Baseball BeatSeptember 07, 2003
Truth and Consequences
By Rich Lederer

  • Don't look now but Ichiro Suzuki and Barry Bonds have the same number of TB (257) despite the fact that Suzuki has had 247 more AB.

    Comment: Suzuki is a great player but an MVP candidate he's not.

  • Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that Aubrey Huff ranks in the top 11 in the A.L. in BA (.316), SLG (.556), OPS (.926), H (172), 2B (45), HR (28), TB (303), and RBI ( 91)?

    Comment: Too bad he plays for Tampa Bay.

  • Believe it or not but Adam Piatt has struck out 28 times in his last 57 AB with 0 BB.

    Comment: Hey, Adam. Ever think about trying another profession?

  • Don't look now Aaron Gleeman but Luis Rivas leads the A.L. in runs scored with 21 over the past 20 games.

    Comment: I know, small sample size.

  • Is it just me or is Pat Burrell killing anyone else's fantasy baseball team this year?

    Comment: Dummy me. I thought .300-40-120 was going to be more like it.

  • Believe it or not but Scott Podsednik is on pace to become only the fourth rookie ever to hit .300 with 100 runs scored and 40 stolen bases. The other three are Ichiro Suzuki (2001), Shoeless Joe Jackson (who hit over .400 in 1911), and Jimmy Barrett (1900).

    Comment: .410/.473/.627 with 9 2B, 26 R, 16 RBI, and 13 SB with 0 CS last 20 games.

  • Don't look now but Jason Giambi is now 3 for his last 54.

    Comment: Any chance of Giambi adding a second MVP Award this year to his resume has gone down the drain.

  • Is it just me or do MVP voters realize that Barry Bonds has more RBI per AB than Albert Pujols?

    Comment: Bonds - 82 RBI out of 340 AB (.241); Pujols - 117/516 (.227).

  • Don't look now but Oakland's Jermaine Dye (.149/.234/.211 with 2 HR in 46 games) is making more money this season than Eric Chavez, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito combined.

    Comment: Moneyball.

  • Is it just me or is it more than stats that links Manny Ramirez (157 career OPS+), Dick Allen (156), Albert Belle (143), and Gary Sheffield (145)?

    Comment: Ramirez has Hall of Fame stats and a Hall of Shame attitude.

  • Don't look now but Toronto's Josh Phelps (.510 OBP, .907 SLG) and Frank Catalanotto (.561, .824) are 1-2 in OBP and SLG in the A.L. over their past 20 games.

    Comment: Some Like It Hot.

  • Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that Detroit's Craig Monroe is fifth in the majors in HR vs. LHP with 13?

    Comment: Monroe and another youngster, Cleveland's Jody Gerut (.303/.359/.566 with 17 HR vs. RHP), would make for one helluva outfield platoon combo.

  • Believe it or not but Alex Rodriguez (38.9%) has a better chance of breaking Hank Aaron's career HR record than Barry Bonds (35.8%) according to 756watch.com, which uses the "Favorite Toy" method developed by Bill James.

    Comment: There are only four other players (Sammy Sosa, 25.4%; Jim Thome, 8.1%, Albert Pujols, 6.2%; and Andruw Jones, 1.7%) who are given any chance whatsoever of breaking the record.

  • Don't look now but Eric Gagne (15.45) is on pace to shatter the single-season strikeouts/9 IP record currently held by Billy Wagner (15.01 in 1999) for pitchers with 60 or more innings. Wagner incidentally holds the number one, three, and four spots all time.

    Comment: Gagne is in the midst of the best season by a relief pitcher ever.

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