Comments on: Pujols Having Best Season?

By: Berkmaniac

Berkmaniac — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:57:26 +0000

So that means his K/PA is low against everyone….and I guess our pitching has just been that good against him.

By: Eric Snideman

Eric Snideman — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:20:55 +0000

That’s actually higher than his career rate, idiot. His K/PA is 9.9% against Houston and 9.4% against all other teams.

By: Isaac

Isaac — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:05:12 +0000

Don’t wanna sound stupid, but is the Betacncourt joke about him being chosen by his peers as the second best defensive infielder in the game? If not, i’m clueless. Either way, great post. I for one, have never taken Pujols for granted, as he has been beating up on my hometown Cubs for far too long.

By: Berkmaniac

Berkmaniac — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:46:43 +0000

That is a very good point. It made me think about how little Pujols seems to strike out against the Astros.

In 549 career PAs against the Astros, Pujols has just 55 strikeouts, or only 1 per every 10 plate appearances.

By: Joser

Joser — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:39:49 +0000

As a wincing member of Mariner nation, I appreciate the Betnacourt reference. The sad thing is, I suspect Pujols would actually be a better defensive replacement for Yuniesky as well (yes, at shortstop). I doubt he would airmail as many balls into the 1st base dugout, anyway.

By: Eric Seidman

Eric Seidman — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:38:15 +0000

Nick, good numbers. Here are the defensive comparisons, for the record. Berkman, from 2006-08, is a total of +21 plays better than an average first baseman. Pujols, in that same span, is +77 plays better than an average first baseman.

Berkman may have become a better fielder, but he’s no Pujols with the glove. It’s really scary how good these defensive metrics rate Pujols. We, for whatever reason, don’t tend to value defense that much, but it is insanely important and really does make a difference.

I don’t think we’re debating Pujols is better than Berkman, but rather diagnosing why, considering some of their career numbers are so similar.

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:32:22 +0000

Eric and Berkmaniac – I totally agree with you guys that Berkman is underrated. He has become a pretty good defender at first as well. The true difference between Berkman and Pujols lies in the strikeouts & walks. Berkman is at 933(K)/859(BB) in his career a pretty good .921 bb/k rate. Albert’s at 496(K)/678(BB) for a rate of 1.424. Thus while both players walk about 85 times per season, Berkman K’s about 93 times/year while Albert K’s about 62 (these numbers include this year). When players square up the ball as well as Berkman and Pujols do, you want them to put it in play.

By: Berkmaniac

Berkmaniac — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:53:12 +0000

I agree.

By: Eric Seidman

Eric Seidman — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:37:13 +0000

To me, Berkman is underrated for the same reason Roy Oswalt is underrated: they played with other higher-profile stars/players for a while. Berkman began his career with Biggio/Bagwell, and so it became hard to be the “face” of the offense or team. Oswalt had Clemens and Pettitte there. Both are tremendous at what they do and are severely underrated.

As you said, Pujols is a better player, especially when you factor in defense (which you really have to do for a complete evaluation), but Berkman’s offense isn’t far off of Pujols.

By: Berkmaniac

Berkmaniac — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:34:05 +0000

For example (I will use my favorite player):

Pujols vs. Lance Berkman

WPA avg since 2001 : Pujols, 5.54/season. Berkman, 5.35/season.
RC since 2001: Berkman, 1046. Pujols, 1167
Career BABIP: Berkman, .327. Pujols, .323
Career OPS: Pujols, 1.047. Berkman, .977

Also, interestingly, right now they both have 948 career RBI, with Pujols have 227 fewer AB. To be sure, Pujols’ numbers are better. Pujols is “amazingtastic” as you said. But Berkman gets far less coverage even than Pujols, and while Pujols may be the best hitter in the game, Berkman’s numbers are not toooo far off.