1) He got stronger coming into this year (you know what that means)
2) He was lucky (7 of his 16 HRs were considered “just enough” HRs, which seems pretty normal to me, so I wouldn’t say he got too lucky)
3) We cant’ tell anything cause it’s only 1 year, and it’s too small of a sample size (I’m going with this one)

As for his batting average, he had a really high BABIP at .339 (projected to drop to .303 next year). Part of that can be attributed to his slightly increased line drive rate, but it wasn’t too high compared to his career average (4% higher). If you just take away his 7 “just enough” HRs, and say they don’t quite clear the fence, he’s down to a .306 BA, which at first glance, is far from .325.

In the end, I think one season can have enough flukes to skew numbers like this, along with Brookes’ explanation above about place in the line-up. Just a few hits here and there can turn .300 into .325 over the course of one season. Maybe I just want too badly to pretend he’s clean though.

Did I use the comma correctly?

The first question was specifically to Bud on the post topic. The second to anyone who knows the answer.

2010 (31 yo) – .302 avg / .400 obp / .847 ops
2011 (32 yo) – .283 avg / .371 obp / .754 ops
2012 (33 yo) – .325 avg / .394 obp / .935 ops

Career (7 years MLB) – .275 avg / 363 opb / .781 ops

The 2012 spike is not too drastic accounting for the last 3 years. Even in 2009 when he batted .255 his OPB and OPS where within his career range (prior and after). The spike in various offensive categories may be attributed to his location in the lineup. For instance, up until 2012 Ruiz batted 7th-8th. In 2012 he reached as high as 4th in the lineup – more opportunities for RBI, etc. The difference between a player batting 4th and a player batting 8th is really the percentage of swings. A player (like Ruiz) batting 8th and protecting the pitcher is more likely to not swing – and try to walk – to turn the lineup over. Take the same player and place him in the 4th spot – and he his more likely to swing. He has better protection behind him (sees better pitches) and is more likely to be in a situation where a walk will not drive in runs.

In 2012 Ruiz registered 180 less PA than Buster Posey (who batted 4th). I imagine Ruiz would have reduced his AVG over those next 180 AB – much like McCutchen did – or Melky Cabrera would have given a whole season. It is unattainable unless you are supremely gifted. Once Miguel Cabrera stopped drinking before games – his average went up to .300+. However, Chooch has always got on base, worked long counts and hit balls hard up the middle. When you are batting 8th this translates to walks. When you are batting 4th/5th – with runners on base – and the infield not able to cover gaps (bc they are attending to base-runners) – there are more holes to hit into and less mobility for fielders to cover that space. So more hits that wouldn’t be hits for him prior. But over an additional 120 AB his avg would have likely fell – as he would encounter less pitches to hit. The 2012 sample is skewed because it wasn’t a full season.

His OBP and OPS have been fairly consistent throughout his career and catchers tend to find a greater offensive stride later for some reason. If he his taking steroids he is doing it wrong. He has always walked and always put balls in play. So where are the hits coming from? Is it a byproduct of his place in the lineup, greater acuity to hit off-speed pitches or increased bat speed through medicinal means? Atlanta (1st), Washington (4th), Miami (9th) and the NY Mets (7th) are all in the top 10 for errors committed for the NL in 2012. Perhaps there were more gaps than normal to hit through…