Issue: What, no Jim Tressel?
Short Answer: It's coming, don't worry. I just saw this stat....
Reasoning: It's obvious that Jim Tressel and the debacle at The Ohio State University has dominated, and will continue to dominate the news lately. My opinion differs than most other's (shocking, I know), so I must plan carefully what I am going to say, lest I get called stupid, oblivious, naive, etc. by those who read this blog. My opinion on Tressel is coming, just give me a bit more time. Meanwhile, as I was doing a little light reading today I came across a stat that is certainly odd, yet, to me, it's more ridiculous than anything.
See, anytime something is done for only the 2nd time in Major League history, it must truly be an odd stat. When one of the people who accomplished the feat (I realize you don't know what I'm talking about yet, but I will get there) is none other than George Herman "Babe" Ruth, it has to be something special. Here is what I am talking about (finally): In MLB history, only 2 players have hit 17 or more home runs and 5 or more triples, before June 1. First off, that is a ridiculous stat. It makes sense that it hasn't happened much in history. In order to pull it off, a player must have speed and power, two tools that usually don't go hand-in-hand. You may be saying to yourself, "Babe Ruth didn't have speed." But, the truth is, many of the ballparks he played in had center field fences that were a couple light years away from home plate. Most other players of the time probably ended up with inside-the-park home runs if they burned the center fielder. But, Babe only ended up on third base (by the way, I pretty much made that up, but it sounds real right? And, I'm pretty sure there is some truth to it - I just don't know how else to explain Babe Ruth having 5 triples in his career, let alone before June 1 in a single season. Although his legs are moving pretty fast in all those old clips I see of him.).
I guess by this point it should be revealed who the 2nd player ever to accomplish this feat is: Curtis Granderson. This, I swear, I did not make up. The Elias sports bureau tells us that "Curtis Granderson's first-inning homer (on May 31) was his 17th of the season to go along with his five triples. Granderson became only the second player in major-league history with 17 or more home runs and five or more triples in a season before June 1. The other was Babe Ruth, who did it for the Yankees in 1928 (five triples and 19 homers through May 31)." One thing I can tell you is that I underestimated Granderson's power. I looked up his stats, and, for a little guy, he has some pop. In 2006, (his first full season in MLB) he hit 19 homers. He hit 23 in 2007, 22 in 2008, 30 in 2009, and 24 in 2010. Remember too, from 2006-2009 he played in Detroit's Comerica Park - where home runs go to die. However, the other thing I noticed when looking up his stats, was his "all-time rank among batters." Please don't take this as fact, but the two players Granderson is sandwiched between are named Dick Bartell and Roy Sievers. Think the Babe is around there anywhere?
Look, Curtis Granderson is a heck of a player. I'd love to see him in a Reds uniform (in left field maybe??). But, what this stat tells me is how ridiculous the new Yankee Stadium is. The Yankees have hit 82 home runs this year. The next closest team is the Diamondbacks with 64. The Seattle Mariners (who obviously stink) have hit only 29. In Granderson's defense, only 8 of his 17 home runs have been at the new Yankee Stadium, so he is obviously having himself quite a year. But, if we don't count those 8, his total of 9 home runs so far this year would be more on par with his career stats. Since those 8 do count, Granderson's name will forever be etched in the record books next to the Babe. What a joke.
P.S. - I looked up the Babe's stats too. He hit more triples than one may think. In 1918 he was 5th in the AL (11); in 1919 he was 6th in the AL (12); in 1921 he was 4th in the AL (16); and in 1923 he was 5th in the AL (13). He had 136 triples in his career, good for 71st on the all-time list. Maybe the "big ball park" theory I proposed above is absolutely true. Maybe?
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