Matt Holiday?

[fasttrack21]

Doesn't Ludwick have more HR and the same RBI as Holliday this season?

Does it matter?

Yes.

[dew1679666265]

Doesn't Ludwick have more HR and the same RBI as Holliday this season?

Does it matter?

Yes.

 

The HRs do have an importance when considering personal performance. But the RBIs don't have much.

 

Consider a player who has a .900 OPS with a .500 SLG who is hitting third behind players with OBPs of .275 and .260. The player is going to have a very low RBI total. Is that the player's fault? Of course not.

 

RBIs are a very team-oriented stat. If the guys don't get on in front of a hitter, he's not going to drive in very many runs no matter how well he hits.

[fasttrack21]

I agree with every word of that post. HR's and to a lesser extent RBI's do have value though when evaluating a player.

[dew1679666265]

I agree with every word of that post. HR's and to a lesser extent RBI's do have value though when evaluating a player.

 

HRs do, but RBIs really have very little value alone when judging two separate players in two separate situations.

 

Now, if both players have good guys getting on base in front of them, using RBIs has some meaning. Otherwise, they tell you the player has been unproductive but give you no indication of why the player has been unproductive.

 

For example: citing RBIs as a reason that Ludwick has been better than Holliday is erroneous at it's core.

 

Ludwick's numbers: .225/.299/.419/.718

Holliday's numbers: .274/.373/.432/.806

 

Holliday has been a better hitter in every way possible this season. Significantly in most areas. The difference likely is that the players in front of Holliday are not getting on in front of him as well as they are in front of Ludwick.

 

Doesn't Pujols hit in front of Ludwick?

 

Just an FYI as well, Holliday now has 39 RBIs and Ludwick has 38.