Comments on: Carlos Pena is Pulling a McGwire

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:27:39 +0000

I confirmed these numbers in the Lahman Baseball Database. I also found a few others that had less ABs and completed the feat.

1959 Neil Chrisley, 106 ABs, 6 HRs, 5 1Bs
1996 J.R. Phillips, 104 ABs, 7 HRs, 5 1Bs
2002 Bobby Estalella, 112 ABs, 8 HRs, 7 1Bs
2005 Frank Thomas, 105 ABs, 12 HRs, 8 1Bs

By: Andrew.

Andrew. — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:01:55 +0000

Well, his season is now over(broke two fingers) and he ended up having two more singles than homeruns.

By: Kincaid

Kincaid — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 04:50:56 +0000

Buhner came close in 1995 (123 hits and 121 RBI), but his future teammate, Paul Sorrento, actually did it that year (76 hits and 79 RBI). Giambi had 113 of each in 2006 if you want to include as many RBI as hits. McGwire did a few times as you say, but other than that, you have to go back to 1955 to find someone else who did it in at least 200 PAs (Eddie Robinson again).

By: Kyle

Kyle — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:02:38 +0000

Good article… and exactly, JI. McGwire’s swing was so short and powerful for a period of time. Out of the roiders who hit tons of bombs, I wish he had finished on top. Because he was a far better homerun hitter than Bonds. A homerun every 10.6 at-bats, while Bonds second best homerun total was 49.

McGwire hit 49 as a rookie when he was a pitcher in college.

Ryan Howard had 146 RBI while only getting 153 hits last season. In 2007, he had 142 hits and 136 RBI. So yeah, that dude will eventually pull off that feat.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:00:17 +0000

Ortiz tried it last night…finally

By: Joe R

Joe R — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:51:07 +0000

Pena also leads the league in walks, jabroni.

But yeah, why get Pena’s power threat and good OBP when I can watch Juan Pierre leg a single out? THAT’S Championship ball.

By: JI

JI — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:08:11 +0000

the amazing thing is that, except for 2001, McGwire actually posted decent batting averages.

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:51:50 +0000

He’s also got a shot at more RBI than hits, which McGwire did a few times (I know Buhner either did it or was close also – anyone else who’s been relatively recent?).

By: Jon

Jon — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:46:53 +0000

Seriously. Who would want a home run when you can get a single?

By: Jsess

Jsess — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:41:50 +0000

Pena has done it this year… 2 or 3 of his singles are from bunts