Andre Ethier Enjoys Home Cooking
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2010 8:44 AM PDT
in Dodgers History & Records
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PrintI said last night that even though Andre Ethier added yet another walk-off hit to his amazing career, the game was about John Ely. However, now that a new day beckons, it's okay to gush about the Dodger right fielder.
May 7 is much too early to talk triple crown, but the way Ethier is hitting allows us to dream. His 10 home runs (same number as Kelly Johnson) and 30 runs batted in both lead the National League. To the untrained eye, it may look like Ethier leads the league in batting average as well, at .371. However, as the astute Jon Weisman of Dodger Thoughts has reminded us, that is not the case. Ivan Rodriguez of the Nationals is hitting .403 (31 hits in 77 at-bats), but he is three plate appearances short of qualifying for the batting title (which, again, is way too early to be thinking about, since there are 149 days left in the season). Per baseball rules, Rodriguez is given a theoretical out for each plate appearance he is short, to determine if he would still lead the league; in this case, 31 hits in 80 at-bats gives him a .388 batting average, and a comfortable lead over Ethier.
Still, any time a Dodger is atop the leaderboard in home runs or RBI, it's news. Since moving to Los Angeles, the Dodgers have had just two league leaders in these categories:
- 1962: Tommy Davis had a franchise record 153 RBI to lead the NL
- 2004: Adrian Beltre had the greatest season of his life in a contract year, and led the NL with 48 home runs
For now anyway, Ethier is in lofty company.
Ethier has been ridiculous at home for quite a while. He has a .926 slugging percentage at Dodger Stadium this season, and has averaged an RBI per game for his last 105 home starts, dating back to August 16, 2008:
| Andre Ethier's Last 105 Home Starts | ||||||||
| PA | 2B | HR | R | RBI | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 463 | 31 | 35 | 85 | 105 | .347 | .425 | .700 | 1.125 |
On. Fire.
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fantasy
i picked Ethier over kemp in fantasy and it seems like it’s paying off. i’m hoping that kemp comes back strong and they’re duking it out for RBIs by the end of the season.
Ive got Dre too.
But I have Kemp and Manny right beside him. My team name is Daddys Dodgers. Ive Got Bills, Kershaw, and Kuroda too. I need everything I can get. My pen blows. Street, Sherrill, and Qualls, have been HUGE dissapointments.
i picked up sherrill in the 12th round or something like that
dude had what, 0.69 ERA last year? he’s been dropped since.
that's tough to do
when there are other dodger fans in your league. i got Ethier, Bills, Broxton, Kuo, and Troncoso.
Same minus Kuroda
Him and Furcal where guys I wanted to snag in later rounds but in each case they went a few picks before I was going to take them.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
What I like about SLG
is that even if you remove the 3.1 PA/game qualification, only four people have a higher SLG than Ethier:
Tyler Clippard: 1.000 (1 AB)
Matt Belisle: 1.000 (2 AB)
Nelson Figueroa: .750 (4 AB)
Jimmy Rollins: .739 (23 AB)
Ethier .722
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2010 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nelson Figueroa: .750 (4 AB)
Represent!
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 7, 2010 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Old Nemesis Carlos Ruiz is the only man higher (with qualified PA) than Ethier in OBP (.449 to .440)
guess he is..
Dont know how that slipped by me earlier. Nice of Andre to give up the lead in one category right? Its like cheech giving himself a scar.
Just seeing that name puts a dark cloud over my mood. Almost as bad as Matt Stairs.
by CarolinaDodger on May 7, 2010 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Frank Thomas-like was my first thought, though I think Thomas didn’t have trouble with :-I
Isn’t like … only five guys in history finished a season with a +.700 slugging? Thomas, Belle, Mantle, Mays?
http://dingers.wordpress.com
OK, 28 total seasons where a batter had a slugging higher than .700, 14 different batters.
See if you can name them without cheating and I’ll give you Thomas and Mantle
http://dingers.wordpress.com
well
Ruth, Bonds, Foxx, Hornsby, Greenberg, Gehrig
by bhsportsguy on May 7, 2010 9:32 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
For some reason, Jeff Bagwell’s .750 SLG in 1994 is burned into my memory (as is Wade Boggs’ .368 BA and 240 hits in 1985; thanks 1986 Topps!)
