broadcasters Rick Rizzs and Dave Sims, now representing the Mariners and Yankees, respectively, bring their passion, historical context, and broadcaster wisdom to the discussion. The hosts break down the historic feats of both players, reflect on the difficulty of comparing their seasons, and also discuss the dangerous nature of their teams heading into the postseason.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Backstory & Stakes of the 2025 AL MVP Race

• Historic Performances: Both Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge have turned in seasons for the ages, making this MVP contest “one of the great MVP debates ever.” (Jason Stark, 07:46)
• Historic Rarity: The show notes that either result will lead to someone with a historic season missing out on the award.

2. Rick Rizzs’ Case for Cal Raleigh (08:27–13:34)

• Raleigh’s Catching Feat: Rick emphasizes Raleigh’s 60 home runs as a catcher—blowing away records previously held by Salvador Perez (48), surpassing legends like Johnny Bench, Mike Piazza, Carlton Fisk, and Roy Campanella.
• Switch-Hitting Milestone: Raleigh broke Mickey Mantle’s mark for home runs by a switch hitter.
• Leadership & Intangibles: Rizzs points out Raleigh’s work managing a pitching staff, his presence for 121 games as catcher, and leadership moments.

  “He is behind home plate...has to hold the hands of 13 pitchers...calls timeout at the right time...” (Rick Rizzs, 08:27)

• Durability & Toughness: Raleigh played through pain, calling games, handling a full workload, and still led the league in offensive production as a catcher.
• Comparative Argument:

  “If you put a catcher’s mask on Aaron Judge...he’s not going to hit .331...It’s too demanding.” (Rick Rizzs, 11:13)

3. Dave Sims’ Case for Aaron Judge (13:54–16:31)

• Unprecedented Hitting Dominance: Judge hit .331 with over 50 home runs, only the third player ever with 50 HRs and a batting title (with Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle).
• Statistical Leadership:

  “He leads 19 categories offensively in the American League.” (Dave Sims, 14:44)

• Context: Judge returned strong from injury, leading the Yankees to a tie for the best AL record.
• Advanced Stats: Recognizes the “super metrics” supporting Judge’s dominance, likening it to Felix Hernandez’s Cy Young win.
• Respect for Raleigh: Sims acknowledges Raleigh’s historic year and insists both are deserving; notes possible “New York/Judge fatigue” might play in voters’ minds.

4. The Voter’s Dilemma: Tradition, Value, or Uniqueness? (16:31–17:47, 17:47–20:04)

• How Should Voters Weigh History?
  Doug Glanville wonders: “How do you weigh the uniqueness of a certain circumstance in one year that’s just magical?” (16:31)
• Jason Stark’s Perspective:
  Stark, who wrote about the race but is not a voter, details how Judge’s margin in leading the league (OBP, SLG, OPS) is Hall-of-Fame rare:

  “It was a short list, men. It was Ted Williams and Barry Bonds, and that is all.” (Jason Stark, 19:11)

• Guilt of Exclusion: Stark confesses he feels “guilty” not choosing Raleigh despite the historical weight of his campaign.

5. “Value” Debate: Numbers vs. Meaning to Team (20:04–22:09)

• Rick Rizzs Doubles Down:

  “Are we choosing the MVP on numbers, or are we choosing an MVP for what he meant to his baseball team?” (Rick Rizzs, 20:04)

  • He cites previous MVPs who won not for stats alone (Nellie Fox, Kirk Gibson, Miguel Tejada) but for transformative team value.
• Both Deserve It: Both panelists agree it’s exceptionally close; Sims predicts a razor-thin margin in the voting.

6. The Unique Challenge of Evaluating Catchers (24:07–27:02)

• Can a Catcher’s Value Be Measured?
  Doug Glanville:

  “You can’t really even quantify or qualify what a catcher does.” (Doug Glanville, 24:39)

• Physical & Mental Demands: Catching includes injury, staff management, and unique defensive pressures – most catchers hit poorly by necessity, making Raleigh’s performance more extraordinary.

7. How Will History Judge the 2025 MVP Decision? (27:02–30:47)

• Rick Rizzs: Not selecting Raleigh would be “kind of a shame” given the unprecedented catching season and its value to fans and team legacy.
• Dave Sims: Points out voter fatigue/familiarity can affect outcomes; the system is “imperfect,” but the debate will be part of baseball’s lore.

