The league average in the american league for batting average was .279, exactly what willie hit against right handers. His obp against righties was .366 league average .348 against both right handers and left handers. So as long and willie does not see a lefty he is prefectly fine.
League average for second baseman was a .260 average with a .319 obp. Looks like he was better than both to me. So in his first full year he was just as good if not better than the majority of the second baseman in the american league.
But let's not let the facts get in the way.