Best hitter in baseball at the break

by achiappanza on Jul 12, 2007 10:08 AM PDT Comment 40 comments

If you had to guess who had the best OPS in all of baseball at the All-Star break (i.e. right now), who would you guess?

Answer here.

This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.

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Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I don't think anyone here would be surprised by that answer. :)

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 12, 2007 10:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I'm pretty sure that is a well known fact around these parts - you might want to try giving your journal a little more substance next time.

by MLWhiteSF on Jul 12, 2007 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

It might be well known if you're playing roto this year. I'm not, but I have plenty and I would have guessed Ordonez.

by achiappanza on Jul 12, 2007 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

you would do well to take your own advice, MLWhiteSF.

"...and I hope you're feliz now..."

by The Gene Hackman on Jul 12, 2007 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Do I?

I don't recall posting many two line diaries.

Typically when someone posts a link to a player's stats they would do it to make a point and generate discussion. This is the type of comment that could easily be added to a general giants/bonds discussion.

by MLWhiteSF on Jul 12, 2007 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I did make a point and it did generate discussion... 30 posts so far. Being concise is nothing to be ashamed of.

Plus, on a blog, people are only reading recent entries or the diaries. There is no recent "general Bonds discussion."

by achiappanza on Jul 12, 2007 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

i would rather have the RBI machine Magglio...

by slojoe on Jul 12, 2007 10:17 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

RBI's are nice...but that requires some runners on base...something that isn't a strength of ours.

Omar Vizquel to Big Sam, "Barton, Viduka, Rozenhal, Geremi, Deco even?...way to go Gaffer, keep up the great work!"

by PacBellBoozer on Jul 12, 2007 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Not only that , but if their are runners on and the guy is walked that doesn't allow him to drive in runs either.

Forget trading the old guys, Sabean must go first!!!!

by ramirez415 on Jul 12, 2007 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Magglio is hitting in an offense that has a 119 team OPS+ and includes guys with OBPs of .335, .380 and .410 hitting in front of him.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 12, 2007 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

My point exactly...our lineup doesn't quite compare well with theirs does it?

Giants OBP for 1-3 hitters .297/.332/.321

Pathetic.

Omar Vizquel to Big Sam, "Barton, Viduka, Rozenhal, Geremi, Deco even?...way to go Gaffer, keep up the great work!"

by PacBellBoozer on Jul 12, 2007 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Not to mention, Omar (.284) and Aurilia (.293) have spent significant time hitting in front of Bonds as well.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 12, 2007 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I almost shit myself when I saw how low Roberts' OBP. This is our leadoff hitter folks....argh

Omar Vizquel to Big Sam, "Barton, Viduka, Rozenhal, Geremi, Deco even?...way to go Gaffer, keep up the great work!"

by PacBellBoozer on Jul 12, 2007 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Our next best is #126 Randy Winn with an OPS of 734.

Sad.

by giants92388 on Jul 12, 2007 10:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

At .862, Klesko would be #44 if he had enough PAs. Stupid Giants waited too long to make him the regular 1B.

Bold Prediction: Klesko will finish the 2007 season with at least 20 HRs. (OPS+ is 129 as of 7/1/07)

by Goofus on Jul 12, 2007 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Don't get me wrong, I love Bonds. But not having anyone else on his team, especially hitting directly behind him, drives up his OBP because of all of the walks he gets and thus his OPS is a bit deceptive.

The Fringe was right.

by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 12, 2007 10:38 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

So then maybe his slugging percentage and batting average are accordingly artificially low.

Who dat is? That's just Ortmeier's daddy.

by rotorueter on Jul 12, 2007 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

touché.

