I would like to start by saying Youkilis had 588 PA and Pena 570. This is essentially the same amount so you can't really make an argument that so and so was injured for part of the year, because, statistically speaking, the difference in PA is so small, that it's practically negligent.
Our first comparison, and DME's favorite's category- fantasy baseball. This year, Youkilis rated 9th and Pena rated 19th among all first baseman in Yahoo!'s player rater.
But now onto what really matters- on the field performance and using fangraphs statistics. Pena had more homers, a better walk rate, SLG percentage, ISO, and was more clutch than Youk. However, Youk had a better:
-OBP
-BA
-K%
-WAR
-wOBA
-OPS
-LD%
-Spd
-K/BB
-UZR/ UZR/150
Youk was worth $24.9 and Pena was worth $12.3
Now granted, Pena's BABIP was extremely low causing is awful awful awful BA and lowering his OBP and OPS; but over the course of this year
KEVIN YOUKILIS WAS BETTER THAN CARLOS PENA
Kevin Youkilis may have been better this year, but I will have my retribution by 2011. Let's examine the peripherals that are luck independent (ie, BABIP-less)
ReplyDeleteBB%
Youk > 15.6%
Pena > 13.6%
ISO
Youk > .242
Pena > .310
HR/FB (11% lg average)
Youk > 16.5%
Pena > 11.6%
Avg HR Distance (2009)
Youk > 388 ft
Pena > 395 ft
So yeah, I'm gonna take Youk next year -- esp. given Youk's .363 BABIP (.340 career BABIP) and Pena's .253 BABIP (.293 career BABIP)
But yes, Youk was a better player this season
Well considering my argument was that Youk would be better than Pena THIS YEAR, thank you for agreeing with me
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you. I have never been a fan of Pena and have always liked Kevin Youkilis as TBO knows.
ReplyDelete