Triple Crown Race

[HeinekenMan]

Look at that! It's a triple crown threat! Oh. Oh. It's a double triple crown threat. Wow. Oh my God! Oh my God! It's almost a triple triple crown threat! Oh my God. Oh my God. What does this mean?

I thought maybe it deserved its own thread. After all, Pujols and Votto are in a dead heat for the top spot in all three statistical categories. Meanwhile, a former utility infielder could spoil both efforts by stealing the batting title. In the American League, Miguel Cabrera needs a three-homer game to put himself in contention for the Triple Crown. At the moment, there's another unlikely spoiler who keeps bashing homers. It should be a fun September.

 

[Drip]

Pujols has a shot, especially if the Cardinals are fighting for a postseason berth. Cabrera has long been a fav of mine to do it.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

It will be tough for Cabrera to do it, since he keeps getting walked. He has 22 intentional walks, by far the most in the majors. Second most is Cano at 12, I believe.

 

[HeinekenMan]

It will be tough for Cabrera to do it, since he keeps getting walked. He has 22 intentional walks, by far the most in the majors. Second most is Cano at 12, I believe.

That certainly doesn't help. Pujols has 28. Votto has 4. That's quite a difference for a pair of guys with nearly identical stats.

 

[Ilmago]

Cabrera won't reach Bautista in home runs, so he won't win it this year.

 

[Batman]

Who gives a ****? Everyone knows batting average and RBIs are meaningless statistics.
[/DickheadSabrmetricGeek]

 

[HeinekenMan]

Of course, Pujols and Votto are also 1-2 in OBP and OBS. They are tied for second in runs scored. They are one run behind Brandon Phillips. Votto has 10 steals, and Pujols has 12. Albert went 3-for-5 tonight. He was up with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth, and friggin' LaRussa brought in a pinch hitter. Meanwhile, Infante is 1 for 3 tonight. As long as keeps going 1 for 3 with a walk, he'll earn enough plate appearances to win the batting title.

 

[Football_Bat]

Unless Josh Hamilton goes into a major slump, nobody is winning a triple crown in the AL.

 

[JC]

Who gives a ****? Everyone knows batting average and RBIs are meaningless statistics.
[/DickheadSabrmetricGeek]

Dickhead,moron who refuses to see other meaningfull stats.

Not meaningless stats, just less effective in evaluating a player. The world is not flat. Bet you love the "scrappy" player.

 

[Batman]

Who gives a ****? Everyone knows batting average and RBIs are meaningless statistics.
[/DickheadSabrmetricGeek]

Dickhead,moron who refuses to see other meaningfull stats.

Not meaningless stats, just less effective in evaluating a player. The world is not flat. Bet you love the "scrappy" player.

So David Eckstein shouldn't be my hero?
I didn't say other stats weren't meaningful. I just happen to think RBIs, as a function of how someone performs with men on base, is an important stat. So is the percentage of time someone gets a hit, although I can see the value of OBP and OPS.
Damn, you Sabrmatricians sure are a touchy bunch.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Who gives a ****? Everyone knows batting average and RBIs are meaningless statistics.
[/DickheadSabrmetricGeek]

Dickhead,moron who refuses to see other meaningfull stats.

Not meaningless stats, just less effective in evaluating a player. The world is not flat. Bet you love the "scrappy" player.

So David Eckstein shouldn't be my hero?
I didn't say other stats weren't meaningful. I just happen to think RBIs, as a function of how someone performs with men on base, is an important stat. So is the percentage of time someone gets a hit, although I can see the value of OBP and OPS.
Damn, you Sabrmatricians sure are a touchy bunch.

Eckstein has a home just down the road from me. If you'd like, I can get you his autograph.

Statistics are a fickle *****.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Pujols is absolutely raking right now. His batting average was .298 on August 1. Now it's .322. He is 18-for-40 over his last 10 games and has a hit in each of those games. During the span, he has 5 homers and 5 doubles. He also has six more games against the Pirates and Nationals this week.

Votto still has a 1 point lead over Pujols. Votto struck out with the bases juiced tonight.

Meanwhile, our friend Omar went 1-for-4 tonight and is at .349. Based on 3.1 plate appearances per game, Infante would finish with a .303 average if the season ended today. Of course, it doesn't. Infante can qualify outright by averaging 4.4 plate appearances per game.

