Thursday, May 23, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013

Making The Case for Josh

Josh Hamilton was fifth among major league regulars in home run percentage last season.

30 comments

Making The Case for Josh

POSTED: Wednesday, December 12, 2012, 3:22 AM
Bob Vetrone Jr.

What jersey are you hoping to find under the tree?
Nick Foles – Nine me, Santa!
Michael Young ­– Rudolph can do an express run when his number is set.
Josh Hamilton – Are you listening, Ruben?
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It appears the Phillies are hot in pursuit of Josh Hamilton, and timing couldn't be more right.

Hamilton last year had a home run percentage (HR/AB) of .0765, by far the highest of his career and the fifth-best among all major league players with at least 250 at-bats last season. (By comparison, Darin Ruf in his brief stint with the Phillies, had a HR Pct. of .0909 — HRs in 33 ABs.)

Just for the record, Hamilton's postseason numbers do leave something to be desired: .227 batting average,  .295 on-base percentage, .424 slugging percentage, 6 homers in 34 games, during which his teams were 18-16.

2012 MLB HR PCT. LEADERS (250+AB)
 Player  Team  AB  HR   HR/
 AB		  Slg.
 Pct.
 Giancarlo Stanton   Marlins  449   37  .0824   .608
 Jose Bautista  Blue Jays  332  27  .0813  .527
 Brandon Moss  Athletics  265  21  .0792  .596 
 Edwin Encarnacion      Blue Jays  542  42  .0775  .557 
 Josh Hamilton  Rangers  562  43  .0765  .577
 Adam Dunn  White Sox     539  41  .0761  .468
 Curtis Anderson  Yankees  596  43  .0721  .492
 David Ortiz  Red Sox  324  23  .0710  .611
 Miguel Cabrera  Tigers  622  44  .0707  .606
 Wilin Rosario  Rockies  396  28  .0707  .530
JOSH HAMILTON: YEAR-BY-YEAR
 Season  Team  AB  HR  HR/
 AB		  Slg.
 Pct.
 2007  Reds  298  19  .0638  .554
 2008  Rangers  624  32  .0513  .530
 2009  Rangers  336  10  .0298  .426
 2010  Rangers  518  32  .0618  .633
 2011  Rangers  487  25  .0513  .536
 2012  Rangers  562  43  .0765  .577
More coverage
30 comments
Comments  (30)
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:18 AM, 12/12/2012
    Give him what he want rube.
    — Jay Grace 69
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:15 AM, 12/12/2012
    Too much of a gamble to give Hamilton more than 3 years. He is very productive but injuries and the baggage that comes with him aren't worth throwing 4-5 years at him.
    — diablo25
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:31 AM, 12/12/2012
    four years 100 million. get it done
    — blaqjaq
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:58 AM, 12/12/2012
    12 years 12 million per - perfect karma!
    — wjs
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:58 AM, 12/12/2012
    Give him 4 years... I want to the NL East back
    — Serge_Matthews
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:06 AM, 12/12/2012
    Yes

    Rollins
    Utley
    Young
    Hamilton
    Howard
    Ruf/Brown
    Choochie
    Revere
    — cdedrick05
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:23 AM, 12/12/2012
    Not our money. Just do it.
    — PresidentSpock
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:26 AM, 12/12/2012
    Sign him today then start interviewing babysitters, handlers or whatever you want to call them.
    Rollins
    Utley
    Hamilton
    Howard
    Chooch
    Young
    Ruf
    Revere
    — dfc5632
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:39 AM, 12/12/2012
    and he's another lefty
    — robinlupe
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 AM, 12/12/2012
    Look at his LH pitcher numbers. He's such a good hitter I don't think it matters what side he hits from. Against LH starters he's hit for over .300 average 3 of the last years.
    — s
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:36 AM, 12/12/2012
    3 of the last 4 years ...

    — s
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:42 AM, 12/12/2012
    The Phils brain-trust know way more about Hamilton than any of us, so if he is worth pursuing then they'll go after him, just sayin'...
    — DJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:37 AM, 12/13/2012
    The " Phils Brain-Trust" knows way more than us? Was the Revere move the best they could do in CF? What do we have to show for the Victorino/Pence moves? Counting on something substantial in the form of Ruf/Brown/Mayberry? Hamilton in RF makes this lineup and this team so much more potent and competitive. Stop playing. Sign him, get your 8th inning answer, and groom one of the farm hands for the #5 for the time being.Just sayin'... jfxfreeman
    — jfxfreeman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:43 AM, 12/12/2012
    A serious bid needs to exceed what Texas will offer: 4 years, $105 million with a fifth-year vesting option that includes no drug or alcohol related issues during the entire four years and, say, 475 plate appearances in the 4th year.

    Addicts need support networks and routines. He won't came here if we simply match Texas.
    — eman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:33 AM, 12/12/2012
    I would bat it:

    Revere
    Rollins (can use his power and have two speedy guys up top_
    Utley
    Hamilton
    Howard
    Ruf/Brown
    Young
    Chooch

    However you work it, this is a dangerous lineup from top to bottom. Putting Ruf/Brown in the 6 hole after Howard gives them the chance to see some good ptiches while they protect Howard. It will help their development.

    3 years with a club option starting at 15 with lots of incentives and bonuses based on performance, at bats, character clauses, etc, will make this a good contract.
    — scole9179


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About this blog

Boop – who goes by Bob Vetrone Jr. when he is undercover or paying bills – has been at the Daily News since 1982, after working for five years at the Philadelphia Bulletin up to its closing. Along with helping to build the sports scoreboards most nights, he has had great input into the papers’ special sports pullouts – March Madness, Broad Street Run, Record Breakers, Greatest Moments – as well as its day-to-day, award-winning event coverage.

A 1980 graduate of North Catholic, he took some evening college courses. Those lasted right up until the first conflict with a Big 5 doubleheader.

His favorite books growing up were the NBA Guide and the Baseball Encyclopedia, which was, for all intents and purposes, the Internet before there was an Internet.

He has been immersed in sports statistics since the early 70s, when his father (long-time sports writer, broadcaster and the Daily News’ Buck The Bartender), would take him into the Bulletin newsroom overnight in the summer and let him update the Phillies statistics in a little, black spiral notebook. But things have changed tremendously in the decades since … He now uses a big, black spiral notebook. Email him at boopstats@phillynews.com.


Reach Bob at vetronb@phillynews.com.

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