Putting today's offensive numbers in perspective

[Skerik]

Nothing puts things in perspective like a fantasy draft. I had mine last weekend and it really highlighted how incredibly inflated offensive statistics are throughout MLB these days. Case in point, I picked up Reggie Sanders off the waiver wire this morning. Last year Reggie hit .271, with 24 HR, and stole 14 bases. His run and RBI totals were down thanks to the Royals lousy lineup, but remember when a season like that used to be considered pretty good? These days it's waiver fodder.

Dave Winfield averaged 25 HR, 100 RBI, and a .283 AVG for his career. Among players projected for similar totals this year are Matt Holliday, Jorge Cantu, Pat Burrell, and Justin Morneau. Remember when a 30 HR, 100 RBI season used to mean something? These days if you don't hit 50+ you're an also-ran in the HR race and every #5 hitter in an average lineup these days can drive in 100 runs. Frankly, I miss the days when driving in 100 runs was an accomplishment, or when a 30-30 season was amazing. These days the only thing stopping multiple 30-30 seasons every year is the fact that nobody runs because everyone can hit HRs these days.

I grew up watching baseball in the 80s and I really think baseball has chosen the wrong path with this whole "chicks dig the longball" marketing approach. Baseball neophytes might like seeing guys circle the bases, but as a baseball purist I miss the days when we could prize offensive accomplishments instead of regarding them as so commonplace. And I really hope, when the time comes to vote on some of these current-era players for the HOF, the era in which they've accomplished their lofty offensive totals is taken into account.

[DGetz]

Re: Putting today's offensive numbers in perspective

Could part of this be a result of how the valuation of players in the league differs from their value in real life? I mean in the league I'm in there are seven offensive catagories and three of them are Runs, SB and triples. That, coupled with the fact he is eligable at 4-5 positions makes Chone Figgins way more valuble in the league than in real life. Sanders is a 38 year old corner outfielder who only played in 95 games last year, moving from a good offensive team to probobly the worst one in the majors. His 21 HR in 295 AB in impressive but I wouldnt expect him to hit like that again and his health really is a concern.

I guess what I'm saying is that I sympathize with your point, but I'm not sure Reggie Sanders is the best example of in practice.

[Skerik]

Re: Putting today's offensive numbers in perspective

My post wasn't really even related to fantasy value, it was more about the raw numbers that people in the sport are putting up these days. Sanders was just an example whose numbers, while they would be considered good in previous eras, especially over a shortened season, are regarded as very average today. And I did mention other players like Cantu, Burrell, and Morneau. Are any of these guys really all that great, as ballplayers? Not really, but they're all capable of putting up 30 HR, 100 RBI seasons in today's game due to the offensive inflation we're seeing.

The steroids, the pitching dillution due to expansion, whatever you want to point to, the fact remains that offensive accomplishments which were once regarded as extraordinary are becoming completely average in today's game.

To your point, Figgins is overvalued in fantasy baseball terms because he steals bases, which nobody really does anymore. If Figgins couldn't steal bases, he'd be a guy who scores 100 runs and does nothing else. Look at a guy like Joey Gathright, who does basically nothing but steal bases. He's on fantasy teams because of that and because TB doesn't have a bunch of power guys and they actually need to manufacture runs. But as far as baseball in general, the days of playing smallball and manufacturing runs are long since passed. In this day and age where almost anyone can take a ball out of the park, managers don't want guys getting erased on the basepaths.

[j5fan00]

Re: Putting today's offensive numbers in perspective

It works two ways though, sure a 30 HR season doesnt mean as much as it used to but when a guy like Pedro or Clemens post a sub 2 ERA with so many things stacked against them (streroids, smaller ballparks etc..) it makes it that much more impressive.

I also completely disagree about leaving players out of the hall based on the era they played in. Is Sandy Koufax any less of a pitcher because of pitching in the dead ball era in one of the most pitcher friendly parks ever built?