Baseball Guys: Something Special Going On This Year

[Juiceweezl]

For all of you true baseball guys, I hope you're enjoying the MLB season thus far. Several guys are off to good starts, but if you're watching games, you're witnessing a few guys post up fantastic numbers.

Everyone is talking about Hamilton since he's the local. I am from NC and had the opportunity to see this guy in high school. He really was a can't miss guy before drugs ruined it. As everyone is aware, he does have it turned around and is really producing. His average is good, not stellar, but very, very solid. Every other category is off the charts. He's doing well in the field, but he is simply deciding games with his bat. Enjoy this run. You don't see many like it.

Lance Berkman is posting similar numbers to Hamilton with an even better batting average. Again, his bat is deciding games and forcing pitchers to do what they don't want to do. I think he was hitting close to .600 for a few weeks stretch.

Finally, Chipper Jones is flirting with .400. It's way too early to even begin talking about someone actually maintaining that average, but it's a blast to watch his approach right now. He's doing it the old way -- hitting ground balls the other way through the holes, soft line drives, and still crushing the pitches he should. It seems that he's going 1 for 2 with a few walks or 2 for 4 almost every night. What makes Berkman and Jones even more impressive is that they're both switch hitters. It takes twice as much work for them to maintain swings, and they're both doing it.

I hope it lasts. I would love to see both Berkman and Jones flirting with .400 deep into August. I'd love to see Hamilton continue posting huge power numbers as a guy that everyone wrote off, especially since he's here. For now, just watch these guys play if you get a chance and marvel at how well they are all playing.

[FWT03Term]

I love baseball so I like your thread. But since when is a .324 batting average (today) not stellar? Above .280 is good. above .300 is real good. .324 always has been and always will be outstanding. What Jones and Berkman have done so far is off the charts.

[Badass2000gt]

I love baseball so I like your thread. But since when is a .324 batting average (today) not stellar? Above .280 is good. above .300 is real good. .324 always has been and always will be outstanding. What Jones and Berkman have done so far is off the charts.
They're batting close to .400 ;)

[Juiceweezl]

I love baseball so I like your thread. But since when is a .324 batting average (today) not stellar? Above .280 is good. above .300 is real good. .324 always has been and always will be outstanding. What Jones and Berkman have done so far is off the charts.
I agree that .324 with the power numbers is phenomenal. Without the power numbers, it's just solid, not stellar, at least IMO. A .324 career average is different, but not for one season without power numbers. Berkman and Jones are just sick right now. Chipper was 2 for 4 today with 2 walks on top of that I believe. Opposing pitchers have to just throw up their arms right now pitching to them. It's insane watching them. I just think it's really special to watch a few guys that can really swing it putting up great averages and hitting with some power minus questions about steroids. I don't think you look at any of those 3 and say, "He's juicing!" How cool would it be if Berkman crosses over .400 and there are 2 guys hitting that well into August???

[Vertnut]

In Chipper's case, it sucks to go 2 for 5, and your average drops! .400 would be incredible in this day and age. To me, that is much more impressive than hitting 60 or 70 HR's. In "modern" baseball, Bill Terry (.401 in '33) and Ted Williams (.406 in '41) were the only two to do it.

[Hollywood]

Let me take this opportunity about my favorite pitcher on the White Sox, John Danks. Pitched 6 innings last night giving up 1 run, striking out 8. The left-hander ranks among AL leaders with a 2.86 ERA. On behalf of the Chicago White Sox, let me just say to the Texas Rangers: "Thank you." :D

[Juiceweezl]

In Chipper's case, it sucks to go 2 for 5, and your average drops! .400 would be incredible in this day and age. To me, that is much more impressive than hitting 60 or 70 HR's. In "modern" baseball, Bill Terry (.401 in '33) and Ted Williams (.406 in '41) were the only two to do it.
I give some lessons on the side and was talking about this to one of the kids I'm working with last night. I asked him if he'd been watching Berkman and Jones swing it. Then I told him how magical .400 is. He kind of looked at me funny. I then told him there is no one alive that hit .400 for an entire season. It sunk in then. Yes, it does suck for Chipper to go 2 for 5 and have his average drop. Good thing he's got a lot of 1 for 2 with 2 BB and 2 for 4 with 2 BB nights. People would still rather pitch around him and face Tex. In Chip's case, he's patient enough to take the walk and not chase pitches.

