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Andre Ethier had a typical season in 2013, full of streaks hot and cold but in the end the numbers looked similar to pretty much every year. His OPS+ by season, beginning in 2008: 132, 132, 133, 121, 123, 122. His weighted runs created (wRC+) in those same years: 134, 129, 132, 122, 124, 120.
Here's a look back at Ethier's 2013 campaign.
What went right
Ethier began hitting shortly after Yasiel Puig arrived on the scene in June, and continued for the rest of the season, at least while he was on the field. Ethier after the All-Star break hit .278/.382/.503 with seven home runs and 15 doubles in 51 games.
His .885 OPS after the break was 13th in the National League, and 22nd in MLB.
Ethier had 33 doubles in 142 games in 2013, his seventh straight year with 30 doubles. He is the only Dodger ever with seven seasons, consecutive or otherwise, of 30 doubles, and his 244 doubles from 2007-2013 are the most ever by a Dodger in a seven-year span.
His highlight at the plate was probably his pinch-hit, two-run home run against LaTroy Hawkins and the Mets on Aug. 14, a game the Dodgers would eventually win in extra innings.
Ethier also hit a solo home run in the ninth inning on July 19 to beat the Nationals in Washington.
Despite playing just two games in center field before 2013 — starting the 2010 All-Star Game, plus one game in 2012 — Ethier filled in capably with various injuries to Matt Kemp. Ethier started 70 games in center field this season, and though he was rated below average at the position by Total Zone Rating, Baseball Info Solutions and Ultimate Zone Rating, it wasn't disastrously so and he filled a need.
What went wrong
Through Ethier's first 60 games of the season he hit just .229/.315/.346 with four home runs and 15 RBI. The poor starts of Ethier and Kemp were killing the Dodgers and as big a reason as any for their 30-42 start.
A left leg injury that was described anywhere from a sprained ankle to shin splints to a microfracture in his leg really limited Ethier in September and October. He was limited to one plate appearance, as a pinch hitter, in the final 15 games of the regular season, and limited to four pinch hitting appearances in the NLDS. Ethier played five of the six NLCS games in center field, but he was understandably limited in the field — most notably narrowly missing a game-tying double by Carlos Beltran in Game 1 — and at the plate, where was 3-for-20.
2014 status
Ethier has four years and $71.5 million guaranteed remaining on his deal, plus a club option for 2018. He'll make $15.5 million next year in his age-32 season, and as one of four outfielders under contract to the Dodgers through at least 2017 Ethier will likely be the subject of trade rumors, substantiated or not, all offseason.