Also, McGwire and Sosa. I want to say Griffey too.
I can’t believe Pujols isn’t on this list.
by CarolinaDodger on May 7, 2010 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Ruth, Bonds, Foxx, Hornsby, Gehrig and Williams are all correct. Greenberg and Belle/Bagwell didn’t qualify because of lack of PAs.
Here’s a couple of hints: one did it while playing with Foxx. Two were modern day home run contemporaries.
http://dingers.wordpress.com
If you’re going by PAs prorated by the games in the season, then yes, but the cutoff is 502 PAs
http://dingers.wordpress.com
I'm giving Bagwell a pass
300 total bases in 479 PA (400 AB). Giving him an 0-for-23 still puts his slugging at .709 :)
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2010 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
35 total seasons
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/slugging_perc_season.shtml
based on qualifying for the batting title.
Larry Walker
I feel like playing in coors was cheating.
Rudimentary creatures of flesh and blood, you touch my mind, fumbling in ignorance, incapable of understanding.
If Reed Johnson starts tonight in LF (perhaps not since Esmil Rogers is a RHP), and he plays more than 9 innings, he will take over the starting LF job on the 2010 Dodgers Baseball Reference page.
They determine the “starter” at each position by defensive innings at the position, and right now Manny leads 83 1/3 to 74 1/3.
Of course, it will be short-lived even if it happens since Manny will be activated tomorrow anyway.
And hey..
Just so you guys know. I LOVE this site. I dont post often, but check it 4-5 times per day. Keep it up. You guys are doing a great job. Even the pig latin is flawless.
by darrelld on May 7, 2010 9:20 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Same here. I was on another message board and the traffic just was too slow for Dodgers news. This site has a lot of information about things you won’t read about else where. Living on the east coast I know very few Dodger fans and it’s really enjoyable to be able to connect with all of you.
by Dodgerblue8188 on May 7, 2010 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions
I feel the same way as a fellow east coast dodger fan. Most games I don’t get a chance to stay up to watch and if I do, it is by myself. I love following along with the comments on this site, especially if it is the next morning after I missed the end of a game.
by CarolinaDodger on May 7, 2010 9:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Eric Stephen
On. Fire.
I echo the above sentiments.
by Son of Steve Sax on May 7, 2010 9:40 AM PDT up reply actions
I always thought 'Home Cooking' meant...
…that the refs, umps or whatever were giving the home team calls.
In Soviet Russia, the mound walks across you.
The Ultimate Ned's Kind of Guy
by Humma Kavula on May 7, 2010 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Fantasy baseball question from a moron
I am in a casual league with some friends, about 15 players in a Yahoo! league. I have Brian McCann and V Mart. I have been offered a trade: V Mart for Aaron Hill. Hill is sucking this year but he has a lot of potential and my current 2B is Ty Wigginton (long story). Should I do that trade?
Without knowing other details, I would say yes. Depending on salaries of course. Also, can you only start one catcher? That would shift my (weak) advice.
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2010 10:38 AM PDT up reply actions
it's a standard yahoo league
salaries not a part of it.
There is one C but there is also UTIL so in theory if V Mart was hitting great he could be either 1B/C or UTIL
Hmmm
I would probably keep V-Mart then.
by Eric Stephen on May 7, 2010 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Hills had his career year
the skills did not support the power outbreak. Obviously Wiggington will slow down but I would keep V Mart and WIggy over trading V Mart for Hill.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
FYI
Baseball HQ did say that Andre had the peripherals to support a move to 40 home run territory.
From The Baseball Forecaster:
A breakout w/full skill support. And he did it despite deep struggles vs. LHers and on road (.238 BA, .389 Slg). PX trend and FB spike say there’s more power on the horizon. UP: 40 HR, if he masters LHers.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
If Ely is kept on the team today, I promise to not say the word “Fuck” on this board for a month.
How’s that for throwing down the gauntlet? :)
NPUT
http://www.truebluela.com/2010/5/7/1462210/colorado-rockie-series-preview
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
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