RSS
Magglio's Lack Of Run Production Is A Major Issue
I thought Magglio Ordonez's two-run double Tuesday night was the key hit in the Tigers' victory over the Twins, but in a way it only accented what I can't stand about baseball statistics.
A lot of people are looking at Mags and seeing a .350-something batting average since the All-Star break. I look at his stats and see only 16 RBI in a lot of at bats in that span. He might hit .300 this season, but he has only seven home runs and 44 RBI. To me, that can't be a productive season by any stretch of the imagination. I don't care what his average is...
- That was Fernando Rodney's best outing of the season Tuesday. Uncharacteristic defensive blunders by Placido Polanco and Curtis Granderson followed by absolutely clutch pitching by Rodney. He has gotten better later in the season. The Demon Drop outings have been fewer.
- Watch out for Bears running back Matt Forte. He might be the most underrated running back in the NFL and has been off to a slow start. He is due for a breakout game and it could come Sunday against the Lions.
- The best player in the Big Ten few talk about is Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker. He will be an early-round NFL draft pick and is a remarkably productive player.
- Great idea by the Pistons to have an open practice Oct. 10 for their fans.
My column in Wednesday's Oakland Press about the Michigan-Michigan State game: http://tinyurl.com/y8zrw37
A lot of people are looking at Mags and seeing a .350-something batting average since the All-Star break. I look at his stats and see only 16 RBI in a lot of at bats in that span. He might hit .300 this season, but he has only seven home runs and 44 RBI. To me, that can't be a productive season by any stretch of the imagination. I don't care what his average is...
- That was Fernando Rodney's best outing of the season Tuesday. Uncharacteristic defensive blunders by Placido Polanco and Curtis Granderson followed by absolutely clutch pitching by Rodney. He has gotten better later in the season. The Demon Drop outings have been fewer.
- Watch out for Bears running back Matt Forte. He might be the most underrated running back in the NFL and has been off to a slow start. He is due for a breakout game and it could come Sunday against the Lions.
- The best player in the Big Ten few talk about is Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker. He will be an early-round NFL draft pick and is a remarkably productive player.
- Great idea by the Pistons to have an open practice Oct. 10 for their fans.
My column in Wednesday's Oakland Press about the Michigan-Michigan State game: http://tinyurl.com/y8zrw37
posted by Pat Caputo at
1:46 PM
11 Comments:
Pat, you need to get over your obsession with RBIs. Its true that average doesn't mean much, as it strongly overates singles hitters that don't take many walks (like Polanco) while undervaluing home run hitters that take a lot of walks (like Adam Dunn, or to a much lesser extent Marcus Thames). But RBIs aren't much better, as the number 1 factor in how many RBIs a player gets is how many people are on base ahead of him, and the player has no say about that.
You never reference OPS, which is by far the best single stat for measuring how effective a batter is. Magglio's OBP is close to his career averages, but his slugging percentage is way down, which is killing his OPS and likewise his effectiveness this year for the Tigers.
The lower RBIs are a byproduct of his lower slugging percentage, fewer at bats, lower spot in the lineup, and less men on base for him. The real cause for alarm is the drop in slugging percentage.
pat, why wont leland play magglio this is the biggest series of the year and maggs sits even the game he played he came out in the sixth inning for a lefty and murcus thames still bats I dont get what the thinking is and you dont pinchhit maggs in game 1? help me understand pat
Pat, Earlier in the year, Magg's wife's illness was said to be bothering him. Is she still seriouslly ill, and could it still be affecting him. The details were never made public. Dave
Book,
I kinda classified the Mags of this year in the same column as the Sheffield of 2008.
Whatever he can contribute is gravy.
Needless to say I'm not happy about the contrived plate appearance bonus, but then I'm not paying him. But I hate to see Mags getting playing time to earn that bonus next year from better up-and-comers.
To speak to what Michael C commented above - the RBI's missing from Mags this year are the dingers he aint dinging. Yes, that shows up in OPS. Mags has gotten weaker - and his stats show it.
I think the boy needs his curly locks back to be the Herculean hitter of his glory days.
My lovely wife Darlene wishes he'd grown them back - but her reason's are slightly different.
To recap, I love Mags - I'll read what ever book he writes - but his days are done.
Pat, we better get use to it because usually hitters lose their power they usually don’t get it back. I can live with Maggs at DH against lefties and some righties but he should not be playing RF due to his lack of range. There is no way Maggs should have reached his ABs because Raburn/Thomas combo was better than Maggs this year. I wonder if this is the end for Thames after this year?
Rodney still has his moments and he not the best reliever in the MLB. The one thing I do like about Rodney is he does have that extra gear or can bear down when needed.
Michael C,
My point is simple. I'd take run production over batting average any time.
Caputo
Anonymous,
He is going to ride Magglio for as long as he is hot.
Caputo
Dave,
I'm sure it didn't help the situation. That is a heavy burden to have on his mind.
Caputo
Fred Brill,
I agree. I doubt he'll ever be the same threat again, but can still contribute mightily - which wse've seen the last couple nights.
Caputo
Barry,
It might be the end of Thames in Detroit. If Mags had just had his typical season in terms of power production, the Tigers long ago would have celebrated the division championship.
Caputo
Pat, I just read for the first time, on the Tiger's website that Magg's wife had surgery, battling cancer., Dave
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home