BTW, I'll be front and center for game 1 of the Braves/Rangers in a few weeks. Unfortunately I leave town the next morning and will miss games 2 and 3.

[Slowhand]

Since when is .324 average?

[Juiceweezl]

Let me take this opportunity about my favorite pitcher on the White Sox, John Danks. Pitched 6 innings last night giving up 1 run, striking out 8. The left-hander ranks among AL leaders with a 2.86 ERA. On behalf of the Chicago White Sox, let me just say to the Texas Rangers: "Thank you." :D
LOL Nice, Wood. Ahhh, the futility of the Rangers and their trades. As good as Hamilton is playing, you still can't call that move genius because Voquez is throwing so well.

[slow93stang]

What about chase utley he's hitting over .300 with 18hrs and 48rbi leading the NL in hrs and rbi. This could be philly 3rd mvp in 3yrs. I think he has better shot for the triple crown this year instead berkman or hamilton. Seems like he always overlooked

[Hollywood]

What about chase utley he's hitting over .300 with 18hrs and 48rbi leading the NL in hrs and rbi. This could be philly 3rd mvp in 3yrs. I think he has better shot for the triple crown this year instead berkman or hamilton. Seems like he always overlooked


Another young second baseman having a good year is Dan Uggla of the Marlins. He had 12 or 13 of his 16 HR's this month. Second behind Utley and he's hitting over .300 with 38 Rbi's with 41 runs.

[FWT03Term]

Since when is .324 average?


It's not...it is superb!

[BP]

LOL Nice, Wood. Ahhh, the futility of the Rangers and their trades. As good as Hamilton is playing, you still can't call that move genius because Voquez is throwing so well.

They gave Volquez tons of chances here and he just couldn't produce. I'll take a potential triple crown winner that plays every day and is awesome at defense over a really good starting pitcher any day of the week. Hamilton has won more games for the Rangers with his offense this season than Volquez will with pitching for the Reds over the next 2 seasons.

It was a great trade for both teams no matter how you look at it. Now in 2010 when they are both eligible for arbitration we'll really know who got the better end of the deal. Even a mediocre pitcher will get paid more than a super star caliber outfielder most of the time. If Volquez keeps up his act he'll be getting a $20+ million a season contract but no matter how badass Hamilton is he'd have a hard time getting half that with his past.

[Hollywood]

They gave Volquez tons of chances here and he just couldn't produce. I'll take a potential triple crown winner that plays every day and is awesome at defense over a really good starting pitcher any day of the week. Hamilton has won more games for the Rangers with his offense this season than Volquez will with pitching for the Reds over the next 2 seasons.



Volquez has already won 7 games this year. He leads the NL in K's and ERA. I'm willing to be he's going to win more than 3 times the games Josh Hamilton is going to win for the Rangers this year let alone next 2 seasons. I'm pretty sure Hamilton has not won 7 games for the Rangers this season.
I also understand that pitchers struggle here in North Texas. I do agree with you on the fact that it was a great trade for both teams as Volquez would not be doing what he's doing had he stayed here.

[BP]

Volquez has already won 7 games this year. He leads the NL in K's and ERA. I'm willing to be he's going to win more than 3 times the games Josh Hamilton is going to win for the Rangers this year let alone next 2 seasons. I'm pretty sure Hamilton has not won 7 games for the Rangers this season.

You're right, his offense has only been the deciding factor in 6 games thus far this season. Meaning they would have lost without his run production.

Apr 10th = 2 rbis, score 3-1
Apr 16th = 2 rbis, score 7-5
Apr 25th = 2 rbis, score 6-5
Apr 30th = 4 rbis, score 11-9
May 12th = 5 rbis = score 13-12
May 22nd = 2 rbis = score 8-7

I'm not counting the 11-6 blowout on Apr 4th where he hit in 3 RBIs, the 10-0 game on Apr 27th with 2 RBIs or the 16-8 blowout against the Astros on May 16th where he hit 5 RBIs, went 5 for 5 and hit two home runs. Also not factoring in his gold glove caliber play and having one of the strongest arms in baseball (he can still throw a 95+ mph fastball).

He's not a one man team by any means but take him out of the season so far and instead of being .500 they'd be 8-10 games under.