Fan Projection Targets – 1/18/10
The trio today involves Jim Thome, Russell Branyan, and Carlos Delgado.
Here’s a fun fact about Branyan: 51% of his career plate appearances have ended in either a homer, walk, or strike out. By comparison, Adam Dunn sits at 49% and Carlos Pena at 45%.
He puts the “out” in “three true outcomes.”
Here is something to think about, power hitters and/or historically great hitters of recent generations, BABIP/OPS on balls hit to the OF in their career:
Mark McGwire: .417/1.825
Bonds: .473/1.767
Russell Branyan: .465/1.781
Carlos Delgado: .515/1.783
Jim Thome: .545/1.953
Alex Rodriguez: .535/1.851
Ryan Howard: .537/2.005
Mark Reynolds: .544/1.891
Rob Deer: .483/1.817
Manny Ramirez: .540/1.803
Ken Griffey Jr.: .474/.1.668
Derek Jeter: .621/1.628
Vlad Guerrero: .558/1.760
Andre Dawson: .508/1.630
Fred McGriff: .542/1.726
Dave Parker: .533/1.531
George Brett: .519/1.464
Lance Berkman: .549/1.792
Todd Helton: .535/1.617
Miguel Cabrera: .568/1.740
Obviously this is not park adjusted. I was looking at Thome’s numbers at Baseball-Ref and the balls to OF number really stood out. Had he ever learned how to hit LHers, he would be regarded as the greatest true slugger of this generation, and probably second only to Ruth all-time. He’s still right up there, though. Oh, and Mark Reynolds is not a fluke.