RBI is not meaningless. When it comes to evaluating an individual player's performance, yes, it pretty much is. So if there was a player the Cubs acquired who had 125 RBI last season, you wouldn't think that would be meanginful? No but Craig Monroe had 92 RBI and Alfonso Soriano had 95 RBI last year. Pretty close numbers until you realize that Monroe batted largely 5th for a powerful offense when Soriano hit leadoff for a weak offense