If you pay a visit (or, more accurately, pay for a visit) to Bill James Online, you’ll be greeted by the output of a typically Jamesian toy:
Look at the name at the top of the list (as if you haven’t already). Yes, it’s true: Josh Hamilton is so hot right now. Now refresh, and lo and behold, another leaderboard appears:
Hamilton’s raging fever appears to be contagious. We needn’t go into the methods by which James’ thermometers operate (suffice it to say that no actual orifices are involved—every player and team starts the season at room temperature, rising and falling from there based on recent performance), but it’s clear that the left fielder is having a month for the ages, and taking his team along for the ride (though to say that he’s carrying his team would be something of a stretch). After adding a double and a home run on Tuesday night, Hamilton’s torrid stretch now stands at 39-for-June (or, to be more precise, 39-for-82), resulting in an eye-popping .476/.500/.878 line that has catapulted his overall TAv to 7th in the AL. Meanwhile, the Rangers have gone 17-4 for the month, rattling off 10 wins in a row concurrent with Hamilton’s 17-game hitting streak. In fact, with a victory (despite a rest day for Hamilton) and a Tampa Bay loss last night, the Rangers have laid claim to sole ownership of the second-best record in the majors.
Hamilton has actually become less selective in June, walking in only 3.5% of his plate appearances. If his .19 June K/BB ratio were equivalent to his full-season rate, it would rank third-worst in MLB. Of course, it’s hard to fault a guy for swinging away when everything his bat touches turns to gold: Hamilton’s BABIP on the month is a cool .534. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that a full 30% of his June fly balls have made it over the fence, resulting in a Bonds-ian .402 ISO. Actually, come to think of it, during a four-year stretch of Bonds’ career, a .402 ISO would’ve been a downgrade over the career homer leader’s full-season figures, which should make you appreciate (or loathe, if that’s more your style) what the much-maligned slugger achieved on the field all the more.
How rare is a streak as hot as Hamilton’s? From 2000-2009, there were 26 instances of a player topping Hamilton’s 1.378-OPS performance over a stretch of exactly 20 games and at least 80 at-bats. However, those 26 torrid time periods belonged to only 10 players, some of whom managed the feat multiple times. The list reads like an offensive honor roll for the 21st century (except, perhaps, for Adrian Beltre, whose presence owes everything to his monster 2004), though plenty of marquee names couldn’t quite crack it:
Name |
Instances |
6 |
|
5 |
|
5 |
|
Adrian Beltre |
3 |
2 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
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Who makes the list if you switch to 20 games and at least 80 PA?
It is somewhat amazing that Bonds could have entire seasons over this OPS but yet not accrue 80 AB in 20 games because he walked (or was walked) so often!
I think we need some clarification here. I suggest you ask James and update this article. Use that phrasing about orifices, too.