The obscure batting awards of the 2013 MLB season

<div style="text-align: justify;">This is certainly award season on the baseball calendar and aside from all the rumors going on about who is going to sign where or get traded, there is not a whole lot else to talk about. I like to make up my own awards and apparently I have hit on something as my silly awards have led to unprecedented page views. I have covered the major categories such as the worst starting pitching, worst relief pitching and worst overall position player awards. What follows are some more obscure ones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Killing Two Birds with one Ball Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hollima01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Matt Holliday</a></strong> led both leagues in grounding into double plays. Since he plays on the Cardinals, the killing two birds thing works very nicely. Holliday created 62 outs with his 31 GIDPs. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pradoma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Martin Prado</a></strong> was second with 29 and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/butlebi03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Billy Butler</a></strong> led the American League with 28.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I like to put these kinds of things into percentages and Holliday also led the majors in GIDP as a percentage of his plate appearances. His rate turned out to be 5.1%. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kratzer01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Erik Kratz</a></strong> of the Phillies had only 68 games with the Phillies and still managed to hit into 11 double plays for a 5.0% rate. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/freesda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">David Freese</a></strong> was third with a 4.8% rate followed by the only other two over four percent: Prado at 4.4% and Butler at 4.2%.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Crime Doesn't Pay Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I forget what the prevailing wisdom is on what stealing success rate is acceptable. Was it 70%? Whatever it is, none of these dudes came close. I don't know if these players tried to steal bases on their own or were sent by their managers. Whichever the case, they should stop. My cut off line was five caught steals. After all, you cannot punish a guy for just trying a couple of times. But if we go by 30% as an acceptable fail rate, the following players, of course, go beyond unacceptable with their fail rates:</div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">53.8% fail rate: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Manny Machado</a></strong> - Six stolen bases in 13 attempts. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grossro01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Robbie Grossman</a></strong> of the Astros had the exact same numbers.</li><li style="text-align: justify;">50% fail rate: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barnebr02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brandon Barnes</a></strong> (11, 22), <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parrage01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Gerardo Parra</a></strong> (10,20) and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cespeyo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Yoenis Cespedes</a></strong> (7,14)</li><li style="text-align: justify;">47.6% fail rate: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hechaad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adeiny Hechavarria</a></strong> (11, 21) Was there anything Adeiny did well in 2013??</li><li style="text-align: justify;">45.5% fail rate: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rizzoan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Anthony Rizzo</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/simmoan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Andrelton Simmons</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frazito01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Todd Frazier</a></strong> (all 6, 11)</li><li style="text-align: justify;">42.4% fail rate: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kinslia01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ian Kinsler</a></strong> (15, 26). Does <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/washiro01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ron Washington</a></strong> have a don't steal sign?</li><li style="text-align: justify;">42.1% fail rate: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/puigya01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Yasiel Puig</a></strong> (11, 19). The man did run into some outs.</li></ol><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Down and Outs Award</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">This award goes to the player who created the most outs with his plate appearances in 2013. Outs are recorded by the number of times a player gets himself out plus caught stealing, sacrifice flies and sacrifice bunts. Our winner is <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castrst01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Starlin Castro</a></strong> of the Cubs with 530 outs created. Manny Machado was second with 500 and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/trumbma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mark Trumbo</a></strong> third with 495. </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Swing Batter Batter Swing Award</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let's face it. There are some baseball players who go up to the plate hacking. They are not interested in working the count or anything like that. Life is short and they are going to swing the bat. The lowest walk percentages this season:</div></div><div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pierza.01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">A.J. Pierzynski</a></strong> - 2.1%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/escobal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Alcides Escobar</a></strong> - 3.0%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosarwi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Wilin Rosario</a></strong> - 3.2%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/betanyu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Yuniesky Betancourt</a></strong> - 3.4%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jonesad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adam Jones</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arencjp01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">J.P. Arencibia</a></strong> - 3.6%</li></ol><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The batters with the highest swing percentage at balls out of the strike zone were: </div></div></div><div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">A.J. Pierzynski - 49.6%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sandopa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Pablo Sandoval</a></strong> - 45.5%</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Adam Jones - 44.9%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/soriaal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Alfonso Soriano</a></strong> - 43.3%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenano01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Nolan