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What is preventing Derrek Lee from leading all the Triple Crown categories at the All-Star break?

Posted by

July 14, 2005

HR and RBI normally go hand-in-hand, but not batting average (BA).  One reason no one has won the Triple Crown since 1967 is guys with good BA were not HR hitters (Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Pete Rose, Bill Madlock, and Willie McGee).  

This makes Derrek Lee's 2005 season intriguing.  He is easily leading the NL batting average race, he is tied for HR lead, but Carlos Lee has a four RBI lead on Derrek Lee.  With all those HR (and he leads Carlos in HR 27 to 22), that great batting average (he is even leading the NL in total hits), why isn't he leading in RBI?  We need to check RBI opportunities.

First, let me explain the definition of RBI opportunities.  It's the number of RBI a player would accumulate if he homered every plate appearance (PA).  For example, if the bases are loaded, he has four opportunities.  A PA with the bases empty counts for one opportunity.  A player is not charged with any opportunity on walks, HBP, or catcher's interference, unless a run scores.  Then he gets one opportunity for the one RBI. 

Carlos Lee has 102 more opportunities than Derrek Lee (591 to 489).  That is a huge difference!  Here are the top ten NL hitters in RBI per Opportunities (minimum 100 opportunities).

Name           Tm       % RBI  Opp
Clark,Tony     Ari  15.2%  47  309
Lee,Derrek     ChC  14.7%  72  489
Ensberg,Morgan Hou  13.2%  65  491
Lee,Carlos     Mil  12.9%  76  591
Pujols,Albert  StL  12.5%  69  553
Edmonds,Jim    StL  12.4%  51  412
Niekro,Lance   SF   12.3%  34  276
Delgado,Carlos Fla  12.3%  66  536
LaRoche,Adam   Atl  12.1%  52  429
Greene,Todd    Col  12.1%  19  157

Derrek is the second most efficient RBI guy and significantly better than Carlos.  So how many RBI would Derrek have if he had Carlos’ opportunities?  87 and the Triple Crown at the All-Star break.


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