http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2074499...home-run-hitter

 

A rising home run tide tends to lift all boats, but a few archetypes become most emblematic of each era. In the live-ball 1920s, it was the superstars redefining offensive limits; in the steroids-fueled 1990s, it was the middle infielders with suddenly thick forearms doubling their career highs; in the analytics era of the mid-2000s, it was the super-patient plodders with terrible defense but keen eyes. This era's avatar: the home run hitter who is terrible.

 

Odor -- who might not actually be terrible but definitely has been this year -- is my favorite example. There's Mike Napoli, who has hit 29 home runs while batting .193/.285/.428. Maikel Franco has hit 20 homers with a .233/.286/.402 slash line. His teammate Tommy Joseph: 21 homers, .236/.287/.427. Matt Davidson: 25 homers, .223/.267/.462. Albert Pujols, arguably the worst everyday player in baseball this year, has hit 22 homers.

 

Fun article. This year is so weird. I think Matt has a lot to be proud of himself for after the career he has had, but for him to be a big leaguer past this season he has to get his walk totals up to what they were in the minors.

Sam Miller is a god among baseball writers and reading ESPN commenters who just don't *get* it is one of my favorite pastimes.

Sam Miller is a god among baseball writers and reading ESPN commenters who just don't *get* it is one of my favorite pastimes.

 

I know, it's brutal.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/2074499...home-run-hitter

 

 

 

Fun article. This year is so weird. I think Matt has a lot to be proud of himself for after the career he has had, but for him to be a big leaguer past this season he has to get his walk totals up to what they were in the minors.

 

He's a better looking Adam Dunn who hits less homers and gets hurt more.

He's a better looking Adam Dunn who hits less homers and gets hurt more.

 

And draws significantly less walks.

Yeah, I think I'll take Adam dunn, but it really goes to show that with just more walks Davidson could feasibly hit 2012 adam dunn level.

And draws significantly less walks.

Also significantly more strikeouts relative to the league average. Even with the power he's shown this year Davidson has been a below average hitter.

Surprised that there is no Joey Gallo reference.

Surprised that there is no Joey Gallo reference.

 

Yeah I'm shocked too. Or even God, I mean Kyle Schwarber.

Edited September 20, 20178 yr by soxfan2014

Surprised that there is no Joey Gallo reference.

Because Joey Gallo is actually good. He has a 125 wRC+ and ~3 WAR on the season, he is way better than every other hitter mentioned in the article, he clearly does not belong in that group.

Because Joey Gallo is actually good. He has a 125 wRC+ and ~3 WAR on the season, he is way better than every other hitter mentioned in the article, he clearly does not belong in that group.

 

This is a good post.

A rising home run tide tends to lift all boats, but a few archetypes become most emblematic of each era. In the live-ball 1920s, it was the superstars redefining offensive limits; in the steroids-fueled 1990s, it was the middle infielders with suddenly thick forearms doubling their career highs; in the analytics era of the mid-2000s, it was the super-patient plodders with terrible defense but keen eyes. This era's avatar: the home run hitter who is terrible.

 

Odor -- who might not actually be terrible but definitely has been this year -- is my favorite example. There's Mike Napoli, who has hit 29 home runs while batting .193/.285/.428. Maikel Franco has hit 20 homers with a .233/.286/.402 slash line. His teammate Tommy Joseph: 21 homers, .236/.287/.427. Matt Davidson: 25 homers, .223/.267/.462. Albert Pujols, arguably the worst everyday player in baseball this year, has hit 22 homers.

 

hard to believe im reading this

And draws significantly less walks.

Which means he's not Adam Dunn

Because Joey Gallo is actually good. He has a 125 wRC+ and ~3 WAR on the season, he is way better than every other hitter mentioned in the article, he clearly does not belong in that group.

Yep. Looking at the stats, the difference between Gallo and the rest is Gallo takes more walks which gives him more opportunities to score more runs for his team.

 

Gallo is more of a left handed Chris Carter. Hits some bombs, draws some walks, K's a ton and hits for s***.

hard to believe im reading this

 

Unless he hits about .800 over the final games of the season, it'll happen.

 

Dick Allen posted something a while back that said that Pujols will be the first player in MLB history to finish seasons with both the highest and lowest WAR.

He may end up with the worst back half of a hall of fame career ever right?

He may end up with the worst back half of a hall of fame career ever right?

 

Most definitely. However, if this season is a sign of things to come for Miguel Cabrera, he may be on that route.

He may end up with the worst back half of a hall of fame career ever right?

 

If he plays out his contract, or even most of it, his career average will drop below .300 and his OPS may drop into the .800's. Crazy after how good he was the majority of his career.

Edited September 20, 20178 yr by lasttriptotulsa

Most definitely. However, if this season is a sign of things to come for Miguel Cabrera, he may be on that route.

 

This will be the first year of his career since 2004 (first full season) that Miguel Cabrera did not get an MVP vote. So he had about 2 years more of top of league play.

 

I think he will scrape out at least 2 more .900 OPS years.

He may end up with the worst back half of a hall of fame career ever right?

He's been a lot like Frank Thomas his entire career.

He's been a lot like Frank Thomas his entire career.

Frank was never as bad as Pujols has been this year. Frank was still a very good hitter the last few years of his career and even in 2008 he still put up a .349 OBP. Pujols has a .287 OBP this year.

Edited September 21, 20178 yr by OmarComing25

Yep. Looking at the stats, the difference between Gallo and the rest is Gallo takes more walks which gives him more opportunities to score more runs for his team.

 

Gallo is more of a left handed Chris Carter. Hits some bombs, draws some walks, K's a ton and hits for s***.

 

Exactly. Close to half of Gallo's hits are homers.

If he plays out his contract, or even most of it, his career average will drop below .300 and his OPS may drop into the .800's. Crazy after how good he was the majority of his career.

 

Crazy how bad that contract is.

 

Yep. Looking at the stats, the difference between Gallo and the rest is Gallo takes more walks which gives him more opportunities to score more runs for his team.

 

Gallo is more of a left handed Chris Carter. Hits some bombs, draws some walks, K's a ton and hits for s***.

 

 

Gallo is better than Chris Carter though. Gallo's 2017 with Rangers: .210/.333/.538 with a .364 wOBA and 123 wRC+. He has 38 homers and a ridiculous .329 ISO. Chris Carter had one season better than that. In 2012 with the A's, he had a .369 wOBA and 137 wRC+. In 2014 Carter hit .227/.308/.491 with a .346 wOBA and 125 wRC+. In 2016 with Milwaukee, Carter hit .222/.321/.499 with a wRC+ 112 and a .346 wOBA. Carter has 1 season with a slugging percentage over .500. Gallo's is .538 this year.

Exactly. Close to half of Gallo's hits are homers.

A good trivia question from back in the day. I'm not sure if it's still true as I haven't researched it.

 

Who is the only player to drive himself in as many times as he drove others in while hitting 30 or more HRs? For example 30 HR and 60 RBI