Arenado</a></strong> - 42.8%</li></ol></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Woe is My wOBA Award</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The worst five wOBA statistic recorded in 2013 with a minimum of 400 plate appearances:</div></div><div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kozmape01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Pete Kozma</a></strong> - .241</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Alcides Escobar - .247</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Adeiny Hechavarria - .251</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barneda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Darwin Barney</a></strong> - .252 (555 plate appearances)</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/uptonbj01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">B.J. Upton</a></strong> - .252 (446 plate appearances)</li></ol></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Hey Your Infield Fly Is Open Award</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The highest infield fly ball percentages were:</div></div><div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wellsve01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Vernon Wells</a></strong>: 20.3%</li><li style="text-align: justify;">B.J. Upton: 19.7%</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Andrelton Simmons: 17.8%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=bautijo02,bautijo01,bautis005jos&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jose Bautista</a></strong>. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/willijo03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Josh Willingham</a></strong>: 17.6%</li></ol></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Hit It Where There Are No Screws Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The lowest line drive percentages in the MLB in 2013 were:</div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/ugglada01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Dan Uggla</a></strong> - 13.2%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnske05.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Kelly Johnson</a></strong> - 15.2%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lagarju01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Juan Lagares</a></strong> - 15.7%</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Yuniesky Betancourt, Jose Bautista - 16.1%</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Hitting 'Em Where They Are Awards</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The five lowest BABIPs of 2013 go to:</div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">Darwin Barney - .222</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Dan Uggla - .225</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Yuniesky Betancourt - .226</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda07.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">David Murphy</a></strong> - .227</li><li style="text-align: justify;">J.P. Arencibia - .231</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Stirring the Breeze Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These five players led the Majors in swinging and missing as rated by their swing and miss percentage:</div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">Yasiel Puig - 16.9%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alvarpe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Pedro Alvarez</a></strong> - 16.4%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamiljo03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Josh Hamilton</a></strong> - 16.2%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=cartech01,cartech02&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Chris Carter</a></strong> - 15.5%</li><li style="text-align: justify;">B.J. Upton - 15.3%</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Calculator Not Needed to Total Bases Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The three lowest total bases accumulated for batters with more than 400 plate appearances were:</div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">Pete Kozma - 112</li><li style="text-align: justify;">B.J. Upton - 113</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/polanpl01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Placido Polanco</a></strong> - 114</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">Nobody else was under 130.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Ultimate Sacrifice Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The most total combined sacrifice bunts and sacrifice flies were:</div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">Zack Cosart - 23 (13 sacrifice bunts plus 10 sacrifice flies)</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andruel01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Elvis Andrus</a></strong> - 22 (16 sacrifice bunts plus 6 sacrifice flies)</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The RC Coda Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">RC stands for Runs Created and it is a <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=jamesbi02,jamesbi01&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Bill James</a></strong> statistic for estimating a players contribution to the overall runs a team scored. These two players created the least amount of runs for their team according to B-R:</div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Darwin Barney - 37 in 555 plate appearances</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Adeinny Hechavarria - 38 in 578 plate appearances</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Punching Judy Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Pete Kozma became only the third player in this century to record a slugging percentage under .275 with more than 400 plate appearances. The other two were <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/izturce01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Cesar Izturis</a></strong> in 2010 (.268) and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/puntoni01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Nick Punto</a></strong> in 2007 (.271).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The At Least I Jacked One Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was the first season since 2008 where every batter over 400 plate appearances hit at least one homer. But two guys only hit one homer in 2013. Those would be Pete Kozma and Placido Polanco</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Three Outcome Heroes Award</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The following players had the highest percentage of their plate appearances being walks+strikeouts+homers:</div><ol><li style="text-align: justify;">Chris Carter - 53.2%</li><li style="text-align: justify;">Dan Uggla - 50.3%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/napolmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mike Napoli</a></strong> - 49.8%</li><li style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dunnad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adam Dunn</a></strong> - 49.2%</li></ol>

The obscure batting awards of the 2013 MLB season

This is certainly award season on the baseball calendar and aside from all the rumors going on about who is going to sign where or get trade...

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