Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Last year, I stated that I'd happily trade Sammy Sosa for a bag of baseballs. Turns out, that would have been a good deal (quote follows from Hardballtimes.com):
Sammy Sosa Baltimore Orioles Right Field
AVG OBP SLG OPS
Sammy Sosa .225 .305 .383 .688
Average MLB RF .270 .348 .453 .801
Sammy Sosa's decline as a player has been one of the swiftest and most pronounced in recent memory, as he has essentially gone from being an elite MVP-caliber player to being one of the worst outfielders in baseball over the span of just a few seasons. The most interesting thing about Sosa's decline is that his numbers have dropped in nearly every way, and they have done so for five straight years.
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
AVG .328 .288 .279 .253 .225
OBP .437 .399 .358 .332 .305
SLG .737 .594 .553 .517 .383
OPS 1.174 .993 .911 .849 .688
IsoP .409 .306 .275 .264 .158
Sosa had his best season in 2001, hitting .328/.437/.737 with 64 homers, 34 doubles, 116 walks, 160 RBI, and 146 runs scored. He finished second in the NL MVP voting (behind one of the greatest seasons in baseball history) and led the league in both RBI and runs scored. Since then, his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and Isolated Power have each gone down every season. The end result has Sosa at just .225/.305/.383 this year and on pace for a measly 17 homers and 50 RBI in 127 games.
Sammy Sosa Baltimore Orioles Right Field
AVG OBP SLG OPS
Sammy Sosa .225 .305 .383 .688
Average MLB RF .270 .348 .453 .801
Sammy Sosa's decline as a player has been one of the swiftest and most pronounced in recent memory, as he has essentially gone from being an elite MVP-caliber player to being one of the worst outfielders in baseball over the span of just a few seasons. The most interesting thing about Sosa's decline is that his numbers have dropped in nearly every way, and they have done so for five straight years.
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
AVG .328 .288 .279 .253 .225
OBP .437 .399 .358 .332 .305
SLG .737 .594 .553 .517 .383
OPS 1.174 .993 .911 .849 .688
IsoP .409 .306 .275 .264 .158
Sosa had his best season in 2001, hitting .328/.437/.737 with 64 homers, 34 doubles, 116 walks, 160 RBI, and 146 runs scored. He finished second in the NL MVP voting (behind one of the greatest seasons in baseball history) and led the league in both RBI and runs scored. Since then, his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, and Isolated Power have each gone down every season. The end result has Sosa at just .225/.305/.383 this year and on pace for a measly 17 homers and 50 RBI in 127 games.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
It's obviously far beyond my abilities to report the world news, and surely you are aware that London has today fallen victim to a coordinated attack on her wonderful and essential public transportation system. Four bombings, presumably coordinated, ground the Tube to a halt all day, an event unprecedented in London's history. 33 are confirmed dead; some reports estimate the wounded at over 1,000.
I feel a special kinship with the city of London, as I'm sure many do. It was, two years ago, my first distination outside the United States, and my memories of its friendly citizens, its busy streets, its clean and efficient subway, and the cosmopolitan excitement of being surrounded by so much culture are as fresh today as they were then.
It's my favorite city in the world, and I know its people are strong. They will overcome this, and would do so without my thoughts and prayers. But they'll get them just the same.
I feel a special kinship with the city of London, as I'm sure many do. It was, two years ago, my first distination outside the United States, and my memories of its friendly citizens, its busy streets, its clean and efficient subway, and the cosmopolitan excitement of being surrounded by so much culture are as fresh today as they were then.
It's my favorite city in the world, and I know its people are strong. They will overcome this, and would do so without my thoughts and prayers. But they'll get them just the same.
