The table below shows all the teammates since 1900 who each had at least a 170 OPS+ in the same season and qualified for the batting title. Ruth & Gehrig did it 6 times, more than the rest combined. Gehrig had 165 in 1929. Ruth had 193. Aaron (182) and Mathews (168) came close in 1959. Cobb & Heilmann each had 169 in 1922. Data from Baseball Reference.
| Player |
OPS+ |
Year |
Tm |
| Babe Ruth |
225 |
1927 |
NYY |
| Lou Gehrig |
220 |
1927 |
NYY |
| Babe Ruth |
206 |
1928 |
NYY |
| Lou Gehrig |
193 |
1928 |
NYY |
| Babe Ruth |
211 |
1930 |
NYY |
| Lou Gehrig |
203 |
1930 |
NYY |
| Babe Ruth |
218 |
1931 |
NYY |
| Lou Gehrig |
194 |
1931 |
NYY |
| Babe Ruth |
201 |
1932 |
NYY |
| Lou Gehrig |
181 |
1932 |
NYY |
| Babe Ruth |
176 |
1933 |
NYY |
| Lou Gehrig |
177 |
1933 |
NYY |
| Joe Medwick |
182 |
1937 |
STL |
| Johnny Mize |
173 |
1937 |
STL |
| Kevin Mitchell |
192 |
1989 |
SFG |
| Will Clark |
175 |
1989 |
SFG |
| Albert Pujols |
173 |
2004 |
STL |
| Jim Edmonds |
171 |
2004 |
STL |
| J.D. Martinez |
182 |
2018 |
BOS |
| Mookie Betts |
193 |
2018 |
BOS |
How do you get to 104 wins?
ReplyDeleteBesides the 170 OPS+ for Betts and Martinez also consider, from Fangraphs:
1. Bogaerts is #1 in Clutch and Benintendi is the #3 Clutch player.
2. For RE24 Martinez is #1, Betts is #3, Bogaerts #12, Benintendi #14.
3. For WPA+ Martinez is #3 and Betts #12
4. For wRC+ Betts is #2, Martinez is #3
This team can make it happen at anytime during a game.
The problem of weak middle relievers shows up when ever the lineup goes cold.
I think they can take a one gamer from the Yanks or the A's. Not so sure about a series with Houston.
Still, playoffs aside, what a great and entertaining season from the Sox.
Yes, those clutch stats partly explain the Red Sox success. Not sure if you can count on that to continue. But even if they don't, they are a great team. Thanks for reading and commenting.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Betts and Martinez are still both above 170 OPS+