Players of the Month

July 2016 proved to be a tough month for outstanding offense. It is the first month since September of 2014 in which no player hit 10 home runs. Ryan Schimpf, with nine, led the way. He had a very good month. Despite a low batting average, he compiled a high OBP to go with an excellent slugging percentage.

Often times a player pops up who leads the league, or is close to the league lead in a number of categories, for example, runs and RBI. This month, teammates led in those categories, as Mike Trout got on base and Albert Pujols drove him in. Josh Donaldson came closest to doing well in both, scoring and driving in 21 runs.

Daniel Murphy slugged the highest at .744 thanks to eleven doubles, a triple, and six home runs to go with a high BA. In fourth place on that list, however is Joey Votto, who led July in OBP by over 100 points! Votto collected 31 hits and 25 walks, hitting over .400 for the month.

Note that Votto struck out just 18 times. Votto owns one of the highest BABIPs in the majors, currently .356 for his career. He would be a candidate of mine to hit .400 if he could pull a Miguel Cabrera and reduce his strikeout rate. He did in July, and the result was a .400 BA. Joey Votto is the Baseball Musings offensive player of the month for July 2016.

On the pitching side, the top two ERAs for the month belong to Max Scherzer and J.A. Happ. Scherzer posted a 1.32 versus 1.44 for Happ. Scherzer pitched slightly more innings with lower walk and home run rates, but Happ owned a higher K rate and pitched in the AL. Happ also went 4-0 to Scherzer’s 2-1. Justin Verlander made six starts, giving him 42 2/3 innings to go with his 1.69 ERA. His three-true outcomes were excellent, and he allowed just one home run. Hector Santiago posted six wins in six starts with a 1.78 ERA, a very bright spot for the Angels. He did not go deep in games, however, and he walked a ton of batters.

Robbie Ray posted the highest strikeout rate of the month, but with a high ERA. Mike Leake did not walk a batter in the month, but again, posted a high ERA. Verlander’s one home run in 42 2/3 innings represented the best home run rate of the month.

Given his ERA, innings, and home runs allowed, Justin Verlander win the Baseball Musings Pitcher of the Month for July 2016.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/2aIJ5Ay