Standings as of June 19th:
Team W L PCT GB Washington 40 29 .580 - Philadelphia 38 32 .543 2.5 Atlanta 36 33 .522 4.0 Florida 34 32 .515 4.5 NY Mets 33 36 .478 7.0
Clear as mud, huh?
The Nats and Phils continue to surge, while the Braves, Marlins and Mets have faded lately.
Atlanta Braves
Overall Record: 36-33 Run Differential: +38 Record in last period: 6-7
The Braves corner outfielders have been a big problem for them all year. They started the year with a couple proven veterans, who proved that they were indeed still bad players. Kelly Johnson and Ryan Langerhans have been getting more time lately. Andruw Jones is having a strong year at the plate, but overall the Brave OFs are the worst in the division by a lot.
Player PA BA OBP SLG VORP Andruw Jones 281 0.259 0.324 0.542 19.6 Ryan Langerhans 150 0.242 0.320 0.447 3.6 Kelly Johnson 60 0.180 0.317 0.380 -0.3 Raul Mondesi 155 0.211 0.271 0.359 -4.3 Brian Jordan 203 0.229 0.276 0.293 -7.7 Total 10.9
Florida Marlins
Overall Record: 34-32 Run Differential: +24 Record in last period: 6-6
The Marlins have two good OFs this year. Cabrera is no surprise - he's one of the best young players in the game. The surprise is that Encarnacion is playing decently while Juan Pierre is below replacement level at the moment.
Player PA BA OBP SLG VORP Miguel Cabrera 273 0.336 0.385 0.559 30.8 J Encarnacion 263 0.264 0.342 0.455 12.0 Jeff Conine 91 0.253 0.352 0.316 1.0 Juan Pierre 279 0.247 0.294 0.317 -2.7 Total 41.1
New York Mets
Overall Record: 33-36 Run Differential: -2 Record in last period: 4-9
Mike Cameron, despite missing the start of the season, leads the Met OFs in VORP. Cliff Floyd has remained healthy and is second among Met OFs. And then there's Carlos Beltran, who while not awful, is certainly not earning his paycheck at the moment. You have to imagine it's just a matter of time for him to get back to an All Star level.
Player PA BA OBP SLG VORP Mike Cameron 148 0.320 0.426 0.584 20.8 Cliff Floyd 253 0.278 0.340 0.517 17.3 Carlos Beltran 260 0.267 0.323 0.428 8.9 Victor Diaz 139 0.250 0.374 0.457 7.5 Eric Valent 50 0.186 0.300 0.256 -2.0 Total 52.5
Philadelphia Phillies
Overall Record: 38-32 Run Differential: +8 Record in last period: 8-5
Here's how the other four team's OF looks, in terms of total VORP among OFs:
Mets 52.5 Nationals 45.0 Marlins 41.1 Braves 10.9
Then there's Bobby Abreu on his own: 42.1 VORP
And while Abreu has been an MVP candidate, Pat Burrell and Kenny Lofton aren't doing so bad either.
Player PA BA OBP SLG VORP Bobby Abreu 307 0.323 0.440 0.566 42.1 Pat Burrell 262 0.311 0.401 0.545 26.4 Kenny Lofton 141 0.379 0.454 0.468 17.6 Jason Michaels 154 0.271 0.377 0.364 4.2 Endy Chavez 49 0.149 0.184 0.213 -5.7 Total 84.6
Washington Nationals
Overall Record: 40-29 Run Differential: -5 Record in last period: 9-3
Raise your hand if you thought Ryan Church would be the National's best OF this year. I didn't see it either. Wilkerson and Guillen have received the bulk of the time, but there's been a number of other players that have rotated through the OF.
Player PA BA OBP SLG VORP Ryan Church 165 0.320 0.376 0.540 16.2 Brad Wilkerson 276 0.270 0.366 0.439 14.1 Jose Guillen 270 0.285 0.326 0.476 13.8 Marlon Byrd 82 0.314 0.378 0.386 3.3 Tony Blanco 42 0.275 0.310 0.425 1.0 Terrmel Sledge 46 0.243 0.348 0.378 0.9 J.J. Davis 28 0.231 0.286 0.231 -1.9 Jeff Hammonds 37 0.206 0.270 0.235 -2.4 Total 45.0NL East OF Top 5 VORP:
Bobby Abreu 307 0.323 0.440 0.566 42.1 Miguel Cabrera 273 0.336 0.385 0.559 30.8 Pat Burrell 262 0.311 0.401 0.545 26.4 Mike Cameron 148 0.320 0.426 0.584 20.8 Andruw Jones 281 0.259 0.324 0.542 19.6
The Nationals have the worst run differential in the division yet they're in first place. This is a fluke, right?
