Lance’s Distinction

Sort of following in the same vein as yesterday’s slugging percentage per pound statistic, I heard something interesting today concerning our own Lance Berkman. Apparently, The Society for American Baseball Research has determined that if Lance approaches 600 AB’s this season, he will qualify for many records and accolades that pertain to veteran major leaguers. That being said, his projected OPS would be the highest of any switch hitter in the history of baseball. Higher than contemporaries Chipper Jones, Carlos Beltran, and Bernie Williams. More astonishing than any of those three players, is the fact that his career OPS would rank higher than that of the greatest switch-hitter of all time, Mickey Mantle. For the record, the Mick’s career OPS is .978. That makes the following almost scary:


Mickey Mantle (Career)---- Lance Berkman (through nine seasons)
OBP: .421----------------- OBP: .417
SLG%: .557------------ SLG%: .561
OPS: .978----------------OBP: .978



Mantle ended up playing for eighteen seasons, meaning that essentially, Lance would have to main his current statistics for another nine seasons. Not likely, but for a player who is underrated as Lance, it’s certainly worth throwing out there.


Didn’t miss a beat

Jason Lane justified his being played in right field in place of the uber-hot Luke Scott by collecting two hits, one of which was a two out RBI single. Safe to assume that many would be calling for Phil Garner’s head if Lane didn’t produce tonight. Thankfully for everyone involved, he did. Seeing as how the Astros were a startling 2-7 coming into today’s game against left handed starters, Lane’s efforts tonight were especially important.

Late Inning Redux

The Astros scored two runs in the seventh and another in the ninth to win their fourth straight against the Reds, 7-6. Lance and Carlos both hit taters, Hunter Pence tripled down the left field line, and the bullpen came together after a rocky 5.2 innings of work from Wandy Rodriguez. Brad Lidge was credited with the win, his second of the season.

What was most impressive, to me, was the amount of 2 out RBI’s. Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman had two each, while Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg had one apiece. None more important than Ensberg’s double in the ninth the pushed the score to 7-5. The insurance run was key, as Brandon Phillips teed off on Dan Wheeler for a solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

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