Huh?
How in the world can The Aardvark prefer Albert Pujols to Derrek Lee as the National League's starting All-Star first baseman?
Or Mark Grudzielanek to Todd Walker?
This is not as great a mystery as the Trinity or the person of Christ, but still...
Or Mark Grudzielanek to Todd Walker?
This is not as great a mystery as the Trinity or the person of Christ, but still...
Comments
Lee's having a career half-year. Pujols is having a typical half-year (maybe even a down half-year). And despite that, they're actually not that far apart. Lee's OPS is 1.163, and Pujols' is 1.025.
Besides, watching Pujols bat is one of the most beautiful sights in all of sports. The man is a machine. He has the most beautiful, in-control swing I've ever seen. He makes Dave Justice look like a hacker.
And by the end of the year, he's going to have better numbers than Lee. And a lot of people don't vote on half-season totals.
Derrek Lee isn't having a career half-year. He's having an historic half year, an unprecedented one. And once again, the numbers belie your claim about Pujols. And when the year is over, Lee's numbers will still be better than Pujols.' We are witness to a great player coming into his own- and without taking anything away from Pujols, who is also a great player, Lee will be the National League MVP this year.
Oh, yes...and he's passed Pujols in the All-Star balloting. As well he should.
No, people don't vote for half a year. People vote on years past, as witness the fact that Nomar Garciaparra, who was hurt during the first month of the season, is leading at shortstop!
Fans voting for the All-Star team is a joke, IMO, not the least because they vote for reputations rather than performances. Were it otherwise, Lee's lead over Pujols would be as decisive as the gap in their batting averages.
Bob, I'll give you this: you have the optimism of a Cubs fan! This is Lee's 9th season. His 2005 on-base percentage is 90 points higher than his career OBP, and his 2005 slugging percentage is about 200 points higher than his career average. I'm not sure this is anything other than a freakishly good half-year. Think Brady Clark.
And Pujols really is having an average year for him. His OBP is a little higher than average, but his slugging is about 20 points lower than average. Overall, he's down a little, but close enough to call it typical.
(Oh, and I'm one of those meanies who pooh-poohs batting average, so he doesn't win any points from me there!) ;)
Lee's weakness has always been being busted inside. He learned to go to the opposite field in the off-season, and hitting inside pitches has become a strength.
Unless he forgets how, what you're seeing now is pretty much what you'll be seeing from here on out from Derrek.
Nope. Don't think Brady Clark. Think a much more stable Sammy Sosa.