Lamb a Lion

Jacob Lamb leads the majors in RBI. RBI is one of those stats, like runs scores, wins, and losses that are highly team influenced, but credited to a particular player. RBI especially took on a overrated significance over the decades, continuing to stand as one of the triple crown statistics. In general, a player with a high RBI total is automatically seen as a clutch power hitter.

Great hitters tend to accumulate high RBI totals because they tend to be placed in the batting order where high RBI totals are possible, that is, behind batters good at getting on base. Also, clutch hitters tend to be generally great hitters. Over time, a hitter’s batting average in all situations is not that different from his batting average in clutch situations. Power matters, as double, triples, and home runs are capable of driving in runners from first base, and unlike singles, almost always score runners from second base. Slugging percentage is a measure of distance around the bases, so players with high slugging percentages move runners a long way.

To run up high RBI totals, batter need to opportunity (men on base), and the power to drive them around. Either one works, but combining both can lead to record seasons. Lamb has both working for him so far. RBI Percentage measures how many base runners the batter delivers as RBI, (RBI – HR)/Base runners. Lamb ranks seventh in the majors in this stat, driving in 20.83 of the runners on base in front of him. He ranks first in runners on base with 192. So he gets the most opportunities, and takes advantage of those.

Compare him to lead-off hitter Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies, who is tied for second in the majors with 53 RBI. In the lead-off slot, he is coming up behind the bottom of the order, which usually includes the pitcher. Blackmon came up with 48 fewer runners on base than Lamb, but converted 26.4% of them into RBI. Blackmon led the majors in RBI for a while, but it is tough to keep that up without the opportunities.

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