RBIs in team wins and losses
Posted by Andy on December 11, 2007
The other day, we looked at players getting no hits in team wins.
Here is the list, for 2007, of leaders for games with zero RBI (minimum 3 PA) won by their own team:
Jose Reyes 2007 61 Ind. Games Juan Pierre 2007 56 Ind. Games Ichiro Suzuki 2007 55 Ind. Games Grady Sizemore 2007 55 Ind. Games Nick Punto 2007 53 Ind. Games Jhonny Peralta 2007 53 Ind. Games Derek Jeter 2007 53 Ind. Games Julio Lugo 2007 51 Ind. Games Orlando Hudson 2007 51 Ind. Games Eric Byrnes 2007 51 Ind. Games Jose Lopez 2007 50 Ind. Games Aaron Hill 2007 50 Ind. Games Stephen Drew 2007 50 Ind. Games Coco Crisp 2007 50 Ind. Games Casey Blake 2007 50 Ind. Games Yuniesky Betancou 2007 50 Ind. Games
This is a fairly similar list to what we saw before with zero hit games. The reasons might be different, though. Leadoff hitters, who are generally not the best run-producers, are prevalent, as are players from winning teams (who have more team wins in which to go RBI-less.)
Now here are the leaders for players with at least 1 RBI in games won by their own team:
Year Games Link to Individual Games +-----------------+----+-----+-------------------------+ Matt Holliday 2007 59 Ind. Games Alex Rodriguez 2007 54 Ind. Games Vladimir Guerrero 2007 51 Ind. Games Mike Lowell 2007 49 Ind. Games Brad Hawpe 2007 49 Ind. Games David Ortiz 2007 48 Ind. Games Magglio Ordonez 2007 48 Ind. Games Victor Martinez 2007 48 Ind. Games Jeff Francoeur 2007 47 Ind. Games Robinson Cano 2007 47 Ind. Games Khalil Greene 2007 46 Ind. Games Carlos Beltran 2007 46 Ind. Games Bobby Abreu 2007 46 Ind. Games Jimmy Rollins 2007 45 Ind. Games Prince Fielder 2007 45 Ind. Games Miguel Cabrera 2007 45 Ind. Games
Not a big surprise, either. These are run-producing guys from good teams.
Let's take a look at an interesting individual stat, though, that at least somewhat corrects for the quality of the team: fraction of season RBIs coming in team wins, vs fraction coming in team losses.
Let's compared A-rod and Magglio:
In the Yankees' 91 team wins (that A-rod played in during the regular season), A-rod had 115 RBI. In the 67 losses (again that he played in), A-rod had 41 RBI. That's 73.7% of his total RBI coming in wins, and 26.3% of his RBIs coming in losses. In the 91 wins, he averaged 1.26 RBI per game. In the 67 losses, he averaged 0.61 RBI per game.
In the Tigers' 85 teams win (that Magglio played in), Mags had 91 RBI. In the 72 team losses, Mags had 48 RBI. That's 65.5% of his total coming in wins, and 34.5% coming in losses. In team wins, he averaged 1.07 RBI per game, and in team losses he averaged 0.67 RBI per game.
What can be concluded from these numbers? I'm not sure that anything concrete can be drawn. It would seem that Ordonez' RBI are a bit more spread out over wins and losses, which might make him more valuable to his team. There were certainly a number of cases this year where the Yankees won by a large margin and A-rod got some RBI through "piling on", but there were also cases, such as with his walk-off grannies where all 4 RBI were important.
And here's a little gem I saved for the end. Most games with at least 1 RBI in team victories, 1957 to 2007:
Games Link to Individual Games +-----------------+-----+-------------------------+ Carl Yastrzemski 787 Ind. Games Barry Bonds 786 Ind. Games Hank Aaron 779 Ind. Games Eddie Murray 776 Ind. Games Rafael Palmeiro 727 Ind. Games Dave Winfield 722 Ind. Games Reggie Jackson 716 Ind. Games George Brett 713 Ind. Games Tony Perez 707 Ind. Games Cal Ripken 699 Ind. Games Frank Robinson 698 Ind. Games Pete Rose 687 Ind. Games Brooks Robinson 672 Ind. Games Frank Thomas 647 Ind. Games Harold Baines 644 Ind. Games Willie Mays 641 Ind. Games Andre Dawson 641 Ind. Games Mike Schmidt 636 Ind. Games Dave Parker 625 Ind. Games Gary Sheffield 623 Ind. Games Willie Stargell 621 Ind. Games Manny Ramirez 618 Ind. Games Fred McGriff 617 Ind. Games Paul Molitor 614 Ind. Games Robin Yount 606 Ind. Games Al Kaline 602 Ind. Games Willie McCovey 600 Ind. Games
I'm assuming that Barry Bonds is now "retired", meaning that Frank Thomas leads all active players with 647 such games. Next is Gary Sheffield at 623, and Manny at 618. Yaz might never have that record broken...he played for good teams for many years.
