Jose Abreu is now the third player in major-league history to begin his career with four seasons of 25-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs. The other two? Joe DiMaggio (1936-39) and Albert Pujols (2001-04).

Are you kidding me? This is a huge accomplishment and I applaud him. Way to go, Jose.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0924-story.html

Cool I guess. The RBI is a nearly worthless stat though. Jose also came into the league older and more experience. Jose has been a solid player though. Props

Cool I guess. The RBI is a nearly worthless stat though. Jose also came into the league older and more experience. Jose has been a solid player though. Props

 

The RBI stat is hardly worthless. Nothing worthless about run production. It's only worthless when comparing players.

It's a cool stat but his first season in the majors was at 27 years old and he got called up in April, which is just as important.

I 'm pretty sure Pujols did it for his first 10 years . I see no reason to throw the caveat in there about his age when entering the league. If only 3 guys have done that in baseball history it is something noteworthy and something to be very proud . Besides it's not as if the Sox have a lot of hitters in their history with amazing hitting stats.

It is kind of amazing that Jose is both our biggest contract of all time, and one of our best free agent contracts of all time. Congrats to a true leader and all around great guy!

There are a lot of caveats, yes he wasn't the typical rookie, and itmight not be done again with players being stuck in the minors for super 2 and other arb issues to start a season.

 

But if only one or two others have ever done it, It's quite an accomplishment. He's driven in a lot of runs for a very offensively challenged team for 4 years.

Edited September 25, 20178 yr by Dick Allen

Wasn't Ichiro about 27 when he entered the league? Should we disregard his accomplishments too?

Wasn't Ichiro about 27 when he entered the league? Should we disregard his accomplishments too?

I believe the Japanese league was considered a higher level than the Cuban league. At least now. Maybe back before all the defections, not so much, but when Abreu came over, his projections were all over the place. Some were like Barry Bonds all juiced up, some were he will never be able to hit a decent fastball. All in all, he's been tremendous. I really think if he were more willing to take his walks, he could hit .340, but IMO that has to come naturally or you could really mess him up.

Edited September 25, 20178 yr by Dick Allen

Cool I guess. The RBI is a nearly worthless stat though. Jose also came into the league older and more experience. Jose has been a solid player though. Props

RBIs are hardly a meaningless stat. Teams win games by scoring more runs than the other team. RBIs are more important to a player like Abreu than a player who is a lead-off hitter. But since Abreu is a guy who typically bats 3rd, 4th, or 5th, RBIs are important since his job is to drive in the guys who have gotten on base.

RBIs are hardly a meaningless stat. Teams win games by scoring more runs than the other team. RBIs are more important to a player like Abreu than a player who is a lead-off hitter. But since Abreu is a guy who typically bats 3rd, 4th, or 5th, RBIs are important since his job is to drive in the guys who have gotten on base.

And it's not like the guys hitting in front of him have been on base machines.

And it's not like the guys hitting in front of him have been on base machines.

True. With better hitters in front of him his numbers would be more impressive.

Wasn't Ichiro about 27 when he entered the league? Should we disregard his accomplishments too?

 

Of course not, but we shouldn't pretend that he was a "rookie."

 

I love Jose and what he's done, but trying to drum up "wows" by saying he's ONLY THE THIRD PLAYER EVER in a specific group top do something, when he's only AMONG that group (rookies) because of a technicality, is pretty lame.

Congrats to Jose. I know stuff like this means a lot to the players, even if as Eminor rightly points out Jose got it on a "technicality". Jose obviously wasn't your typical rookie, being the best non-MLB hitter in the world for most of his twenties.

 

But any time you can put your name next to guys like that, even on a "technicality" it's neat. Jose is a run producer and he's gotten it done this year.

Of course not, but we shouldn't pretend that he was a "rookie."

 

I love Jose and what he's done, but trying to drum up "wows" by saying he's ONLY THE THIRD PLAYER EVER in a specific group top do something, when he's only AMONG that group (rookies) because of a technicality, is pretty lame.

I read where the Cuban league is A ball or maybe AA. Plus he was adjusting his entire life in a new country without his family.

 

He was only the 3rd player ever. Others have come from other countries, and he's the first to do that. It is a big accomplishment. If its such a technicality how come no other foreign player has done it?

Edited September 25, 20178 yr by Dick Allen

I read where the Cuban league is A ball or maybe AA. Plus he was adjusting his entire life in a new country without his family.

 

He was only the 3rd player ever. Others have come from other countries, and he's the first to do that. It is a big accomplishment. If its such a technicality how come no other foreign player has done it?

How many other countries refuse to allow their players to come to the US? The guy was basically forced to stay until he hit his prime years, then he defected. Only situations that come to mind really are Jose Abreu and Arvydas Sabonis.

How many other countries refuse to allow their players to come to the US? The guy was basically forced to stay until he hit his prime years, then he defected. Only situations that come to mind really are Jose Abreu and Arvydas Sabonis.

 

Forgot that you are the guy that hates Abreu.

Forgot that you are the guy that hates Abreu.

 

I mean Dick asked for an explanation and he gave it. Most foreign guys are not coming over in their prime.

I mean Dick asked for an explanation and he gave it. Most foreign guys are not coming over in their prime.

 

Yes, that is true but my comment still stands.

I mean Dick asked for an explanation and he gave it. Most foreign guys are not coming over in their prime.

 

Ichiro, Gurriel, Cespedes, Iguchi, Fukudome, etc.

 

I'd say a lot of Japanese and Cuban players do. And none of them did what Jose did.

Ichiro, Gurriel, Cespedes, Iguchi, Fukudome, etc.

 

I'd say a lot of Japanese and Cuban players do. And none of them did what Jose did.

 

Three of those guys are leadoff types and wouldn't be getting the RBI opportunities. That said, Jose was in a good position to make history and made it. I don't want to downplay it too much.

There aren't a lot of non HOF players that have hit 25 homers and have driven in 100 four consecutives years anyway. Joe Carter is one off my head I'm pretty sure did it. Has any White Sox other than Frank Thomas done it? I'm guessing no.

 

And while he is older an more experienced in a foreign league, that has to be at least partially offset by being in a new country, with people you don't know. Everything for him was new. It amazes me how some of these guys acclimate pretty quickly. Especially the Cubans who are away from their families.

Edited September 25, 20178 yr by Dick Allen

Three of those guys are leadoff types and wouldn't be getting the RBI opportunities. That said, Jose was in a good position to make history and made it. I don't want to downplay it too much.

 

Cespedes, Gurriel

There aren't a lot of non HOF players that have hit 25 homers and have driven in 100 four consecutives years anyway. Joe Carter is one off my head I'm pretty sure did it. Has any White Sox other than Frank Thomas done it? I'm guessing no.

 

Paulie came close in '04-'07, but fell 10 rbis short in 07

There aren't a lot of non HOF players that have hit 25 homers and have driven in 100 four consecutives years anyway. Joe Carter is one off my head I'm pretty sure did it. Has any White Sox other than Frank Thomas done it? I'm guessing no.

 

Just for the fun of it, I checked out some names. Paulie was a no, Magglio is a yes from 1999-2002 and was one RBI away in 03 from 5 years in a row.