In facing Seattle Mariners All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh this week, Tampa Bay Rays All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero does not view his relationship with Raleigh as a rivalry. Rather, it is a competitive friendship.
After an electric duel saw Caminero finish as the runner-up to Raleigh in the Home Run Derby on July 14, Caminero and the Rays visited Seattle in early August for their first of two regular-season showdowns. The Mariners swept Tampa Bay, but Caminero and Raleigh went pound for pound with the long ball, as the former homered twice and the latter three times during the series.
“It was a great experience,” Caminero said before the Rays welcomed the Mariners to Steinbrenner Field on Monday to kick off a three-game set. “We created a good friendship through the All-Star break. When we went to Seattle, during my first at-bat, I wished him well, and he did the same for me.”
The dynamic between two of baseball’s best sluggers is characterized by a deep respect for one another, respect that goes beyond the fervor of competition while still recognizing the desire to win.
“More than that rivalry is more of a competitive nature of friendship, and that’s what baseball is all about.”
Both Caminero and Raleigh have demanded the attention of the baseball world this season through their record-setting play, as Raleigh is the first catcher to win the home run derby while his 51 homers lead Major League Baseball and are the most by a primary catcher in MLB history. Meanwhile, Caminero was on the cusp of becoming the youngest home run derby winner ever and became the second player in Rays franchise history to hit 40 home runs in a season in Tuesday night’s 6-5 win.
On Tuesday, Both Raleigh and Caminero went deep again, making for another compelling matchup while continuing to solidify their respective places in baseball lore.
This time, Caminero and the Rays got the best of the Mariners, completing a sweep of Seattle with a 9-4 win on Wednesday night. Tampa Bay (70-69) is now 9-2 in its last 11 and above .500 for the first time since July 28 as it fights for a spot in October.
While Raleigh’s bat elicits most of the awe surrounding him, Rays All-Star pitcher Drew Rasmussen admires his durability as a backstop.
“I think something that doesn’t get taken into consideration enough is the wear and tear it takes on your body to sit back there and squat,” Rasmussen said. “It seems like he is in their lineup every single day, regardless of if they are trying to find a day off to DH.
“He plays 150-plus games a year at a premium position defensively, and then on top of it, what he is doing offensively is remarkable, especially with the wear and tear it takes. You’re taking foul tips; you’re mentally trying to prepare for both pitching staffs.”
Heading into Thursday’s slate of games, Raleigh has appeared in 137 of Seattle’s 140 games, playing 105 games at catcher and 31 games at designated hitter. The longevity of his game and his consistent presence command the praise of Rasmussen and others.
“It’s incredible to see what he’s doing offensively,” Rasmussen added. “And the defense — what was he, a platinum glover? That speaks for itself.”
“The quality of talent he is, it’s something remarkable.”