Murderer's Row

by mikeoat on Jul 20, 2008 1:59 AM EDT

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new Murderer's Row on our hands.

Through yesterday's play, the Cardinals are the only team in the Major Leagues with four players with 170 or more total bases (Ludwick - 185, Pujols - 182, Ankiel - 177, Glaus - 175). We're also the only team with 4 guys in the Top 40 of the following categories (the same 4, obviously):

Home Runs

Slugging Percentage (with Pujols & Ludwick in the Top 5)

OPS

Isolated Power (with both Ludwick and Ankiel in the Top 10)

Runs Created / 27 outs (Pujols #1).

Without looking it up, I have to guess this is the only Cardinals team in my lifetime to approach such a feat (born 1972.) But in MLB history, how rare would this be? And what was the last team that might have pulled the the same thing off over the course of a full year?

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2003?

OPS+
Pujols – 187
Edmonds – 160
Rolen – 138
Nancy Drew – 132
Renteria – 130

Well, Drew is probably disqualified because he had less than 300 ABs.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 20, 2008 3:21 AM EDT reply actions

And just think

that team finished 3 GB of the division, 2 GB of the Wild Card and despite the bullpen blowing chunks…if they had just performed to their Pythag (88) they’d have made it.

Still looking for 1985 Regular Season games on DVD/VHS

by Hardcore Legend on Jul 20, 2008 3:25 AM EDT up reply actions

Ah, the Great Bullpen Disaster of 2003

They say that it's never too late, but you don't get any younger...

by Valatan on Jul 20, 2008 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions

2003 was a good year

Those 4 guys (-Drew) finished in the top 40 in OPS+ in ‘03 for all players who played a full year (had enough PA to qualify for the batting title. )And for completeness’ sake, our ‘08 guys also finish in the Top 40 in VORP (as do the Red Sox) and OPS+(as do the Yankees.)

The 4’s OPS+ so far in 2008:

Pujols – 184
Ludwick – 152
Ankiel – 136
Glaus – 134

Which is very similar to the 2003 team, perhaps a little lower.

But I was focusing more on "power" stats, and Renteria and Drew didn't finish in the Top 40 in any of the categories I mentioned.  I know it's just arbitrary number-crunching, but it was fun to recognize.

by mikeoat on Jul 20, 2008 4:06 AM EDT reply actions

not sure what happened there

was just going to add that the ‘03 team didn’t all finish in the top 40 in the stats I mentioned up top. The which are more ‘power’ stats. (The MV3 did, but not Renteria or Drew).

by mikeoat on Jul 20, 2008 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions