Runs aren't even an individual stat... you put too much stock into them. It's almost like you don't see the correlation between getting on base and scoring runs. To score a run, all a player can do is get on base (which Soriano doesn't do) and maybe steal bases (which Soriano doesn't do). Past that, it's entirely up to the guy's teammates to drive him in. It's not like Soriano knows some kind of secret where he can score runs on his own. Ichiro has only scored 40 runs this year despite a .367/.402 line. He must be a pretty crappy lead-off hitter, right? When choosing a leadoff hitter, you need to choose someone that has a high OBP, preferably a high AVG, and stolen bases are also a plus. OBP is the most important part, though. The higher the OBP, the higher the chance of scoring runs, period. It's also good to have someone who knows the game and can play small ball. If you have a guy like that in the lead-off spot, the runs will come. Runs are a product of many variables... they don't just happen. why are you ignoring the ability to get extra bases without stealing? ughh, there's so much wrong here I don't even want to bother, honestly.