Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to

incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Houston Colt .45’s / Astros 

Jose Altuve compiled the highest RC/140 among qualifiers for the Houston franchise when he batted at a .389 clip and slugged .591 over a half-season with Lancaster (A+) and Corpus Christi (AA) in 2011. The 2017 AL MVP, six-time All-Star second baseman and three-time batting champion led the Junior Circuit with 200+ base knocks in 4 straight seasons (2014-17). A.J. Reed clobbered 34 blasts, drove in 127 baserunners and registered 113 tallies while hitting .340 and slugging .612 across two minor league stops in 2015. Jason Lane swatted 26 big-flies and 34 two-base knocks with the ‘Stros in his first full big-league campaign (2005), four years after slashing .316/.407/.608 against Texas League pitching. Alex Bregman (#1, 2015) breezed through the upper minors as he batted .306 and slugged .580 SLG prior to making his Major League debut in July 2016. “A-Breg” topped the century mark in runs and RBI, led the circuit with 51 doubles and finished fifth in the 2018 AL MVP race. Morgan Ensberg clouted 23 four-baggers and recorded a .310 BA for the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA) in 2001. He subsequently established career-highs in home runs (36), RBI (101) and SLG (.557) to merit his lone All-Star invitation in ’05. Danny Heep totaled 13 big-league seasons as a pinch-hitter and backup outfielder for 5 organizations after tearing up the Pacific Coast League in 1980 with a .343 BA and a .580 SLG. Four-time All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence mashed 25 taters for the ‘Stros in three successive seasons (2008-2010). “Captain Underpants” slammed 31 round-trippers and supplied a .327 BA as a member of the Lexington Legends (A) and the Salem Avalanche (A+) in 2005. George Springer (#1, 2011) pummeled opposition hurlers in the Texas and Pacific Coast Leagues throughout the 2013 season, crushing 37 circuit clouts and swiping 45 bags while slugging .600. Tallying 100+ runs in three straight years (2016-18), the 3-time All-Star outfielder blasted a career-high 34 homers in 2017.

Roy Oswalt triumphed in 15 of 22 decisions and fashioned an ERA of 2.21 as he split the 2000 campaign between Kissimmee (A+) and Round Rock (AA). The “Wizard of Os” placed runner-up in the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year balloting and finished among the top 5 vote-getters in the NL Cy Young voting five times in six years (2001-06). Don Wilson compiled 104 wins along with a 3.15 ERA in his 9 seasons with the Astros. In his age-20 season for Cocoa (A), Wilson registered 10 victories with a 1.44 ERA and a 0.983 WHIP. Joe Sambito pitched almost exclusively in relief through 11 MLB seasons after tallying 11 wins and completing 12 of 23 starts for Cedar Rapids (A) in ’74.

Honorable Mention

Lance Berkman (#1, 1997) merited 6 All-Star nominations and placed third in the NL MVP balloting twice in 15 MLB seasons including a dozen with the ‘Stros. “Big Puma” delivered 37 doubles, 33 dingers, 110 ribbies, 101 runs and 102 bases on balls annually over an eight-year span (2001-08). One year prior to ascending to the Majors, Berkman mirrored his future output with 38 two-baggers, 30 blasts and 102 RBI as a member of the Jackson Generals (AA) and the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA). Johnny Ray blistered PCL pitching for a .349 BA along with 50 two-base hits and 111 tallies in ’81. Shipped to the Bucs in a deal for Phil Garner in August 1981, the switch-hitting second-sacker placed runner-up in the 1982 NL Rookie of the Year race and later led the Senior Circuit with 38 doubles in back-to-back campaigns (1983-84). Cliff Johnson (.302/33/117) walloped 20+ bombs four times through his 15-year big-league career subsequent to scalding the baseball as a member of the Denver Bears (AAA) in ’73. Following his release by Houston in March 2014, J.D. Martinez supplied a .307 BA with 32 doubles, 34 jacks and 96 RBI per year. “Flaco” jumped to the Majors in July 2011 after slashing .338/.414/.546 for the Corpus Christi Hooks (AA). Joe L. Morgan coaxed 105 walks, pilfered 47 bases, scored 113 runs and hit .323 with 42 doubles as a 20-year-old playing for the San Antonio Missions (AA) in ’64. “The Little General” finished second in the 1965 NL Rookie of the Year race, warranted 10 invites to the Mid-Summer Classic and notched back-to-back NL MVP Awards (1975-76). Shane Reynolds fashioned a 3.66 ERA and averaged 200 innings annually over a six-year span (1994-99) which mimicked his results for the Tucson Toros (AAA) in ’93.

