Will Lee have a better year than Pujols?

[gus_dog]

I think that with this super hot start, he will this season.

 

He's already a better 1st baseman, IMO.

Edited May 2, 2005 by gus_dog

[rocket]

Come on, let's not be ridiculous.

 

No.

[gus_dog]

This sir, is ridiculous:

CHICAGO -- What a month for Derrek Lee. What a week. What an honor.

 

Lee, the Chicago Cubs first baseman, won both the National League Player of the Month Award for April, and the NL Player of the Week Award for April 25-May 1.

 

Lee, who led the NL with a .419 batting average and 28 RBIs in April, and Florida's Dontrelle Willis, who was 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA, were voted the NL Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively.

 

........

 

Other players who received votes for April included Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell, who hit .301 with five home runs and 21 RBIs; Colorado's Clint Barmes, who hit .410 with four home runs and 14 RBIs; St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols, who hit .322 with six home runs and 19 RBIs; Dodgers infielder Jeff Kent, who hit .333 with six home runs and 18 RBIs; and Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd, who hit .366 with six home runs and 21 RBIs.

 

Lee will each receive a specially designed trophy for the award. He also will receive a Tourneau luxury Swiss timepiece for the NL Player of the Week honor.

 

From April 25-May 1, Lee led the league with four home runs and 13 RBIs. Bank of America, the official bank of Major League Baseball, is the presenting sponsor of the National League and American League Player of the Week Awards.

 

Last week, Lee led the NL with 24 total bases, a 1.091 slugging percentage, and was tied for the league lead with eight runs scored. In six games, he batted .455 (10-for-22) with two doubles, a .857 on-base percentage and one stolen base. Lee had at least one hit in all six games, and on April 27 against Cincinnati, he was 4-for-4 with two home runs and six RBIs.

 

Other nominees this past week included Lee's teammate, Jeromy Burnitz, who batted .409 with two home runs and seven RBIs.

[imb]

No way in hell.

[snoodmonger]

I'm guessing "no"

[treebird]

This is basically the "Will Lee stay healthy and Pujols get hurt and miss half the season" poll.

[snoodmonger]

This is basically the "Will Lee stay healthy and Pujols get hurt and miss half the season" poll.

 

It could be the "Will Major League Baseball Fold and end Today" poll, too.

[series65cubsfan]

I said yes and hope springs eternal.

[Mizzou]

I don't think it's anywhere near as far fetched as Treebeard, Rocket, and IMB make it out to be, but if I were a betting man, I'd say no, he wont.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't think it's anywhere near as far fetched as Treebeard, Rocket, and IMB make it out to be, but if I were a betting man, I'd say no, he wont.

 

I agree.

 

It's not like Pujols is a lock for a 1000+ OPS. It has gone down each of the past 2 years, and it was "just" 1011 last year. It could dip to around 950-975 without many people noticing. And he could miss 10-15 games. On the flip side, while Lee has never finished a season with an OPS over 900, he's also never had an April even remotely close to this April. It's not a stretch to imagine Lee with a .300, .400, .550 line by the end of the season. And if he is able to avoid the September lows like last year, .320, .415, .585 would be within reach.

 

 

No, I don't think Lee will outperform Pujols, but it's not an absurd question.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It sure would be nice, though!

 

Go Derrek Lee!

[ZambranoKsYou]

As much as I'd love to see it, I'm a realist at times. A guy who's been good-great at the plate in his career and who's having a really hot start vs. a guy who may be on track to be the greatest hitter of all time

 

With a pure sense of rationality, I pick Pujols, but the Cubs fan in me will always pick Lee.

[gus_dog]

Well folks, here we are in the middle of June, and Lee is still there.

 

Anybody change their tune yet?

[Roast]

Well folks, here we are in the middle of June, and Lee is still there.

 

Anybody change their tune yet?

 

:insane:

 

Are you derrek lee?

[gus_dog]

 

:insane:

 

Are you derrek lee?

 

:lol:

 

 

:wink:

[Omar]

You'd think Lee would die down about now, but he hasnt... Lee will have a better year IMO..

[rawaction]

Lee may hit for a higher average. I'd almost say Lee is gonna win the batting title. But Pujols will have the better year. More HRs, RBIs, and OPS.

[Balsa]

Prove me wrong Lee!!!

[DarkLink715]

Although I would like to believe that Lee has it in him, I also know that Pujols is probably the best hitter in baseball right now, and I don't think Lee can keep this up long enough to hold off Pujols.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Lee continues to stay hot.

 

It could happen.

[gus_dog]

Don't look now, but Pujols has tied Lee in rbi, and is right behind in HR's. :darn it:

 

Pujols has been slowly creeping up in HR's and rbi.

 

Fielding and BA is where Lee has continued to do his best work.

 

It's difficult to comprehend, but he has actually extended his lead in BA.

 

.392 on June 21 is just plain silly. :shock: but I'm lovin' it.

[blazedays]

Lee may hit for a higher average. I'd almost say Lee is gonna win the batting title. But Pujols will have the better year. More HRs, RBIs, and OPS.

 

Ditto for me.

[CubmanPi]

BA - Lee, no question. He would have to fold on proportions I'd rather not ponder at this point in order to lose out in BA

 

HR - I think it could be close, but the realist in me still has to side with Pujols.

 

RBI - I don't care as much about this one. Dusty isn't writing the lineups for Pujols. (Reading between the lines here will reveal a bitter admission of Pujols probably having the advantage.)

 

OPS - I still go with Lee here.

 

As far as who has the better year overall, I don't think there will be a clearcut right answer, even when the season is over and the numbers are tallied. Objective end of season analysis will show a strong case for either one to be picked over the other, which only allows room for the winner to be based on personal opinion, preference and bias. That said...

 

Lee by a mile.

[CoolHandLuke]

BA - Lee, no question. He would have to fold on proportions I'd rather not ponder at this point in order to lose out in BA

 

 

Actually (just somewhat rough estimates of course) If Lee hits at his career average for the rest of the season he will finish with a BA of about .325 and if he hits .300 for the rest of the year he will finish with a BA of about .340 which are both easily reachable for Albert. That said, considering how hot Lee has been, I really can't see him slowing down to his career levels but If he were to he would be far from folding and still be at levels reachable for Mr. Pujols.

[CoolHandLuke]

A couple weeks into the season I made a bet with my moron friend that Pujols would finish with a higher batting average, considering the huge advantage Pujols held over Lee career wise. Of course I didn't forsee Lee staying so hot and now I feel like the moron :oops: