Just Drive in Runs, That's All...
Home runs, doubles, whether or not he’s sadly flailing at thoseoutside sliders, what will his final stat line look like, it’s all sematics and fantasy baseball babble. All that really matters is that Mike Piazza hits when runners are on base, and more specifically when they are in scoring position…
As an aging cleanup hitter with bad knees, at this point, Piazza’s only real job is to a) not ground out into a double play, and b) drive in Jose Reyes, Kaz Matsui or Carlos Beltran. That’s it…
Last season, Piazza had the opportunity to hit into a double play roughly 25 percent of the time he stepped to the plate. He did so only 14 times, or about once every 10 games or so…
This season, roughly 30 percent of the time he has stepped to bat he has had the chance to hit into a double play, yet he’s done so only once in the 25 game he’s played…
…this is good…
In 2002, arguably
Piazza’s last great productive season, with runners on base Piazza hit
.269. However, when those runners advanced to scoring position Piazza
hit .296 and reached base 40 percent of the time…
…that’s quite good…
This season, though, with runners on base Piazza is hitting a weak .184, and when runners shift up into scoring position he’s hitting .200 while reaching base just 31 percent of the time…
…this is not good…
…these numbers need to be higher…
With the speed of Reyes, Matsui and Beltran, and even Cliff Floyd oddly enough, Piazza doesn’t need to clock 500 foot home runs or even rip a double off the wall to drive a run in as he’s had to do in the past. He simply needs to hit line drives to the outfield as this crew’s speed can make things happen, and he’s still more than capable of doing this…
Therefore, I’m adjusting my frame as to what makes a successful season for Piazza. I don’t care how many home runs he ends up hitting, and I don’t care what his batting average is, his OBP, his OPS, or what any other acronym stands at. All I want to know is if he’s hitting the ball in a way that allows the guys on base ahead of him the best chance possible to score…
And so far, it doesn’t appear he is…
Mr. Cerrone:
I am a long-time fan of Major League Baseball. I present to you Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) - a yard safety super hero. About a year ago, I had a lawn mower accident that resulted in the partial amputation of my left foot. Consequently, I have been an advocate and promoter of yard safety, with the goal to prevent these outdoor power equipment accidents from happening to other people. Furthermore, I have been a renaissance yardman, utilizing various art forms to communicate my safety message. I have approached Major League Baseball about the possibility of dedicating one day of the MLB season as Yard Safety Awareness Day. Each, there are about 400,000 individuals who experience lawn mower and garden-tool-related accidents, often times resulting in severe and life-altering outcomes. Since baseball is America's pastime and often played on natural turf, I ask for any assistance that you may provide to facilitate this humanitarian idea. Please visit the Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man (sm) website at http://www.rescuerick.com for additional information. Thank you for your BLOG. I would like to throw out the first pitch at a New York Mets game this season. Best wishes!
Richard Mudrinich
Rescue Rick the Grass Cut Man
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