 

[HeinekenMan]

By the way, 42 years is a long time between Triple Crowns. Since then, there have been 101 no-hitters and the single-season and career hits, stolen bases and home run marks have been broken (twice for the homer and steals records).

 

[outofplace]

In case nobody has noticed, Carlos Gonzalez has raised his NL-leading batting average to .331 tonight. He hit his 31st home run, four behind Pujols for the league lead. He drove in his 93rd run, putting him within four of Votto for the top spot in the NL there.

Amazingly enough, he has a more realistic shot at a triple crown than Pujols right now, though Votto is right there with him. Pujols is probably too far back in batting average at .313 entering tonight's games.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Oh yes. CarGo is right in the thick of it now. In fact, I'd say he's the favorite of the three. That's incredible for a 24-year-old kid who is making less than $500,000 this season. Something tells me arbitration is going to be good for him. Votto still has a good shot, too.

Pujols' slump over the past week might have eliminated him from the running. He is 2-for-17 since twisting an ankle on Aug. 27. I have a feeling there's some pain in that ankle. If that's the case, he might not hit another homer for the rest of the season. And he might hit the DL once the Cards realize their stretch run is futile. That gives the other two a great opportunity to take the homer lead.

 

[JR]

Joey Votto grew up in Mimico and used to play road hockey with my three sons and other kids in the neighbourhood. His mom is a sommelier at a very upscale Italian restaurant in town. His dad passed away suddenly a few years ago--Joey went through a rough time which is fairly well documented.

Needless to say, we're rooting for him.

 

[HeinekenMan]

Joey Votto grew up in Mimico and used to play road hockey with my three sons and other kids in the neighbourhood. His mom is a sommelier at a very upscale Italian restaurant in town. His dad passed away suddenly a few years ago--Joey went through a rough time which is fairly well documented.

Needless to say, we're rooting for him.

What is this hockey? Is that some type of smoked fish?

 

[JR]

Toronto Star has a profile on Joey in Saturday's paper.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/mlb/article/856745--local-boy-joey-votto-makes-good-very-good

While other top prospects played on teams that travelled to far-flung tournaments chasing competition and exposure, Votto played locally for the Etobicoke Rangers. He spent his summers working out at Connorvale Park in Etobicoke, playing for the Rangers and performing for pro scouts when they came to town.

He figured he wouldn’t need to join a travelling team because as long as he kept improving pro scouts would find him.


He's right. Doesn't matter whether it's baseball or hockey, if you're any good, they'll find you

 

[mb]

Oh yes. CarGo is right in the thick of it now. In fact, I'd say he's the favorite of the three. That's incredible for a 24-year-old kid who is making less than $500,000 this season. Something tells me arbitration is going to be good for him. Votto still has a good shot, too.

Pujols' slump over the past week might have eliminated him from the running. He is 2-for-17 since twisting an ankle on Aug. 27. I have a feeling there's some pain in that ankle. If that's the case, he might not hit another homer for the rest of the season. And he might hit the DL once the Cards realize their stretch run is futile. That gives the other two a great opportunity to take the homer lead.

Do the Rockies have any road games left? If so, that'll finish off Gonzalez' chances.

 

[outofplace]

Oh yes. CarGo is right in the thick of it now. In fact, I'd say he's the favorite of the three. That's incredible for a 24-year-old kid who is making less than $500,000 this season. Something tells me arbitration is going to be good for him. Votto still has a good shot, too.

Pujols' slump over the past week might have eliminated him from the running. He is 2-for-17 since twisting an ankle on Aug. 27. I have a feeling there's some pain in that ankle. If that's the case, he might not hit another homer for the rest of the season. And he might hit the DL once the Cards realize their stretch run is futile. That gives the other two a great opportunity to take the homer lead.

Do the Rockies have any road games left? If so, that'll finish off Gonzalez' chances.

His home-road splits are ridiculous, but it's not like he is a horrible player away from Coors Field. That said, after tonight, the Rockies play 16 of their final 28 games at home, so that should help him.

The odd thing about Votto is that he has hit much better on the road than at home despite the favorable hitter's park in Cinci.