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author 

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com.  

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to

incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Miami Marlins 

Tim Clark (.363/17/126) blistered opposing hurlers throughout 1993 while playing for the High Desert Mavericks (A+). Clark paced the circuit in batting average, RBI, base hits (185) and triples (10) while finishing runner-up with 42 doubles and 109 runs scored. After spending nearly three seasons in the Mexican League, Clark retired from pro ball following the 1998 season, deprived of a cup of coffee in the Majors. Kevin Millar drilled 30+ two-base knocks in four consecutive campaigns (2001-04) with Florida and Boston after producing a .342 BA with 32 jacks and 131 ribbies as a Portland Sea Dogs (AA) corner infielder in ’97. Giancarlo Stanton flashed light-tower power in his age-18 season with the Greensboro Grasshoppers (A), dialing long-distance 39 times and slugging .611. “Bigfoot” merited 2017 NL MVP honors as he topped the leader boards with 59 dingers, 132 RBI and a .631 SLG. Brian Daubach destroyed International League pitching over two years with the Charlotte Knights (AAA) as he averaged 43 doubles, 28 homers and 109 RBI (1997-98). The “Belleville Basher” clouted 20+ blasts in four straight seasons for the Red Sox (1999-2002). Mark Kotsay (#1, 1996) played for 7 MLB franchises over 17 seasons subsequent to recording 103 tallies and hitting at a .306 clip for Portland (AA) in 1997. The Yankees first-round selection in 1990, Carl “C-Rex” Everett earned a cup of coffee after nabbing 36 bags and combining for a .296 BA between High Desert (A+) and Edmonton (AAA) in ’93. The two-time All-Star registered 14 big-league campaigns for 8 different teams. Logan Morrison established personal-bests with 38 round-trippers and 85 ribbies as the primary first-sacker for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017. “LoMo” claimed the Florida State League batting crown as he hit .332 BA for the Jupiter Hammerheads (A+). Preston Wilson, a former Mets’ first-round pick from 1992, promptly clubbed 25 doubles and 25 dingers at Charlotte (AAA) after joining the Marlins organization along with fellow prospects Geoff Geotz and Ed Yarnall in exchange for future Hall of Fame backstop Mike Piazza. Wilson swatted 26 big-flies and finished runner-up in the 1999 NL Rookie of the Year vote. Carolina Mudcats’ catcher Josh Willingham walloped 24 blasts in 2004. Spending the majority of the 11-year MLB career as a left fielder, Willingham set career-highs with 35 four-baggers and 110 rib-eye steaks for Minnesota in 2012. Adrian Gonzalez (#1, 2000) flourished in the Midwest League during the 2001 season as he drove in 103 runs with .312 BA and 55 extra-base hits. Shipped to Texas in July 2003 for reliever Ugueth Urbina, “El Titan” went on to appear in 5 All-Star contests and crush 30+ homers in four consecutive seasons.

A.J. Burnett (10-4, 1.97) racked up 186 strikeouts over 119 innings (14.1 SO/9) with the Kane County Cougars (A) in ’98. One decade later, the fire-balling right-hander whiffed 231 batsmen to lead the American League in 2008. Josh Beckett (#1, 1999) split the 2001 campaign between Brevard County (A+) and Portland (AA) where he triumphed in 14 of 15 decisions while posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.829 WHIP and 13.1 strikeouts per 9 innings. A three-time All-Star, Beckett placed second in the 2007 AL Cy Young race as a member of the Red Sox as he fashioned a record of 20 wins against 7 losses. Jose D. Fernandez (#1, 2011) made the leap to the big leagues in 2013 following a superb performance as a 19-year-old in the low minors. His 2012 exploits included a 14-1 mark, an ERA of 1.75 and a 0.925 WHIP in 25 starts. The enthusiastic flame-thrower featured a 2.19 ERA and a WHIP of 0.979 to capture the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year Award.

Honorable Mention

Christian Yelich (#1, 2010) pilfered 32 bags in 37 tries, smacked 32 doubles and compiled a .312 BA for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (A) as a 19-year-old in 2011. “Yeli” merited 2018 NL MVP honors after slashing .326/.402/.598 with 36 bombs and 110 RBI for the Brew Crew. Dontrelle Willis’ 12-2 record, 1.83 ERA and 0.884 WHIP spanned two minor league stops in 2002, foreshadowing his 2003 NL Rookie of the Year campaign. The “D-Train” led the Senior Circuit in victories (22) and shutouts (5) to place runner-up in the 2005 NL Cy Young balloting. AJ Ramos (2.81, 40 SV) attained All-Star status in 2016, four years after locking down 21 contests with an ERA of 2.09, a 0.836 WHIP and 11.7 SO/9 with the Jacksonville Suns (AA).

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author 

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com.  

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to

incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Detroit Tigers 

Justin Verlander (11-2, 1.29) sailed through his lone minor league campaign, splitting the 2005 season between Lakeland (A+) and Erie (AA). “JV” compiled a WHIP of 0.905 with a 2.20 FIP while striking out 10.4 batters per nine innings. The seven-time All-Star earned AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2006 and swept the Cy Young and MVP awards in 2011. Drew Smyly (11-6, 2.07) followed in Verlander’s footsteps six years later, notching a 2.30 FIP with the same ballclubs. Dave Rozema (14-5, 2.09) fashioned an 0.976 WHIP during his age-18 season as a member of the Clinton Pilots (A). Rozema compiled a record of 15-7 with a 3.09 ERA in his rookie year (1977) and hung up his spikes after pitching for a decade in the Majors. Flamethrower Joel Zumaya whiffed 126 opposing batsmen spanning only 90.1 innings as an 18-year-old starter for the West Michigan Whitecaps (A) in 2003. “Zoom Zoom” delivered an ERA of 1.94 and registered 10.5 SO/9 with Detroit in ’06.

Jim Mooring slashed .377 / .421 / .637 and recorded the highest RC/140 mark (153.2) in the Tigers’ farm system since the start of the Expansion Era while manning first base for the Jamestown Tigers (A) in ’64. Robert Fick (.341/16/90) laced 50 doubles and accrued a 130.2   0 RC/140 as a member of the West Michigan Whitecaps in 1997. Gabe Kapler (.322/28/146) enjoyed a stellar campaign with the Jacksonville Suns in ’98, tallying 113 runs and ripping 47 two-baggers. Howard Johnson compiled a .317 BA with 23 jacks and 35 steals for the Evansville Triplets (AA) in ’82. “HoJo” notched three 30/30 seasons for the Mets (1987, 1989, 1991) and topped the Senior Circuit with 38 moon-shots and 117 ribbies in ’91. Steve Kemp produced a .328 BA with 55 extra-base hits while splitting his first professional campaign between Montgomery (AA) and Evansville (AAA) in ’76. Three years later, Kemp merited his lone All-Star appearance as he batted at a .318 clip with 26 blasts and 105 RBI. Juan Encarnacion carved out an 11-year career as a starting outfielder in the Majors subsequent to an outstanding 1997 season with the double-A Jacksonville Suns (AA) in which he batted .323 with 31 doubles and 26 circuit clouts. Three-time All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson paced the American League in triples during back-to-back seasons (2007-08) and later led the Junior Circuit in runs scored (136) and RBI (119) with the Bronx Bombers in 2011. The Erie Seawolves (AA) reaped the benefits as the “Grandy Man” supplied a .303 BA and 21 four-baggers for the ’04 squad. Phil Nevin, the Astros #1 selection in the 1992 Amateur Draft, clubbed 24 round-trippers as a backstop in the Tigers system following an August 1995 trade in exchange for closer Mike Henneman. Nevin merited All-Star status as a member of the Padres on ’01 when he established career-bests with 41 taters and 126 rib-eye steaks.

Honorable Mention

Frank Catalanotto eclipsed the .300 mark on three occasions during a 14-year MLB career. Mike Laga, Nelson Simmons and Barbaro Garbey were members of the 1984 Detroit Tigers championship team.

Francisco Cordero racked up at least 30 saves in seven big-league seasons and saved 329 contests in a 14-year career after honing his craft in 1997 for West Michigan (A). Cordero whiffed 11.1 batters per nine innings and notched 35 saves while posting an ERA of 1.00 along with a sub-1.000 WHIP.

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com.  

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Colorado Rockies 

Corey Dickerson logged the top RC/140 (155.9) in the first quarter-century of the Rockies’ existence while slashing .371/.414/.632 at Colorado Springs (AAA) in 2013. Dickerson rapped 30+ doubles in three consecutive seasons (2016-18), achieved All-Star status with the Rays in 2017 and claimed Gold Glove honors as a Pirate in the subsequent season. Todd Helton (#1, 1995) placed runner-up in the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year race and fifth in the 2000 NL MVP vote after pacing the circuit with a .372 BA, .463 OBP, .698 SLG, 216 hits, 59 doubles and 147 RBI. “The Toddfather” compiled a .316 lifetime batting average across 17 seasons in the Mile High City after hitting .352 as a member of the SkySox (AAA) in ’97. Brad Hawpe (.347/22/97) led the 2002 Salem Avalanche (A+) in the Triple Crown categories along with 38 two-baggers, 81 walks, an OBP of .447 and a .587 SLG. Five years later he established career-highs with 29 jacks and 116 ribbies. Third-sacker Garrett Atkins finished fourth in the 2005 NL Rookie of the Year balloting and recorded a .305 BA with 25 jacks and 110 RBI over a three-year period (2006-08) in Colorado. Atkins slashed .343/.408/.529 against Pacific Coast League pitching before   ascending to full-time status in the big leagues. Neifi Perez captured a Gold Glove award and drilled 39 doubles in 2000. The slick-fielding shortstop batted at a .363 clip in 68 Triple-A contests, then closed out the campaign with 10 triples and a .291 BA across 83 games with the Rockies. Dexter Fowler merited a cup of coffee in September 2008 as the result of a .335 BA, 31 two-base knocks and 20 stolen bases for the Tulsa Drillers (AA).

Jeff Francis (#1, 2002) made his MLB debut on August 25, 2004 following a dominant campaign in the upper minors as he combined for 16 victories, an ERA of 2.22 and a WHIP of 0.888 spanning 24 starts. Bryan Rekar fashioned a 10-5 mark with a 1.90 ERA and a 0.959 WHIP while splitting the first half of 1995 between the New Haven Ravens (AA) and the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA). Juan Nicasio delivered a 9-3 record with a 2.41 ERA with the Asheville Tourists (A) in ’09. He excelled in a setup role for the Bucs in 2016 (10.5 SO/9) after toiling with mixed results through four seasons as a starter with the Rockies.

Honorable Mention

Through 13 MLB seasons, backstop Chris Iannetta blasted 135 round-trippers. “Destructobeam” achieved a late-season recall in 2006 after supplying a .336 BA and slugging .564 with Tulsa (AA) and Colorado Springs (AAA). Quinton McCracken pilfered 43 bags and supplied a .359 BA to merit a cup of coffee in ’95. Clint Barmes produced career-bests in doubles (32) and home runs (23) with Colorado in 2009, five seasons after pounding PCL pitching for a .328 BA, 42 two-base knocks and 104 tallies.

Jhoulys Chacin delivered a 2.03 ERA and recorded 18 victories during his age-20 season as a Rockies farmhand. Chad Bettis furnished an ERA of 3.35 along with 9.8 SO/9 for the Modesto Nuts (A+) in 2011.

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author 

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com.  

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Cleveland Indians 

Kevin Kouzmanoff (.379/22/75) slugged .656 and recorded the highest RC/140 (146.3) among Indians prospects since the dawn of the Expansion Era. Following a trade in November 2006 to the Padres in exchange for Josh Barfield, the third-sacker averaged 31 doubles spanning four years (2007-2010) in San Diego and Oakland.  Three-time All-Star Sean “The Mayor” Casey registered 12 plate appearances with the Tribe in 1997 after scorching the upper minors with a slash line of .380 / .446 / .613.  Dave Clark (#1, 1983) parlayed 30 jacks and a .340 BA for Buffalo (AAA) into a 13-year big league career. Manny Ramirez (#1, 1991) amassed 12 All-Star invitations and placed runner-up in the 1994 AL Rookie of the Year balloting. “Man-Ram” annihilated Eastern (AA) and International League (AAA) opponents in the prior campaign as he batted at a .333 clip with 44 doubles, 31 round-trippers, 105 runs scored and 115 ribbies. Bob Chance (.343/26/114) claimed the 1963 Eastern League Triple Crown and posted respectable counting stats as a platoon first baseman with the Tribe during his rookie season (1964). Following a trade to Washington in December ’64, Chance’s playing time decreased substantially and he accrued only 305 at-bats over the next 5 MLB campaigns. Victor Martinez (.335/32/103) placed runner-up for 2014 AL MVP honors, more than a decade after making his MLB debut with the Tribe. “V-Mart” drilled 40 two-baggers and 22 circuit clouts while batting at a .336 clip for the Akron Aeros in ’02. Brian S. Giles blossomed as a full-timer in the Pirates outfield after solving triple-A competition with a .310 BA and .905 OPS over 3 seasons (1994-96), producing a .309 BA with 36 doubles, 37 home runs, 109 ribbies, 108 walks and 108 runs scored per season across a four-year stretch (1999-2002). Jhonny Peralta tallied 109 runs, 44 two-base knocks and a .326 BA for the Buffalo Bisons (AAA) in ’04. The three-time All-Star shortstop mashed a career-high 24 taters for Cleveland during the 2005 campaign.

Cleveland’s bench includes Hall of Fame corner infielder Jim Thome, 1980 AL Rookie of the Year “Super” Joe Charboneau along with lumberjacks Russell “The Muscle” Branyan and Richie Sexson. Thome crushed 30+ long balls in 12 campaigns and coaxed 100+ walks nine times. Manning the hot corner for the Charlotte Knights (AAA) in ’93, Thome slashed .332/.441/.585 with 25 jacks and 102 ribbies. Acquired from the Phillies during an exchange of prospects in December ’78, Charboneau notched a .352 BA along with a 1.019 OPS as a member of the Chattanooga Lookouts (AA). Branyan clobbered 39 big-flies and plated 105 baserunners while splitting the ’97 campaign between Kinston (A+) and Akron (A), replicating his results from the preceding year – .268/40/106 at Columbus (A). Sexson supplied 33 dingers and 101 rib-eye steaks per season over an eight-year span (1999-2006) subsequent to dialing 52 long-distance dedications against American Association hurlers in 1997-98.

Shane Bieber compiled an 11-5 record in his debut with the Tribe in 2018 after fashioning an ERA of 2.86 and a WHIP of 1.127 as a Cleveland farmhand in the prior campaign. Bartolo Colon furnished a 13-3 mark with a 1.97 ERA along with a 1.014 WHIP as an Indians’ prospect. More than two decades later, “Big Sexy” continues to add to an MLB register encompassing 247 wins, 2535 strikeouts and 2005 AL Cy Young honors. Danny Salazar secured an AL All-Star invitation in 2016, three years after posting a 1.96 FIP, 1.022 WHIP and 12.5 strikeouts per 9 IP in the upper minors. Drew Pomeranz (#1, 2010) likewise punched a ticket to the Mid-Summer Classic in 2016, albeit as a member of the Padres. “Big Smooth” started 18 contests with Cleveland’s minor league affiliates, composing a 1.98 ERA and 11.1 SO/9 before being dealt to Colorado in a 4-player trade for Ubaldo Jimenez.

Honorable Mention

Francisco Mejia generated a .342 BA with 29 two-base knocks during his age-20 season with the Lake County Captains (A) and Lynchburg Hillcats (A+) in 2016. One of the Indians top prospects heading into 2018, Mejia was shipped to San Diego in exchange for relievers Brad Hand and Adam Cimber two weeks before the trade deadline. Chris Bando parlayed a .349 BA with the Chattanooga Lookouts (AA) into a 9-year MLB career as a platoon catcher. Vic Davalillo registered a .278 BA over six seasons as the Indians primary center fielder following a 200-hit campaign for the Jacksonville Suns (AAA) in 1962. David Riske managed an ERA of 3.67 through 11 big-league seasons after striking out 12.2 batters per 9 innings and saving 15 contests for Buffalo (AAA) in 2001.

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author 

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com.  

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to

incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Cincinnati Reds 

Adam Dunn surpassed the century mark in bases on balls eight times in his big-league career and launched at least 30 circuit clouts in nine of ten seasons from 2004 to 2013.  “Big Donkey” attained the highest single-season RC140 mark for the Redlegs during the Expansion Era (152.1) while slugging .671 between Chattanooga (AA) and Louisville (AAA) in 2001. Bernie Carbo (#1, 1965) placed runner-up in the 1970 NL Rookie of the Year race subsequent to posting a 142.1 RC140 with a .359 BA and 37 two-baggers for the Indianapolis Indians (AAA) through the prior campaign. Trois-Rivieres Aigles (AA) first-sacker Harry Spilman manufactured a .373 BA, 39 doubles and a .453 OBP in 1977. Spilman registered 810 at-bats across 12 MLB seasons while Jeff R. Jones barely secured a cup of coffee with Cincinnati after delivering a .301 BA with 42 jacks and 101 ribbies with Cedar Rapids (A) in ’82. Tommy Harper (.333/26/84) coaxed 105 walks and scored 120 runs in 1962 as a member of the San Diego (AAA) squad. Jason LaRue registered 12 years as a big-league backstop after lacing 43 doubles and notching a .350 BA in the upper minors during the 1998 campaign. Pete Rose seized 1963 NL Rookie of the Year honors following an outstanding stint with the Macon Peaches (A) in the previous season. “Charlie Hustle” tallied 136 runs scored, 31 two-base hits, 17 triples and 95 walks to complement a .330 BA. Gary Redus (.462/17/62) enjoyed a phenomenal half-season in ’78 with the Billings Mustangs (Rookie). The fleet-footed outfielder swiped 54 bags in 59 attempts, scored 112 runs and batted .333 with Indianapolis (AAA) four years later. Barry Larkin (#1, 1985) tore through the American Association (AAA) with 31 doubles and a .329 BA en route to a Hall of Fame career as the Cincinnati shortstop spanning 19 MLB seasons. The Reds’ bench is stacked with HOF Tony Perez along with Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Lee May.

The majority of the pitching staff for the Reds minor league All-Stars failed to make a significant contribution at the Major League level. Billy McCool (2.48, 18 SV) received an All-Star invitation in ’66 after fashioning a 1.86 ERA as an 18-year-old prospect three years prior. Kevin Jarvis pitched in parts of 12 big-league campaigns with ten different organizations in spite of a career ERA of 6.03 and a WHIP of 1.536. Donnie Joseph appeared in 7 games for the Royals (2013-14) in the wake of a dominant 2010 as he furnished a 1.63 FIP (Reds leader, min. 50 IP), saved 24 contests and struck out 14.3 batters per 9 innings.

Honorable Mention

Danny Tartabull eclipsed the century mark in RBI five times in 14 MLB seasons after producing a .310 BA and drawing 90 bases on balls during his age-18 season with the Tampa Tarpons (A) in ‘81. Fellow outfielder Kal Daniels (#1, 1982) supplied 29 doubles and a .313 BA with Vermont (AA) three years later. Nick Senzel (#1, 2016) rapped 40 two-base knocks along with a .321 BA while splitting the 2017 season between the Daytona Tortugas (A+) and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA). John Roper (8-7, 5.35) recorded 32 starts for the Reds (1993-95) subsequent to a terrific ’91 campaign with the Charleston Wheelers (A) in which he furnished a record of 14-9 with a 2.27 ERA and a 1.085 WHIP.

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com.  

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Chicago White Sox

Ron Kittle secured 1983 AL Rookie of the Year honors after destroying opposition offerings over the two previous minor league campaigns. Following a breakout 1981 season for Glen Falls (AA) in which he clubbed 40 long balls and hit .326, Kittle tallied 50 circuit clouts, 144 ribbies, 121 runs scored while accruing 169.9 RC/140 and batting .345 for the Edmonton Trappers (AAA). Pat H. Kelly pilfered 74 bags for the expansion Royals (1969-1970), but found himself back in triple-A for the first half of the 1971 season. Hitting .355 with 130.1 RC/140 for the Tucson Toros (AAA) at the end of June, Kelly punched his return ticket to the Majors where he achieved a 15-year career. Frank E. Thomas (#1, 1989) slashed .323 / .487 / .581 as a member of the Birmingham Barons (AA) in 1990. “The Big Hurt” was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 after claiming back-to-back AL MVP awards (1993-94), coaxing at least 100 bases on balls in 11 seasons and swatting 521 big-flies as a big-leaguer. Three-time Gold Glove winner Mike Cameron (.300/28/77) slugged .600, registered 120 tallies and nabbed 39 bags with Birmingham (AA) in ’96. Marcus Semien drilled 32 two-base knocks and scored 110 runs in the upper minors during the 2013 season. Ray Durham rapped 33 doubles and swiped 33 bases for the Nashville Sounds (AAA) in 1994. Jeremy Reed toiled through parts of 8 MLB seasons subsequent to posting a .373 BA with 35 two-baggers and 45 stolen bases for Winston-Salem (A+) and Birmingham (AA) in 2003. Greg Walker (.321/22/86) laced 33 two-base hits and logged 117 runs for Glen Falls (AA) in 1981. Joe Crede mashed 30 taters in ’06 while manning the hot corner for the Pale Hose after combining to slam 36 round-trippers and drive in 100 baserunners between Charlotte (AAA) and Chicago four years prior.

Bart Johnson notched 12 wins and 14 saves in a variety of roles with the Sox in 1971 following a dominant effort in the Midwest League two years earlier. “Toys in the Attic” whiffed 200 batters and crafted a 16-4 mark with a 2.17 ERA for the Appleton Foxes (A). Daniel Hudson quickly ascended the organizational ladder in ’09. Beginning the season in the South Atlantic League (A), “Huddy” reached the Majors by September after accumulating 14 victories along with a 2.32 ERA, 0.943 WHIP and 10.1 SO/9. Addison Reed amassed a career-high 40 saves in 2013 with Chicago subsequent to fashioning an ERA of 1.26, WHIP of 0.743 and striking out 111 batsmen in just 78.1 innings across four minor league outposts two years prior. Scott Radinsky (7-5, 1.75) saved 31 contests and struck out 12.1 batters per nine innings at South Bend (A) during the 1989 season.

Honorable Mention

Don Buford (.336/9/53) eclipsed the 200-hit plateau, ripped 41 doubles and scored 114 runs while swiping 42 bags for the Indianapolis Indians (AAA) in ’63. Chris B. Young was included in a deal for Diamondbacks’ SP Javier Vazquez in December 2005 following a fine campaign in which he collected 41 two-base hits, 26 jacks, 32 steals and 100 runs against Southern League (AA) opponents. Gail Hopkins (.312/20/79) reached the century mark in walks while striking out only 27 times for Lynchburg (A) in ’67.

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com. 

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Chicago Cubs

Kris Bryant (#1, 2013) claimed 2015 NL Rookie of the Year honors and earned an MVP award in his sophomore season following a monster campaign in the upper minors. “Sparkles” split 2014 between Tennessee (AA) and Iowa (AAA), blasting 34 doubles and 43 round-trippers while recording 118 tallies and batting .325 with a .661 SLG.  Catcher/ first baseman John Boccabella (.365/30/92) played in parts of 12 MLB seasons after destroying opposition offerings at Pocatello (A) where he slugged .749 and registered 178 RC/140 in his professional debut (1963). Brothers Corey and Eric Patterson form a power-speed combo at the top of the lineup. Corey, the Cubs’ first selection in the 1998 Amateur Draft, produced a .320 BA with 35 two-base hits, 20 jacks and 33 steals for the Lansing Lugnuts in his age-19 campaign (1999). Second-sacker Eric pilfered 43 bags, tallied 95 runs and batted at a .325 clip between the Peoria Chiefs (A) and West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (AA). Geovany Soto secured the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year award subsequent to pummeling Pacific Coast League pitching to the tune of a .353 BA while slugging .652 with 26 long balls and 109 rib-eye steaks. Slick-fielding middle infielder Javier Baez (#1, 2011) swatted 37 big-flies and drove in 111 baserunners in 2013 with Daytona (A+) and Tennessee (AA). Carmelo Martinez (.334/27/93) reached the century mark in runs scored and rapped 35 doubles for Midland (AA) in ’82. The cousin of two-time batting champion Edgar Martinez compiled 108 home runs in nine MLB seasons.

The trio of Joe Carter, Mel Hall and Pat Tabler attained star status with the Indians during the mid-1980’s following productive minor league careers in the Cubs organization. Carter surpassed the century mark in RBI ten times as a big leaguer after battering Texas League hurlers in 1982 (.325/25/98). In the same year Hall (.329/32/125) scored 116 runs and blasted 34 two-baggers for Iowa (AAA) , then placed third in the 1983 NL Rookie of the Year balloting. A former number-one draft pick for the Yankees in 1976, Tabler slashed .342 / .444 / .580 against American Association (AAA) competition in ’82 before being packaged in a six-player swap with the Pale Hose in January 1983. Dwight Smith nabbed 60 bags, batted .337 and tallied 111 runs for Pittsfield in ’87. Two years later he finished runner-up to teammate Jerome Walton in the 1989 NL Rookie of the Year vote.

Burt Hooton (19-10, 2.71) placed second to Gaylord Perry in the 1978 NL Cy Young balloting seven years after requiring only 12 starts to graduate to the big leagues. Commencing his professional career with Tacoma (AAA) in 1971, “Happy” hurled 9 complete games and struck out 11.9 batters per nine innings while composing an ERA of 1.68 and a WHIP of 0.902. Scott “Snakeface” Downs prevailed in 13 of 14 decisions and yielded an ERA of 1.55 while splitting the 1999 campaign between the Daytona Cubs (A+) and the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (AA). Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13) finished third in the 2016 NL Cy Young race. “The Professor” posted a 10-5 mark with a 3.61 ERA at Iowa (AAA) prior to making his MLB debut in July 2014.

Honorable Mention

Mark “Amazing” Grace finished second in the 1988 NL Rookie of the Year voting and captured 4 Gold Glove awards in a 16-year MLB career. The lifetime .303 hitter clubbed 30 doubles, drove in 95 baserunners and compiled a .342 BA in his inaugural minor league campaign with the Peoria Chiefs in ’86. Brendan Harris (.328/15/65 in 2002) and Matt Murton (.343/9/49 in 2005) fleetingly realized starting roles in the Majors.

References and Resources

Baseball-Reference

Bill James Baseball Abstract

Seamheads – Baseball Gauge

About the Author

I am a New Jersey native with a passion for baseball, statistics, computers and video games who enjoys spending quality time with his family.

“Hardball Retroactive”, published in June 2018, is available in paperback and digital (Kindle) format at Amazon.com along with digital eBook format at GooglePlay.com. 

“Hardball Retrospective” is available in digital format on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, GooglePlay, iTunes and KoboBooks. The paperback edition is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace. Supplemental Statistics, Charts and Graphs along with a discussion forum are offered at TuataraSoftware.com.

Don Daglow (Intellivision World Series Major League Baseball, Earl Weaver Baseball, Tony LaRussa Baseball) contributed the foreword for Hardball Retrospective. The foreword and preview of my book are accessible here.

“Hardball Retrospective – Addendum 2014 to 2016” supplements my research for Hardball Retrospective, providing retroactive standings based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Win Shares (WS) for each “original” team over the past three seasons (2014-2016). Team totals from 2010 – 2013 are included for reference purposes. “Addendum” is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CreateSpace.

Selection Criteria

• individual seasons in the Expansion Era (1961 – 2017)
• levels A through AAA
• ages 24 or younger (A and A+)
• age 25 seasons (AA and AAA)
• age 26 seasons (AAA)

Terminology

RC – Runs Created – using the basic formula devised by Bill James:

((H + BB) * TB) / (AB + BB)

Note: I utilized the basic formula as opposed to the Technical Version due to

incomplete GIDP and IBB data.

RC/140 – Runs Created per 140 Games as Minor League ballplayers

RC / (G / 140)

FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching – “Fielding Independent Pitching converts a pitcher’s three true outcomes into an earned run average-like number. The formula is (13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP, plus a constant (usually around 3.2) to put it on the same scale as earned run average.

FIP is a component ERA inspired by the work of Voros McCracken on defense-independent pitching statistics, but has become more widely used because of the ease of computation – it requires only four easily-found box score stats, uses only basic arithmetic operations and has four easily-memorized constants. It was conceived of by both Tom Tango and Clay Dreslough, the latter of who called it Defense-Independent Component ERA.” (definition courtesy of Baseball Prospectus Glossary).

((13*HR+3*(HBP+BB)-2*K)/IP)+3.2)

Assessment

The Boston Red Sox 

Tony Conigliaro led the American League with 32 round-trippers in 1965 following a phenomenal campaign as an 18-year-old at Wellsville (A) two years earlier where he delivered a .363 BA, 42 doubles and 24 jacks while posting the highest single-season RC/140 (167.8) in the last 55 seasons for the Sox franchise. Selected in the 39^th round of the 2005 Amateur Draft, outfielder Bubba Bell slashed .337 / .420 / .584 as he split the 2007 campaign between the Lancaster JetHawks (A+) and the Portland Sea Dogs (AA). Carmen Fanzone clubbed 20 long balls over a half-decade of part-time play for the Cubs and Red Sox after producing a .356 BA and slugging .620 with 106 runs scored between Wellsville (A) and Winston-Salem (A) in ’64. Mookie Betts, runner-up for the 2016 AL MVP award, crafted a .346 BA with 30 two-baggers and 33 steals to merit a promotion to the Majors in the summer of 2014. Sam Horn (#1, 1982) launched a moon-shot every 11.2 at-bats in his big league debut (1987) following a call-up from Pawtucket where he mashed 30 taters and slugged .649. Yoan Moncada rapped 31 two-base hits and swiped 45 bags while dividing the 2016 season among Salem (A+) and Portland. The Red Sox packaged Moncada and three other prospects in exchange for ace southpaw Chris Sale in December 2016.

Brandon Moss supplied a .353 BA and registered 111 ribbies in 2004 while playing for Augusta (A) and Sarasota (A+). Jim Rice (#1, 1971) finished runner-up to fellow Sox outfielder Fred Lynn in the 1975 AL Rookie of the Year balloting and captured the 1978 AL MVP award. Rice advanced to the big leagues in August ‘74 after posting a .337 BA with 25 big-flies for Pawtucket (AAA). Rafael Devers combined for 30 round-trippers and 90 ribbies between the upper minors and a two-month stint in Beantown during the 2017 season. Two-time All-Star Clay Buchholz (#1, 2005) capped a sensational 2007 campaign (2.44 ERA, 12.3 SO/9 in the upper minors) with a no-hitter in his second MLB start.