Runs and Bases 2014- after June

[SWC75]

As I did last year, I’m going to make monthly posts giving the American and National League leaders in my two favorite baseball statistics: runs produced and bases produced. Runs produced are runs scored + runs batted in minus home runs so you don’t count them twice, (because a home run is the same run being batted in and also scored by the same person). Bases produced is total batting bases, (one for a single, two for a double, three for a triple and four for a home run) plus walks plus steals. I like these numbers because they are simple to compute and understand and produce a number the meaning of which can be easily comprehended. You can sit in the stands, watch a play and figure out how many runs or bases that player has now produced and know where he is in the standings. I prefer gross numbers because they are things that actually happened and you don’t know if rates of production would have been maintained. But if you want a rate I suggest per game, since the players we are comparing will all tend to be starters who will normally play the entire game. A superior offensive player will tend to produce an average of about 3 bases and 1 run per game. Again, easy to understand and comprehend. I’ll rank the players based on gross numbers and record their per-game averages as well.

American League

Runs Produced
Josh Donaldson, Athletics 100 in 81 games (1.23)
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers 98 in 79 games (1.24)
Mike Trout, Angels 95 in 76 games (1.25)
Michael Brantley, Indians 95 in 78 games (1.22)
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays 95 in 83 games (1.14)
Yoenis Cespedes Athletics 91 in 78 games (1.17)
Nelson Cruz, Orioles 89 in 81 games (1.10)
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays 88 in 78 games (1.13)
Ian Kinsler, Tigers 87 in 78 games (1.12)
Robinson Cano, Mariners 85 in 79 games (1.08)

Bases Produced
Mike Trout, Angels 233 in 76 games (3.07)
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays 229 in 83 games (2.76)
Victor Martinez, Tigers 209 in 78 games (2.68)
Nelson Cruz, Orioles 209 in 81 games (2.58)
Jose Altuve, Astros 209 in 81 games (2.58)
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays 205 in 78 games (2.63)
Brian Dozier, Twins 195 in 80 games (2.44)
Miguel Cabera, Tigers 194 in 83 games (2.34)
Josh Donaldson, Athletics 191 in 81 games (2.41)
Michael Brantley, Indians 188 in 78 games (2.41)

National League

Runs Produced
Paul Goldschmidt, D-Backs 97 in 83 games (1.17)
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins 96 in 82 games (1.17)
Troy Tulowitzski, Rockies 94 in 80 games (1.18)
Anthony Rendon, Nationals 87 in 78 games (1.12)
Freddie Freeman, Braves 85 in 83 games (1.02)
Carlos Gomez, Brewers 83 in 75 games (1.11)
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies 81 in 81 games (1.00)
Todd Frazier, Reds 81 in 81 games (1.00)
Justin Morneau, Rockies 80 in 78 games (1.03)
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs 80 in 80 games (1.00)
Andrew McCutcheon, Pirates 80 in 80 games (1.00)
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers 80 in 82 games (0.98)
Matt Carpenter, Cardinals 80 in 82 games (0.98)

Bases Produced
Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins 237 in 82 games (2.89)
Andrew McCutcheon, Pirates 225 in 80 games (2.81)
Paul Goldschmidt, D-Backs 220 in 83 games (2.65)
Troy Tulowitzski, Rockies 217 in 80 games (2.71)
Freddie Freeman Braves 204 in 83 games (2.46)
Yasiel Puig, Dodgers 199 in 78 games (2.55)
Todd Frazier, Reds 198 in 81 games (2.44)
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs 197 in 80 games (2.46)
Carlos Gomez, Brewers 196 in 75 games (2.58)
Dee Gordon, Dodgers 192 in 79 games (2.43)

Comments: We are essentially at the halfway point of the season. Looking at past years, barring injury, the guys at the top of the standings now will be the guys at the top at season’s end, perhaps not in the same order. Mike Trout leads the majors in both runs and bases per game. Giancarlo Stanton is becoming more than just a guy who hits long home runs when he connects. It’s good to play for the Rockies or the D-Backs.

Kyle Seager, Brandon Moss, Alexi Ramirez, Melky Caberara, Albert Pujols, Yasiel Puig, (in runs), Hunter Pence, Matt Holliday. Mike Morse and Adrian Gonzalez have dropped from the standings but none of them have missed much time. They just slumped and are just off the radar at the moment: it’s been a pretty injury free- season. Yoenis Cespedes, Ian Kinsler, Robinson Cano Victor Martines, Brian Dozier, Michael Brantley, Todd Frazier, Anthony Rizzo, Dee Gordon, Justin Morneuau and Matt Carpenter have moved up to replace them in the standings.