The Fringe was right.

by nostocksjustbonds on Jul 12, 2007 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I assumed that his OPS was just being pumped up by all the walks, but now that I look at the numbers... damn... that slugging percentage (.589) is ridiculously high for a 43-year-old. Here are some players who have yet to slug .589 for a season in their career:

Adam Dunn
Justin Morneau
Aramis Ramirez
Alfonso Soriano
Miguel Cabrera
David Wright
Andruw Jones
Carlos Lee
Vernon Wells
Jason Bay
Richie Sexson

Needless to say, none of these guys have ever challenged Barry's .520 OBP. So, all we need to do to replace Barry next year is find a guy who is better than all of these players were in their peak seasons.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Jul 12, 2007 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shouldn't be too hard

Considering Bonds is RUINING THE FRANCHISE!!!!1!1!!!

by awesomer on Jul 12, 2007 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you change the min PA

Jack Cust is #18. I know there's still people here who think he isn't for real- WTF?

***

Succumb to the Enchanted t-shirt! Adopted dad of Minor Izzy

by hairball on Jul 12, 2007 10:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: If you change the min PA

He's for real as a good hitter - he's not for real as the 18th best hitter in baseball. His value is also much lower to a NL team because he'll hurt you no matter where you put him in the field.

I'd have loved to pick him up on the cheap before Beane did (and plenty of us statheads around here had championed that for years) - what I wouldn't want to do is give up a bunch of talent to get him now.

Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar

by JakeS on Jul 12, 2007 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

On the topic - it looks pretty likely that Prince Fielder will be the MVP but equally likely that Bonds will deserve it if his knees hold up the rest of the year.

Barry Zito: Mike Hampton with a guitar

by JakeS on Jul 12, 2007 10:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Chase Utley is shaping up as a legit candidate too, but Fielder will probably win because of the HR and RBI.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Jul 12, 2007 10:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I say Prince also gets more votes because the Brewers are in first place and in good shape to win the division.

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 12, 2007 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

this is true, although it's kind of odd to see Prince Fielder and "good shape" in the same sentence.

Randy Messenger: "Can I start on Sunday against Brett Tomko?"

by rxmeister on Jul 14, 2007 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

You mean it wasn't Pedro Feliz??

Barry Bombs gear | comics | Ray - grounded for LIFE

by Natto on Jul 12, 2007 11:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Natto stole my answer. :(

Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Not boring: Emmanuel Burriss. Not fascist: SF Dugout

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 12, 2007 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Was guessing Matt Holliday over here.

Notgardo says: I aten't dead yet! My adopt-a-Giant speaks to Jesus Christ all night, and lives to tell the tale.

by tk on Jul 12, 2007 11:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I guessed ARod.. I tend to forget that our Giants are actually part of MLB. I think it's a tendency from playing too much fantasy.

by fwoty oz on Jul 12, 2007 12:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Bonds is the best hitter in baseball on a rate stat basis (11.8 RC/27), but there are 14 players with better Runs Created numbers than Bonds. That doesn't mean that Bonds isn't more valuable, because Bonds + his replacements are still more valuable than many of those guys. Alex Rodriguez leads in RC with 86 (10.7 RC/27), with Magglio Ordonez next at 84 (11.5 (!) RC/27).

Giants92388 mentions Randy Winn being next on the Giants in OPS. Winn is also second on the team in RC at 41. I found this interesting: Winn has a 4.8 RC/27 - in other words, a team comprised of 9 Randy Winns would score 4.8 runs per game. Now granted, that figure would be reduced because it would be 8 Randy Winns and a pitcher, but not to the Giants actual scoring level - 4.24 runs per game. So Randy Winn has actually been better than the Giants at large. Sure, actual runs are going to fluctuate based on timely hits and such, but Winn hasn't been bad, especially with his good defense.

Giants batters, ordered by RC/27

11.8 Bonds (301 PA)
6.5 Lewis (121 PA)
6.4 Klesko (222 PA)
5.7 Frandsen (118 PA) (really that high?!?!?)
5.3 Schierholtz (43 PA)
4.9 Molina (289 PA)
4.8 Winn (349 PA)
4.7 Ortmeier (54 PA)
4.3 Durham (321 PA)
4.1 Roberts (213 PA)
3.8 Sweeney (83 PA)
3.5 Aurilia (222 PA)
3.4 Feliz (315 PA)
3.4 Alfonzo (53 PA)
3.1 Vizquel (315 PA)

(G Rodriguez, Figueroa, and Niekro for too few PA.)