8. The Postseason Outlook: Who’s More Dangerous? (30:47–39:20)

• Yankees’ Case (Dave Sims):
  • Power throughout the lineup: Judge, Stanton, rising stars (Bellinger, Chisholm, Rice).
  • Improved bullpen and rotation; “swag” and home-field advantage.
• Mariners’ Case (Rick Rizzs):
  • “Most dangerous team in the American League.”
  • Health and depth of pitching staff, new lineup depth from trade acquisitions (Josh Naylor, A. Suarez), and Julio Rodriguez’s leadership.
  • Mariners are “primed to do a lot of damage” and could reach their first-ever World Series.

9. Personal Reflections on the Postseason (39:20–44:53)

• Rick Rizzs:**
  • Reflects on the emotional history of Mariners baseball; the 1995 team “saved baseball” in Seattle; this year brings hope and excitement, especially for the Pacific Northwest fans.

    “They made me a fan of the game again.” (Rick Rizzs, 41:12)

• Dave Sims:
  • Emphasizes excitement for Yankees-Red Sox at Yankee Stadium after moving from Seattle—dream opportunity as a broadcaster and hometown New Yorker.
• Doug Glanville:
  • Revels in the chance to call postseason baseball and reflects on his own fan/playing history.
  • Nods to Dodgers, Reds, Terry Francona’s managerial magic, Brewers’ underappreciated dominance, and the parity across contenders.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Raleigh’s Unique Record:

  “He’s put together the greatest season ever in the history of baseball as a catcher...and he did it as a switch hitter, passing Mickey Mantle.”
  — Rick Rizzs (08:27–13:34)

• On Judge’s Hitting Feat:

  “Only the third player in history with 50 home runs and a batting title…he leads 19 offensive categories.”
  — Dave Sims (14:44)

• On Measurement of Value:

  “I want to get away from the numbers. I want to take a look at the valuable part.”
  — Rick Rizzs (20:04)

• On Voting & Metrics:

  “There’s a reason that humans vote and we don’t just feed this into a computer.”
  — Jason Stark (30:47)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Travel & Setting the Stage (Doug's travel stories): 03:03–04:38
• Introducing Guests & MVP Debate Setup: 07:06–08:08
• Rick’s Full Case for Raleigh: 08:27–13:34
• Dave’s Full Case for Judge: 13:54–16:31
• Voter/Writer Perspective & Stat History: 17:47–20:04
• Historic/Team Value Arguments: 20:04–22:09
• Evaluating Catchers' Value: 24:07–27:02
• How Will History Remember This Race? 27:02–30:47
• Postseason: Yankees vs. Mariners Outlook: 31:11–36:41
• Personal Reflections on the Postseason: 39:20–44:53
• Ichiro’s Cooperstown Speech & Rick Rizzs’ Famous Call: 45:13–47:46
• Strange but True Segment (9-3 game-ending play): 50:11–56:17
• Listener Mailbag ("Call to the Bullpen" segment): 57:11–66:10

Additional Segments

Ichiro’s Shoutout at Cooperstown (45:13)

• Ichiro referenced Rick Rizzs’ famous “laser beam strike” call in his Hall of Fame speech, to Rizzs’ delight:

  “I got goosebumps again.” (Rick Rizzs, 45:13)

Strange but True Baseball: The 9-3 Game-Ending Play (50:11-56:17)

• The team discusses a bizarre, possibly unprecedented play—a “walk-off” 9-3 out at first base on a hit to right field—and the deep weirdness of baseball history.

Listener Mailbag: Baseball Mysteries & Rules Oddities (57:11–66:10)

• Listener tips off a neat fact: When Cal Raleigh broke Mickey Mantle’s switch-hitting HR record, Mike Yastrzemski was in left field—just as Carl Yastrzemski was for Mantle’s original feat in 1961.
• Another listener questions why starting pitchers don’t get wins if their bullpen loses and regains the lead; hosts explain rule history and ponder creative alternatives.

Flow & Tone

The tone is warm, witty, and deeply baseball-savvy—mixing rigor (statistical history, advanced metrics) with banter, personal stories, and nostalgia. The camaraderie between guests and hosts makes the high-stakes MVP debate feel insightful and friendly, rather than divisive. The episode also honors the strange magic and history of baseball.

Conclusion

This episode is a must-listen for fans fascinated by the complexities of MVP voting, catcher value, baseball history, and the postseason atmosphere. Both Rizzs and Sims argue passionately and respectfully, enriching the listener’s understanding of how truly rare and difficult the choice is between Judge and Raleigh. The show reveres both tradition and modern analytics, celebrating baseball’s timeless debates and unforgettable moments.

Selected Notable Quote to Sum Up:

“If you vote for Aaron Judge, you’re not wrong. If you vote for Cal Raleigh, you’re not wrong. There are two right answers.”
— Jason Stark (24:07)