MLJ Stat of the Day

Posted on August 20, 2008 by Hef

Let it never be said that I am not a man of the people.  Today’s stat of the day looks at everyone’s favorite stat: RBI.  But we shall do it with a twist.  Since we, as well as many, many others have argued that RBI is more a team stat than an individual stat, we will look at the RBI leaders as well as the overall onbase percentage of the people hitting in front of him  Enjoy:

1. Josh Hamilton: 114 RBI.  Hitting behind Ian Kinsler (.375 OBP) and Michael Young (.339 OBP) [Ed. Note: Also, he's hitting in front of Milton Bradley who's playing out of his mind this year so he's getting even more to hit than normal].

2. Ryan Howard: 104 RBI. Hitting behind Jimmy Rollins (.333 OBP), Chase Utley (.368 OBP) and Pat Burrell (.393 OBP)

3. Carlos Lee: 100 RBI. Hitting behind Kaz Matsui (.348 OBP), Miguel Tejada (.317 OBP), Lance Berkman (.428!).

4. Carlos Quentin: 96 RBI.  Hitting behind Orlando Cabrera (.323 OBP), and AJ Pierzynski (.318 OBP).  [Ed. Note: this is the only one that is an anomoly in my book].

5. Justin Morneau: 96 RBI.  Hitting behind Alexi Casilla (.351 OBP), Denard Span (.396 OBP) and Joe Mauer (.417).

Notice, all of the hitters are the #3 or 4 hitter in a lineup, batting behind the best on base guys on the team.  Now, of course they’re hitting in that spot because they’re probably either the best or second best hitter on the team.  They are thus given more opportunities to drive in runs.  That’s not to say that another, weaker hitter who was plugged into that spot in the rotation would have the same results, but his numbers would certainly increase.

Another question: Do we think any of those five hitters is better than Albert Pujols (who leads all of baseball in OPS)?  He only has 77 RBI, 27 less than Josh Hamilton.  Does anyone really think that Hamilton is a better hitter than Albert Pujols?

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21 Responses to “MLJ Stat of the Day”

  1. spencer096, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:08 am Said:

    the only person i think is a better hitter than Pooholes is A-Rod…and even then, it’s splitting hairs.

    well done, Hef.

  2. romanwarhelmet, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:08 am Said:

    Has Albert Pujols ever had to overcome a Heroin Addiction Hef? Huh? So of course Josh Hamilton is more gooder than PooHoles..it’s science! Christian Science.

  3. romanwarhelmet, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:11 am Said:

    spence…I think Pooholes is better than A-Rod and I know the beating that is about to happen but Poopoo hits over .330 every year…AHole averages around .300-.310…AHole can definitely hit for more power but if you put Pooholes in the Yankee lineup…we are talking a significant increase in the run production (Hef’s point) plus I like Pooholes better in the big spot…he hits the ball all over the field

  4. romanwarhelmet, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:12 am Said:

    Oh and can someone please define “RBI” I don’t know these new fangled stats

  5. sparty, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:15 am Said:

    rwh-i would like to see how many runners have been in scoring position for A-Rod this season. last year he was a machine at getting them in. not so much this season.

  6. spencer096, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:15 am Said:

    roman…oh, don’t get me wrong, A-Rod is just a favorite player of mine and pooholes is no worse than 1a. really, could you turn either down if you were picking first in a leaguewide fantasy draft?

    plus A-Rod gets a bad rap from douchey NY media and arrongant, entitled fans who demand all their stars hit .450 with 90 HR’s and bat .1000 in every close game AB.

  7. sparty, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:17 am Said:

    spencer-media should be all over Giambi this year. he has been terrible w/2 outs and runners on.

  8. RexKramerDangerSeeker, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:21 am Said:

    Oh and can someone please define “RBI” I don’t know these new fangled stats

    /Rex’d

    /fixed.

  9. mizerle06, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am Said:

    …and bat .1000 in every close game AB.

    I think he does this, no?

  10. Hef, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:31 am Said:

    Roman: Cancer and drug addiction? Are these the only things that make a baseball player great?

  11. spencer096, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:41 am Said:

    mizerle…touche. that should’ve said 1.000

    regardless, A-Rod is great and if youre going to criticize a yankee…criticize the guy to A-Rod’s left.

  12. Hef, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:44 am Said:

    A-Rod is great. Vastly underappreciated.

  13. sparty, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:46 am Said:

    regardless, A-Rod is great and if youre going to criticize a yankee…criticize the guys to A-Rod’s left.

    /Yankee fan

  14. fetch, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:47 am Said:

    If I had the energy to do an AL MVP post, A-Rod would be in the top 4 for sure.

  15. sparty, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:47 am Said:

    i hate the MVP in baseball. just make it the Most Outstanding Player.

  16. illformula, on August 20th, 2008 at 11:50 am Said:

    Hef, I wish you would have posted this on TBL.

    Well done.

  17. romanwarhelmet, on August 20th, 2008 at 12:09 pm Said:

    “Roman: Cancer and drug addiction? Are these the only things that make a baseball player great?”

    Hef, Yes…just ask Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle

  18. Hef, on August 20th, 2008 at 12:10 pm Said:

    Mickey Mantle was afraid of Hodgkin’s and he probably only took uppers.

  19. romanwarhelmet, on August 20th, 2008 at 12:13 pm Said:

    Hef..but imagine if Mickey didn’t drink..he probably would have been jittery and no able to handle the NY pressure..let’s send ARod a case of scotch to get him started towards greatness

  20. Hef, on August 20th, 2008 at 12:15 pm Said:

    ARod doesn’t drink? How is that even possible? I drink every night and I don’t have half the pressure he has.

  21. phatjohnsn, on August 20th, 2008 at 3:02 pm Said:

    Thats called depression Hef.

    you’ll have that when your people have been kicked around the world for centuries at a time…

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