Vizquel and Feliz are just killing this team. There aren't a lot of bright spots anyway, but those two have just been, as Bill Walton would say, horrrrrible.

by North Side Chicago Expatriate Giants Fan on Jul 12, 2007 6:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Yeah, Bonds is seventh in equivalent runs, with a bump for park effects, no doubt, and maybe even a little bump for his 5-for-5 stolen base record. It's all just crazy given his age and his days off.

Frandsen's #s do seem ridiculous. He does have a higher OBP than everyone below him, though, expect Schierholtz. While we weren't paying attention, Frandsen took a walk or two this year; his OBP is no longer solely HBP driven, which is probably a healthy development for the long term.

And I hate to bash one of the few good stories of the season, but I hopped off the Bengie Molina bandwagon a few weeks ago. Those two-out bloop RBI hits were nice, but we're still looking at a guy who had a .723 OPS while leading the league in passed balls. Then there's the fact that he's walk-averse and is, without hyperbole, the slowest baserunner I have ever seen in my life. Dude's far from being one of the main problems with this team, but he ain't part of the solution either.

"Robb Nen is going to get you" - Benito Santiago to Chipper Jones, 10/7/02

by Pants Man on Jul 12, 2007 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Well the reason I found the OPS (and runs created, thanks) stats interesting is that without following the stats religiously, I've had the general impression that Bonds started hot (for a regular player, not even particularly hot for him), and then kind of cooled off.

But what this shows is that despite that, his numbers are still very damn good. Impressive.

by achiappanza on Jul 12, 2007 7:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

and if you listen to Joe Buck and Idiot Sidekick for .0004 Seconds you learn that Barry Bonds only made the All-Star team because of SF fans, and his historic numbers, not his top quality numbers THIS SEASON. I would think that at the all star break more people would be acknowledging statistical leaders, I've been watching for the "Bonds is actually quite good THIS year" Article, but I haven't seen it anywhere. Just 751... home run drought... blah blah blah

OT but I was barely made the Inside the park homerun and then turned the stupid game off.

by kennv on Jul 13, 2007 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Buck has hated Bonds since his first year in the business when he tried to interview him and Bonds refused, saying he didn't give a shit who his father is. A good broadcaster is able to put his personal feelings aside when he's doing the game. Joe Buck is not a good broadcaster.

Randy Messenger: "Can I start on Sunday against Brett Tomko?"

by rxmeister on Jul 14, 2007 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I guess it's a matter of opinion, but mine is that Joe Buck IS a good broadcaster. He seems pretty knowledgeable and usually seems to present a fairly balanced view IMO.

by sharksrog on Jul 14, 2007 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

I guessed Ryan Braun. He's having a slightly above average rookie season, no?

by biff pocoroba on Jul 13, 2007 10:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Lest we not forget the disproportionality of importance between OBP and SLG. Bonds' OBP is more than 50 points higher than the next guy (Helton), which makes his OPS even more valuable. A-Rod is second in OPS, but his OBP is almost a hundred points lower.

Fred Lewis in '08! What...? Dave Roberts is in center? Winn in right? Fred Lewis RIGHT NOW!

by Uribe nee Gonzalez on Jul 14, 2007 12:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Best hitter in baseball at the break

Loving Barry! And, sick of the negativity from every media person whenever they mention his name!

Hey, get a great shirt that speaks out for Bonds. Check out my website if you have a chance at www.screweverybody.com

Go Giants!

Colton Mac www.screweverybody.com

by ColtonMac on Jul 14, 2007 12:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Negativity directed at Bonds

I heard some guy on KNBR who had written a baseball book named after some rap song say that he thought Barry Bonds is unfairly taking the brunt of fan bitterness about the steroid era when everyone damn well knows it was hardly just him. He's become the poster boy of who people boo for the entire subject.

by achiappanza on Jul 14, 2007 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs