JML 2009: The numbers speak for themselves

Except when they don’t. Then they need interpretation.

Having said that, here are some more numbers to ponder for JML in 2009.

• Jason Marquis (Rockies), Brad Ausmus (Dodgers), and Kevin Youkilis (Red Sox), get to hang around a little more, since their teams are playing in the post season.
• Ryan Braun (Brewers) led the National League with 203 hits (fourth overall in MLB). He was also in the top 10 NL batters in runs scored (113, 2), doubles (39, 9th place), RBI (114, 4) batting average (.320, 7), slugging average (.551, 9) and OPS (On-base + slugging, .937, 8).
• Ian Kinsler (Rangers) finished in the top 10 AL batters in runs scored (101, 10) and stolen bases (31, 7).
• Despite missing 26 games with various injuries, Youkilis finished second among AL batters in OBP (.413), OPS (.961) and was fifth in slugging (.548).
• Scott Feldman (Rangers) and Marquis finished in their league’s top five for wins (17 and 15, respectively). They each had 115 strikeouts. Feldman finished with a 4.04 ERA while Marquis was right behind at 4.08; if not for poor outings in their final games, they both would have enjoyed ERAs under 4, which is considered the watershed number for good pitching.
• John Grabow (Pirates/Cubs) and Craig Breslow (Indians/As) both had ERAs of 3.36. Grabow finished in the top 10 for holds (23).
• Ryan Sadowski (Giants) started like a house afire. He gave up just seven hits in 13 scoreless innings, picking up wins in his first two game starts. Unfortunately, the next four were pretty much meltdowns, which may explain why the Giants designated him for assignment.
• Sam Fuld (Cubs) flashed some nice leather, used mostly as a defensive replacement. How nice that he got a home run — his first — on the last day of the season. Other rookies hoping to stick: fireballer Aaron Poreda, traded from the White Sox to the Padres, and Josh Whitesell, a first basemen for the Diamondbacks who better find the  power he exhibited in the minors if he wants to stick around.
• Will 2009 be the last go around for a couple of veterans? Aumus, now 40,  is rumored to be under consideration for the managing job in Houston. And Gabe Kapler (Rays) earned $1,000,018 as a capable bench player. In this time of austerity, the ballclub might want to fill the spot with a rookie.
• It’s difficult to say anything bad about Scott Schoenweis (Diamondbacks), who lost his wife in May. The numbers were dreadful, but at the end of the day, it’s just a game.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron “I’m a writer, Jim, not a mathematician!” Kaplan

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Kaplan’s Korner on Jews and Sports © 2009 New Jersey Jewish News

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