Sherman’s 3 Things: AL MVP race, Fried’s season, and robot umpires

New York Post columnist Joel Sherman previews three takeaways in his latest '3 Things I Think' video, offering a midseason snapshot of topics shaping the AL and beyond. The lead item centers on the American League Most Valuable Player race, with Sherman outlining how the discussion between Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners could unfold as the pennant races heat up. He argues the race may hinge less on traditional counting stats and more on the kinds of context-driven metrics that voters increasingly weigh in late-season ballots. The video teases that a handful of overlooked numbers—some related to on-base skills, slugging in key spots, and a catcher's defensive and game-management impact—could tilt the balance as the season moves toward September and October. In addition to the MVP chatter, Sherman flags Max Fried’s standout season, noting that the left-hander’s performance has led him to draw a parallel with a notable former left-handed signing from roughly 23 years ago who did many of the same things early in his career. And as MLB announced robot umpires on Wednesday, Sherman offers thoughts on what automation could mean for the game’s flow, accuracy of calls, and the future of officiating.

On the MVP front, Sherman stresses that the evaluation may depend on factors that extend beyond the box score. Judge remains a perennial presence at the top of the lineup, but Raleigh’s performance behind the plate—particularly his framing, game-calling, and ability to handle pitchers—could influence how voters view the overall value of a title contender in a season where the supporting cast around each player shifts from month to month. Sherman invites viewers to look past the headline numbers and consider metrics that capture the subtle influence a player has on a team’s success in pressure moments. He suggests keeping an eye on OPS against tough relief arms, on-base runs created in late innings, and the degree to which a catcher’s leadership translates into wins or losses in tight games. The emphasis, he says, is on context as much as production, and the balance between offense and leadership may decide the award more than one explosive stretch alone.

The Fried segment adds another layer, as Sherman notes how Fried’s season stands out in a league where left-handed aces can anchor a rotation and shape a franchise’s competitive arc. The comparison to a former signing from two decades ago is described as a narrative device to frame Fried’s impact rather than a precise forecast of awards. The point, Sherman suggests, is that a pitcher who quietly delivers durable, high-quality starts can alter how a team is perceived during critical junctures of a campaign. The reflection also underscores the notion that personnel decisions—especially a high-profile lefty signing—can ripple through a franchise’s trajectory for years. Sherman does not declare Fried the MVP frontrunner but argues that the season’s arc matters to the broader story of pitching excellence in the modern era.

Wednesday’s robot-umpire news anchors the discussion in the game’s ongoing evolution. Sherman weighs the potential implications for the strike zone, pitch framing, and the human element that fans have grown to recognize as part of the sport’s drama. If automated calls standardize certain aspects of officiating, the article notes, pitchers and hitters might adjust how they approach at-bats, with potential effects on tempo and strategy. The piece stresses that automation is not about replacing the human observer entirely but about augmenting decision accuracy and consistency, especially in high-stakes games where close calls can shift momentum. Sherman also acknowledges that the transition would be gradual, requiring calibration, testing, and clear communication with players, coaches, and fans as the league tests how automated calls fit into the sport’s traditional rhythms.

Taken together, the video’s three elements—an AL MVP debate framed by overlooked metrics, Fried’s standout season with echoes of a past signing, and the league’s robot-umpire initiative—reflect baseball’s ongoing tension between tradition and modernization. As teams push toward the stretch run and voting gets underway for postseason awards, Sherman’s three thoughts offer a snapshot of where emphasis may fall: performance, context, and the evolving landscape of officiating. The discussion remains speculative by design, but it highlights the kinds of questions that players, teams, and fans will be watching as the season nears its climactic moments.