Monday, October 23, 2006
RBI Watch: Albert Pujols and the Decline of a Meaningless Stat
Originally posted April 25, 2006; edited to remove oral-sex humour that, while funny, wasn’t quite funny enough.
It’s a three-way race right now...3 RBI leads all pitchers, and it’s Mark Mulder, Roy Oswalt and John Thomson going for the title like Bengie Molina to first base; very slowly. Oswalt’s managed to eke out 3 ribbies while hitting .143, but at least he’s pitching; Mulder’s hitting, .333, a HR & 2B in 9 AB, might be better than his pitching; but Thomson’s case is indeed odd: 5 games, 3 starts, hitting .375 with a 1.31 ERA but no decisions? Yikes.
And speaking of RBI, has anyone else been following the fact that Albert Pujols’ career high came in his rookie year? That he’s actually decreased his RBI total every season since his frosh-130? Yes, I know It’s a meaningless stat, but it’s still strange to see all his other stats go haywire as he gets older while watching his RBI totals wane. Oh well; doesn’t look like it’s a problem this year, as he’s leading the majors in HR (12) and RBI (28), and he’s just one of the all-time greats already...and that’s why you come by 4outs: so that I can tell you what you already know.
You’re welcome. ¶ 2:19 PM
It’s a three-way race right now...3 RBI leads all pitchers, and it’s Mark Mulder, Roy Oswalt and John Thomson going for the title like Bengie Molina to first base; very slowly. Oswalt’s managed to eke out 3 ribbies while hitting .143, but at least he’s pitching; Mulder’s hitting, .333, a HR & 2B in 9 AB, might be better than his pitching; but Thomson’s case is indeed odd: 5 games, 3 starts, hitting .375 with a 1.31 ERA but no decisions? Yikes.
And speaking of RBI, has anyone else been following the fact that Albert Pujols’ career high came in his rookie year? That he’s actually decreased his RBI total every season since his frosh-130? Yes, I know It’s a meaningless stat, but it’s still strange to see all his other stats go haywire as he gets older while watching his RBI totals wane. Oh well; doesn’t look like it’s a problem this year, as he’s leading the majors in HR (12) and RBI (28), and he’s just one of the all-time greats already...and that’s why you come by 4outs: so that I can tell you what you already know.
You’re welcome. ¶ 2:19 PM
