The Flagrant Fan Blogs: Pablo Sandoval

<div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been sitting here anticipating tonight's contest between the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the wild card game in Pittsburgh. And during those random thoughts, <strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sandopa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.flagrantfan.com" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sandopa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.flagrantfan.com" rel="nofollow" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Pablo Sandoval</a></strong><span style="font-size: small;"> crossed my mind. And that led me to start wondering what the future holds for Sandoval and the Giants.</span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That future could be colored by what happens not only tonight but moving forward should the Giants go on to the NLDS. After all, Sandoval was the star of the 2012 post season as he had one of the most amazing power displays seen anywhere. Should the Giants go past the Pirates and deep into the post season with Sandoval a large part of the successful run, then sentiment could get in the way of reality. And the reality is a bit troubling.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a person who has fought my own weight challenges, I am sensitive to calling out athletes for their physique. But it is a known fact that the Giants have long been concerned about Sandoval's tendency to put on weight and have made some conditions in the past. Look at these next two pictures, the first one from early in the season and the second from this past month and you'll see where I'm going here.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #a7a7a7; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; max-width: 594px; width: 100%;"><div style="height: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 67.508418% 0 0 0; position: relative; width: 100%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="401" scrolling="no" src="//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/484444357?et=mqzmIS0xSVVOiwGmnrYRIA&sig=yGYjw6fOJP592PzNEtBpKtCEEQeOAImPYVQ_zyAzTrY=" style="display: inline-block; height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" width="594"></iframe></div><div style="margin: 0;"></div><div style="margin: 0 0 0 10px; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/484444357" style="border: none; color: #a7a7a7; display: inline-block; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#484444357</a> / <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" style="border: none; color: #a7a7a7; display: inline-block; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">gettyimages.com</a></div></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #a7a7a7; display: inline-block; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; max-width: 594px; width: 100%;"><div style="height: 0; overflow: hidden; padding: 68.013468% 0 0 0; position: relative; width: 100%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="404" scrolling="no" src="//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/183108275?et=p9ckk3PPSwxQ0g811RI8tQ&sig=mCy_Jp8VO6SH-Th26VKIbZxVuI4u6zGBp8dt6nzGdD0=" style="display: inline-block; height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" width="594"></iframe></div><div style="margin: 0;"></div><div style="margin: 0 0 0 10px; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/183108275" style="border: none; color: #a7a7a7; display: inline-block; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">#183108275</a> / <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/" style="border: none; color: #a7a7a7; display: inline-block; font-weight: normal !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">gettyimages.com</a></div></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While the Giants might be alarmed at the trend showing in the pictures, perhaps I am not so much. But it isn't just the size of Sandoval that has me thinking hard about his future with the Giants--it is his performance.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When I look at Sandoval's offensive numbers for the last three seasons, I see a general decline. Looking at his wRC+, his numbers have gone down every year for three years now. They are respectively: 149, 118, 116, 111. As a result his offensive has gone from being worth 23.8 runs in 2011 to 3.4 runs this season. If you just look at the raw OPS numbers, respectively, they go: .909, .789, .758 and .739.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Those numbers show a definite decline over the past three seasons. But all offense in MLB has suffered these past three seasons. So we have to be careful to judge Sandoval's decline by the overall offensive decline in baseball. The wRC+ statistic already does a bit of that for us, but I wanted to look at it another way.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The total offensive production in baseball in 2014 was only 98.0% of what it was in 2013. And 2013 was only 98.6% of where it was in 2012. Those are definite declines. If we d othe same thing for Sandoval the past two seasons, we see that his offense in 2014 was only 97.5% of what it was in 2013 and 96.1% of what it was in 2012. So Sandoval's decline has been more marked than MLB's.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is difficulty finding any offensive number for Pablo Sandoval that stands up to his career average. So what has caused the decline?</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I cannot see the new defensive shifts having much affect on him. His BABIP over the last three years has been remarkably consistent: .301, .301, .300. His batted ball statistics haven't changed all that much with negligible changes in line drive, ground ball and fly ball percentages. His fly ball to homer ratio has gone down some from his earlier career, but have been somewhat consistent his last three seasons. So what is it then?</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sandoval can still do some damage against the fastball, but he is not as successful against sliders as he was in the past and he is even less successful than ever before in his career against the change-up. Sandoval used to score highly against change-ups, but that is no longer the case.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My current theory is that Sandoval's swing first and ask questions later approach is working against him. Sandoval has never been a patient hitter. For his career, Sandoval has swung at 45.7% of pitches out of the strike zone. That is one of the highest figures in baseball. But that figure jumped up to 48% this past season. So Sandoval is hacking indiscriminately at everything he sees. His overall swing percentage of 59.5% led all of baseball and was his highest since his rookie season.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sandoval's contract ran through 2014.  I cannot find that there is an option involved. I don't think so. So either the Giants let him walk or they give him the $14 million offer to stay for a year. Sandoval supposedly had a good year fielding at third and because of that, came in with a value (depending on the two sites) of somewhere in the 3.2 WAR range. That makes the $14 million offer a fair one.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And that may be the way to go as signing Pablo Sandoval with his declining offensive production and expanding...umm...well, you know...would make a long-term deal a scary proposition. But then again, if Sandoval has another one of those crazy-awesome post seasons again, there might be too many warm fuzzies to see clearly.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px;"><br /></div>

Last Giants hurrah for Pablo Sandoval?

I have been sitting here anticipating tonight's contest between the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the wild card gam...

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<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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