04-12-2009, 09:34 AM
<!--quoteo(post=29505:date=Apr 11 2009, 03:30 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Apr 11 2009, 03:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Sometimes, I hate the unvarnished truth. I want to believe that Lou Gehrig was the king of RBI's because he was a "hero," and a "champion."
And to me, he <i>was</i> both of those things.
But the <i>reason</i> he got all those ribbies was because 1) he was a great hitter, and 2)(very important) he had a lot of RBI chances. A whole lot. Batting in front of him, for most of his career, was Earle Combs, a HOFer leadoff guy, and that Babe Ruth guy...who was on-base more often than any player in the history of the sport (except for Ted Williams). And when Ruth was traded, they replaced him with that DiMaggio fellow.
Equation: Great hitter + Lots of RBI <i>opportunities</i> = Lots of RBI's.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You fail to take into mind the fact that the pitcher is a huge variable here KB.
When Aramis Ramirez comes up in the 2nd inning with nobody on base and 1 out, he has a pretty decent chance of getting on base versus coming up in the 7th with 2 men in scoring position and 2 outs. In the latter scenario, the pitcher is going to use everything he's got to get Aramis out. Or, the manager is going to bring in his Marmol-esque relief pitcher, or will bring in a RHP instead of his lefty that was on the mound.
You can't just take any single plate appearance and judge it as if it's the same as any other plate appearance. RBI chances do come a lot for some guys, but the player still has to face the situation and come out on top. I would say usually, the RBI opportunities are going to be more difficult. It's not that the hitter get's a magical feeling inside that allows him to "turn up" his ability. It's the fact that he has the ability to face the best a pitcher/team has to throw at him.
And to me, he <i>was</i> both of those things.
But the <i>reason</i> he got all those ribbies was because 1) he was a great hitter, and 2)(very important) he had a lot of RBI chances. A whole lot. Batting in front of him, for most of his career, was Earle Combs, a HOFer leadoff guy, and that Babe Ruth guy...who was on-base more often than any player in the history of the sport (except for Ted Williams). And when Ruth was traded, they replaced him with that DiMaggio fellow.
Equation: Great hitter + Lots of RBI <i>opportunities</i> = Lots of RBI's.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You fail to take into mind the fact that the pitcher is a huge variable here KB.
When Aramis Ramirez comes up in the 2nd inning with nobody on base and 1 out, he has a pretty decent chance of getting on base versus coming up in the 7th with 2 men in scoring position and 2 outs. In the latter scenario, the pitcher is going to use everything he's got to get Aramis out. Or, the manager is going to bring in his Marmol-esque relief pitcher, or will bring in a RHP instead of his lefty that was on the mound.
You can't just take any single plate appearance and judge it as if it's the same as any other plate appearance. RBI chances do come a lot for some guys, but the player still has to face the situation and come out on top. I would say usually, the RBI opportunities are going to be more difficult. It's not that the hitter get's a magical feeling inside that allows him to "turn up" his ability. It's the fact that he has the ability to face the best a pitcher/team has to throw at him.