ADSENSE Link Ads 200 x 90
ADSENSE 336 x 280
Potentially historicWhat does he need to do to reach that record this season (a year after he eclipsed 2,000)?
5.8
Hits per game. The tricky part, naturally, will be getting an eighth of a hit. Like a bunt, I guess.
156
Hits per month.
OK, all of this is ridiculous. Young will never, ever approach 3,000 hits this season. Still, he doesn't turn 36 until October and I think we'd be all fooling each other if he didn't think the mark wasn't on his brain.
Last season, his first as this utility designated hitter/infielder, Young put up his best offensive numbers in five years. Just as his numbers jumped from his move from shortstop to third base, it would be safe to assume that the wear, tear and effort that is required to field has helped him at the plate, even if on a minor level. Especially compared to playing the intense shortstop position.
If Young played another four seasons, until he was 39, he would need 234 hits per season to reach 3,000. This is extraordinarily unlikely. Young's a great hitter. He's never had 234 in a season and he ain't starting now. Probably.
Young's a pretty healthy guy. His career low in games played is 135 in 2009 (which probably robbed him of another 200-hit season) and he sticks to around 150+ typically. As designated hitter, he should still get 600+ at-bats per season.
If he plays another six seasons, until he's 41 (Paul Molitor, Young's most prolific comp, switched to DH at 34 and had 225 hits at age 39 and 141 at age 41, his last season) he'd need 156 per season to reach 3,000. He's averaged 183 for his career, which includes 96 hits his first full-time year.
Generally, baseball folks tend to mock the hit. Tons of folks have gotten 2,000 hits. With 200 hits this year, Young will pass Carney Lansford, Harmon Killebrew, the resplendent Dale Murphy, Duke Snider, Ruben Sierra, Yogi Berra, the Hit Man Don Mattingly, Joltin' Joe Dimaggio, Willie Stargell and Michael Jack Schmidt.
For the record: The Italian Stallion Gary Gaetti has more hits than all of those guys.
The all-time hit leader (Pete Rose) can't even hurdle a gambling rap to get into the Hall of Fame, even though all of the next 18 names are in the Hall and No. 20 (Derek Jeter) is Hall-bound.
Obviously, the hit stat is not the end-all, be-all of stats. Clearly, Dimaggio is one of the greatest hitters of all time and he lost three years of World War II and quit the game at 36. Still, he managed just two 200-hit season. Mattingly had just three. Wade Boggs had seven and none after the age of 32. Rod Carew had four. Gives you a new appreciate for 200 hits in a single season.
What sets all of this apart is that hits are a product of longevity, yes, but also of consistency. Play 20 seasons and get 150 hits on average and you'll get 3,000 for a career. If that's Gaetti, that doesn't mean anything. If it's Carew, it means a lot. The stat isn't a reflection on the player as much as the player is a reflection on the stat.
Also, all those guys mentioned above walked a lot more than Young ever did or will. And, thusly, he doesn't have a cool nickname. Perspective, I guess.
On a side note, Young needs just 12 doubles to reach 400 for his career.
0 Response to "What Michael Young needs to do to get to 3,000 hits this season"
Posting Komentar