December 11th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Pete Rose, who nearly single-handedly (or single-headfirstslidedly) made me a baseball fanatic, is 12th on that career list. I realize Rose played in more games than any other player, but he is the only lead-off hitter on that list. As a lead-off hitter you're bases are filled with 7, 8 and 9 hitters. Rose was a National Leaguer, so the 9th hitter was usually a pitcher.
Anyway, many consider Rickey-be-Rickey to be the best lead off hitter of all time. I say it's Rose.
December 11th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
If Bonds comes back, he's sure to break that record.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
I just can't imagine any team is crazy enough to sign Bonds. What a circus.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I'm not sure if by itself "Total games with at least 1 RBI in team victories" has any merit. It may need to be adjusted by team's win/loss percentage. Or adjusted by the player's "Total games with 0 RBI in team victories" or ""Total games with at least 1 RBI in team losses". Or adjusted by the player's "RBIs/G average."
Nevertheless, I thought I'd see how those career leaders did per game. Before you review the list, keep in mind that Manny Ramirez is at the peak of his career. His numbers might very well drop if he keeps playing into his 40s. For example, Willie Keeler's lifetime batting average was .376 when he was at the age of 29. By the age of 38, his lifetime average had dropped to .341.
And two more notes: (1) for players whose careers began before 1957, I subtracted their pre-1957 game totals from the following math. (2) This list omits players with less than 600 "Total games with at least 1 RBI in team victories."
1. Manny Ramirez 618/1950=31.7%
2. Frank Thomas 647/2251=28.7%
3. Hank Aaron 779/2870=27.1%
4. Willie Mays 641/2382=26.9%
5. Mike Schmidt 636/2404=26.5%
6. Gary Sheffield 623/2362=26.4%
7. Barry Bonds 786/2986=26.3%
7. George Brett 713/2707=26.3%
7. Willie Stargell 621/2360=26.3%
7. Frank Robinson 698/2656=26.3%
11. Rafael Palmeiro 727/2831=25.7%
12. Eddie Murray 776/3026=25.6%
13. Tony Perez 707/2777=25.5%
13. Al Kaline 602/2361=25.5%
15. Reggie Jackson 716/2820=25.4%
16. Dave Parker 625/2466=25.3%
17. Fred McGriff 617/2460=25.1%
18. Andre Dawson 641/2627=24.4%
19. Dave Winfield 722/2973=24.3%
20. Carl Yastrzemski 787/3308=23.8%
21. Brooks Robinson 672/2875=23.4%
22. Cal Ripken 699/3001=23.3%
23. Willie McCovey 600/2588=23.2%
24. Paul Molitor 614/2683=22.9%
25. Harold Baines 644/2830=22.8%
26. Robin Yount 606/2856=21.2%
27. Pete Rose 687/3562=19.3%
P.S. I guess Rose isn't the only lead-off hitter on the list. Molitor was usually lead off hitter, too.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Bonds fills seats. He'd be perfect for Tampa Bay. No one pays any attention to the Rays.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
That's insane. He's expensive, a massive distraction, and has no future. Plus, it's only in SF that he fills seats.
December 11th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
The Giants finished in last place in 2007, 20 games under .500, yet placed 3rd in NL road attendance, behind the Mets and the Cubs, two teams in the pennant hunt.
December 11th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Sorry, but I still totally disagree. Bonds was chasing the HR record, which is why there was such big audiences. He will not be a draw at all next year, except to the drunk fans who want to shout things.
December 11th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Fair enough. It'll be like Ruth playing with the Boston Braves.