Lots of triples, 2009-2011
Posted by Andy on August 7, 2011
Can you name the only 2 players with at least 10 triples in each season since 2009?
| Rk | Yrs | From | To | Age | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shane Victorino | 3 | 2009 | 2011 | 28-30 | Ind. Seasons |
| 2 | Dexter Fowler | 3 | 2009 | 2011 | 23-25 | Ind. Seasons |
It's interesting to compare Victorino and Fowler on their overall stats for 2009-2011 (although this doesn't include a nice game for Fowler last night in which he hit another triple):
Victorino: 1719 PA, .283/.353/.458, 115 OPS+, 82 2B, 35 3B, 39 HR, 253 R, 171 RBI, 74 SB, 17 CS Fowler: 1364 PA, .262/.357/.405, 94 OPS+, 68 2B, 34 3B, 10 HR, 198 R, 96 RBI, 47 SB, 25 CS
Victorino's got a lot more power and has stolen a lot more cases at a much higher percentage. It's worth noting that Fowler has batted almost exclusively leadoff while Victornio has moved around between mostly 2nd, 1st, and 5th.
Also, Victorino's been in the league longer than Fowler. The period of 2009-2011 represents Fowler's first 3 full years in the majors. If we look at Victorino's first 3 full years (2006-2008) we get the following line:
Victorino: 1599 PA, .2837/.349/.430, 98 OPS+, 72 2B, 19 3B, 32 HR, 250 R, 150 RBI, 77 SB, 18 CS
He was still better than Fowler but it's a lot closer. However, in those years Victorino batted primarily 2nd and 6th and was part of a very powerful Phillies' lineup that scored a lot of runs (they were #1 in the NL in runs scored over that period.)
August 7th, 2011 at 10:10 am
Trying to level the playing field even further, Fowler's first 3 years are ages 23-25, while Victorino's are ages 35-27. Looking at the two 25 year-old season get them closer still. Very promising for Fowler.
August 7th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
I wonder what kind of cases Victorino is stealing. Is he a lawyer on the side and taking cases away from another firm, such as Clendenon and LaRussa? Or are they shotgun cases from all of the players who like to go hunting in the offseason?
If ever there was a righthanded hitting player who should not have been converted to switch hitting, the one who is known by a first name (although it's actually his middle name) that means "righthanded" or "right side" is that guy. At least he throws rightlanded.
August 7th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
What about Jose Reyes?
He's had 19, 10 and 16 (and counting) triples the last 3 years. His streak is now 6 straight seasons at this mark.
Looks like Carl Crawford, Denard Span and Stephen Drew won't be extending their 10-triple streaks this year.
August 7th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
@3
Doug, the 19 triples for Reyes were in 2008. In Jose's injury-plagued 2009 year he had only 2 triples. Andy's got it right.
August 7th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
@4.
Got it. Thanks, Neil.