I was in this argument with a friend of mine who is a die hard Yankee fan last night. I am hoping to find some objective (if you are a Yankee fan, fine) opinions on this. It just seems clear to me, statistically that Reyes is the better choice this season. Statistically, the intangibles, and of course, defensively.
Here is my reasoning.
Stats for Reyes
Avg - .299
HR - 19
RBI - 75
Runs - 116
SB - 57
BA with Runners in Scoring Position - .325
BA w/ Runners in Scoring Position and 2 Outs - .406
Damon:
Avg - .295
HR - 22
RBI - 77
Runs - 109
SB - 25
BA with Runners in Scoring Position - .281
BA w/ Runners in Scoring Position and 2 Outs - .212
My friend pointed to two things in particular that he said gave Damon the edge this year: RBI's and clutch hitting.
Well, he has 2 more RBI's, and people seem to forget that in the NL, Reyes has the pitcher hitting in front of him. With clutch hitting, take a look at the production with runners in scoring position?
Thoughts?
2006-09-14 04:05:00 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Baseball
I'd have to go with Reyes, but barely.
First off, I really think you should talk about on-base percentage instead of batting average, since the job of a leadoff guy is to get on base and score runs. Sure, Reyes has a slightly higher average, but Damon actually gets on base more often (.369 to .350) because he draws walks.
I'm not a huge fan of the stolen base, but Reyes is effective enough (over 75%) to make it worthwhile, and it gives pitchers something they always have to think about while facing a tough middle of the Mets' order. Damon gets steals, too, but gets caught too often to make it a good gamble. I think he'd be better off standing at first and waiting for the powerful lineup around him to bring him home.
As for the clutch hitting, I don't think you can make too many statements about it given the sample size. When you talk about Reyes hitting .400 with RISP and 2 outs, you're talking about less than 70 at-bats. If you look at his performance in that situation over the past three years, the number drops down to .311, which is much more reflective of actual value. His career numbers are still better than those of Damon, but not to such an extreme.
Reyes is competent defensively, but Damon is having one of his best fielding years. Damon has almost twice as many defensive win shares as Reyes, and he's been steady defensively all season long. His arm is still weak, but he positions himself well and doesn't make many gaffes.
It's a close contest, but I think Reyes has been the more consistent and valuable leadoff guy.
2006-09-14 04:20:37 · answer #1 · answered by Craig S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While I am a huge Damon fan, and a Yankees fan, I have to give credit where it's due. Reyes has had an unbelieveable year for a leadoff guy. His power numbers are way up, he is incredibly good on the bases, and he is the catalyst for a lineup that has huge power guys in the middle.
Damon doesn't have a pitcher hitting 9th behind him, so he gets better pitches to hit. Damon has Jeter hitting after him. Reyes has who, Lo Duca?
Defensively, it's a wash...Damon plays a great CF, and Reyes plays a great SS. Different positions. Statistically, Reyes has the edge. He is having a better ALL AROUND season than Damon is...but that doesn't mean it's a wide difference.
I just think that Damon has more in his lineup, than Reyes does in his...making Reyes have to work a little harder than Damon does.
2006-09-14 04:46:58 · answer #2 · answered by brianwerner1313 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Met fan but I have to acknowledge that Johnny Damon has been one of baseball's best leadoff men for the past decade. I would take Reyes right now because of his speed. Last night in the 11th inning against Florida with runner on 2nd, 2 outs Mets up 5-4 Reyes hits a ground ball into the hole at SS backhanded by Hanley Ramirez. Anybody else and I'm sure Ramirez goes to first. But Reyes is so fast Ramirez was forced to throw to third on a very awkward angle and wound up throwing the ball away allowing a second run to score. Reyes would later wind up scoring himself of a Paul LoDuca single. That kind of speed can be very disruptive and can create scoring opportunities that wouldn't be there otherwise. Plus Reyes has done a great job being more patient and not hacking at the first thing that comes along. He's going to be a superstar.
2006-09-14 04:39:02 · answer #3 · answered by jimel71898 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well first I believe that it is a leadoff man's job to get on base. Therefore the stats above don't include walks, on-base percentage, Stolen Bases, or Strike outs. Factoring those in to the equation as well...
Damon 65 BB, 76 SO, 25 SB, OBP .369
Reyes 46 BB, 75 SO, 57 SB, OBP .350
Their stats are similar in that aspect, but I give the edge to Reyes. He might have a lower OBP., but he has stolen more bases, thus getting into scoring position. The stats you mention give Reyes the edge as well. So I would have to say if I needed a leadoff hitter right now, I would take Reyes. He's younger, quicker, and he is cheaper from a financial standpoint. His stats are very similar to Damon's so I might have to look at the chemistry with his teammates(I don't follow either team, so I have no idea who has the edge).
Final Answer: Jose Reyes
2006-09-14 04:42:46 · answer #4 · answered by denverbroncos1973 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The stats are failry close until you get to the clutch hitting. At the same time though, when you look at the RBI numbers it kind of makes the battting average in the clutch a moot point, they've produced almost the same amount of runs. I don't think you can go wrong with either guy leading off for your team. I'd lean towards Reyes if only for the steals saving some outs that would normally be made to move him to second on sacrifices.
-The Mehrt
2006-09-14 04:16:10 · answer #5 · answered by nyneandthemehrt 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its Reyes.
Very good point you made about the AL to NL. Reyes has the pitcher in front of him, so you can expect a lot of RBI chances as a leadoff man in the NL. Reyes is better in the field at his position (no knock to Damon, he's a good center fielder) Damon is a good player, but Reyes is the better leadoff hitter.
2006-09-14 09:38:13 · answer #6 · answered by J-Far 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reyes is the table setter everytime he's on it's a rally or potential rally. Johnny Damon has Derek Jeter hitting behind him. He's a product of the system. He's good defensively but the edge has to go to Reyes who has LoDuca hitting behind him and not Jeter.
2006-09-14 06:47:07 · answer #7 · answered by Tony 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reyes
2006-09-14 04:24:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say Reyes because Damon is a sell out. He left his faithful fans in Boston and sold his soul to the Evil Empire.
2006-09-17 19:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by kentuckyhomegrown 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reyes is a stud and Damon is good, but Reyes is having a MVP type year on a team stacked with MVP type players.
2006-09-14 10:45:56 · answer #10 · answered by guttermouth029 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