First here's the answer to Soriano's question:
| 40. | Andre Dawson+ (21) | 438 | R | HR Log |
| Jason Giambi (19, 43) | 438 | L | HR Log | |
| 42. | Juan Gonzalez (17) | 434 | R | HR Log |
| Andruw Jones (17) | 434 | R | HR Log | |
| Paul Konerko (18, 38) | 434 | R | HR Log | |
| 45. | David Ortiz (18, 38) | 432 | L | HR Log |
| 46. | Cal Ripken+ (21) | 431 | R | HR Log |
| 47. | Mike Piazza (16) | 427 | R | HR Log |
| 48. | Billy Williams+ (18) | 426 | L | HR Log |
| 49. | Darrell Evans (21) | 414 | L | HR Log |
| 50. | Duke Snider+ (18) | 407 | L | HR Log |
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Home Runs | Bats | HR Log |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51. | Alfonso Soriano (16, 38) | 406 | R | HR Log |
In the list above active players have their names in bold. To get a better view of them I clicked on the list for active players.
| Rank | Player (yrs, age) | Home Runs | Bats | HR Log |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alex Rodriguez (20, 38) | 654 | R | HR Log |
| 2. | Albert Pujols (14, 34) | 492 | R | HR Log |
| 3. | Adam Dunn (14, 34) | 442 | L | HR Log |
| 4. | Jason Giambi (19, 43) | 438 | L | HR Log |
| 5. | Paul Konerko (18, 38) | 434 | R | HR Log |
| 6. | David Ortiz (18, 38) | 432 | L | HR Log |
| 7. | Alfonso Soriano (16, 38) | 406 | R | HR Log |
| 8. | Adrian Beltre (17, 35) | 376 | R | HR Log |
| 9. | Miguel Cabrera (12, 31) | 366 | R | HR Log |
| 10. | Carlos Beltran (17, 37) | 358 | B | HR Log |
| 11. | Aramis Ramirez (17, 36) | 354 | R | HR Log |
| 12. | Mark Teixeira (12, 34) | 341 | B | HR Log |
| 13. | Torii Hunter (18, 38) | 315 | R | HR Log |
| 14. | Ryan Howard (11, 34) | 312 | L | HR Log |
| 15. | Raul Ibanez (19, 42) | 301 | L | HR Log |
| 16. | Bobby Abreu (17, 40) | 287 | L | HR Log |
| 17. | Prince Fielder (10, 30) | 285 | L | HR Log |
| 18. | Eric Chavez (17, 36) | 257 | L | HR Log |
| 19. | Derek Jeter (20, 40) | 256 | R | HR Log |
| 20. | Matt Holliday (11, 34) | 251 | R | HR Log |
The top twenty is generally interesting but look at number one. The suspended pariah Alex Rodriguez!
I sent this to a friend and received this reply: "Very USSR like. Comissar Bud has written him out of history."
He is obviously referring to Allen Huber "Bud" Selig, commissioner of the Major Baseball League (MBL) and all associated conspiring leagues. Selig suspended Rodriguez for the entire 2014 season and tournament for using performance enhancing drugs (PED); no failed drug test. So why is Rodriguez listed as an active player on a reputable website like baseball-reference.com?
Let's check another leader list at that website, National batting average (BA) in 2012:
1.Posey (SFG).336
2.McCutchen (PIT).327
3.Braun (MIL).319
4.Molina (STL).315
5.Votto (CIN)**.337
6.Pacheco (COL).309
7.Craig (STL).307
8.Scutaro (2TM).306
9.Wright (NYM).306
10.Jay (STL).305
Number 5, Joey Voto, has a double asterisk (**). Here's the explanation on that web page:
A ** by the stat's value indicates the player had fewer than the required number of at bats or plate appearances for the BA, OBP, SLG or OPS title that year. In order to rank the player, the necessary number of hitless at bats were added to the player's season total. The value printed here is their actual value and not the value used to rank them, therefore some numbers may appear out of order.
____________________________________________________
Except there was another batter who had fewer than the required number of plate appearance (PA) to qualify but who had the highest BA in the entire MBL. Come on, you know who I mean. Come on down:
 |
| June 23, 2012 by X Wad Giants @ Oakland via Wikimedia Commons |
Melky played only that 2012 season with the San Francisco Giants. He was the MVP in the All Star game, which the Nationals won, which also provided home field and home rule (designated hitter (DH)) advantage to the National team in the event that the tournament finals went to a game seven. Coincidentally, the Giants won the tournament but in only four games.
Melky was suspended for using PED as were Rodriguez and Ryan Braun in 2013; Braun is listed third on that 2012 BA list.
Melky was one for four August 14, 2012 against Washington when he was suspended. He did not play again, not even in the tournament when he became eligible again. His Giants were so humiliated by his behavior that they did not want him back. The Giants did not, however, bow out of the tournament, nor did Selig vacate their wins with Melky playing as I recommended, nor outright ban the Giants from tournament play for the next three years as might have happened had they been a college football team. That would be punishing the innocent with the guilty. Those innocent players were OK with keeping their team wins and personal runs scored and RBI that resulted from Melky's drug induced enhanced performance.
In 2012 Melky had 159 hits in 459 AB: .346 BA. Melky was only one plate appearance (PA) short of qualifying, so even if we add one to his at bats (AB) his BA still comes out to .34565217391 or .346 rounded, well above Posey's .336 and Cabrera's American leading .330.
Melky's personal stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cabreme01.shtml
Melky does not have black ink for his .346 BA in 2012. Why? Because Melky's agent on Melky's behalf published an apology for his behavior and asked that Melky not be considered for the honor of BA leadership. This may have been to help Melky rehabilitate his image for his upcoming free agency, which resulted in a two year contract for $16 million. Still way short of he five year $60 million that Melky might have received had he not been caught but not bad either.
I pointed out at the time on this blog that BA was a stat not an honor but that distinction was lost on Selig and many media people who are still stuck on the importance of BA and continue to refer to having the highest BA as leading the league in hitting.
What was odd at the time was that baseball-reference.com went along with this, which makes its inclusion of Alex Rodriguez among active players all the more puzzling. It seems like an honor to be listed as the career leader in HR for active players.
By the way I noticed that Melky looks really bulked this season. Melky was the first major league batter faced by Yankee pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. Meky homered. Say, you don't think ...
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