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Ersatz Burnitz
2006-04-05 22:10
by Mike Carminati

Yesterday Jeromy Burnitz hit a pinch-hit home run for the Pirates to help them draw to within one run of the Brewers in the seventh, only to see them lose. It was his 300th career home run, and it left me to ponder the question, is Burnitz indeed the worst player ever to hit 300 home runs?

Not, that I have anything against Burnitz. He had a few very good years for the Brewers in the late Nineties. He finally did have a decent season for the Mets after three tries in 2003 but ended up traded to the Dodgers before year end for Victor Diaz and a bucket of ice. Oh, and the Mets did pay him $12,166,667 for the honor.

He's on his eighth franchise in 14 years, and appears, at 37, to be part of a five-man rotation in Pittsburgh, arguably one of the worst franchises in the game. And he still insists on spelled his first name with an "O".

So is he the worst of the 111 men to hit 300 dingers? Let's run a comparison including my favorite devise, a table.

I ranked the players by the batting ratios, Win Shares, and adjusted OPS. Then I took the average of their rankings. Yeah, you can complain about the methodology, but hey, me likey the results:

NameHRWin SharesRankBARankOBPRankSLUGRankOPSRankOPS+RankAvg Rank
Gary Gaetti36024984.255104.308109.434109.74111196110 103.6
Lance Parrish32424885.252107.313107.440106.753109105107 102.8
Joe Carter39624091.25999.306110.46494.771107104109 100.0
Ruben Sierra30622399.26882.316106.450103.766108105107 99.8
Greg Vaughn355199106.242110.33797.47089.80792112102 99.8
Dave Kingman442195107.236111.302111.47879.78010311598 99.6
Ron Gant321206104.256102.33698.46892.80397112102 99.4
Graig Nettles39032150.248109.329102.421111.750110110106 97.2
Lee May35422598.26787.313108.45999.77210611696 97.2
Don Baylor33826279.26098.34289.436108.77710411893 96.4
Cecil Fielder319160110.255105.34585.48276.8278011990 92.2
Jeromy Burnitz300163109.255103.34881.48571.83275113100 91.6
Willie Horton32523395.27374.332100.457101.78910112087 91.6
Tino Martinez339216102.27178.34486.47186.81588112102 91.2
Ron Cey31628071.26197.35473.445105.7999812183 90.8
Vinny Castilla315158111.27863.324103.48373.8069396110 90.0
Gary Carter32433745.26295.33599.439107.77310511598 90.0
Darrell Evans41436333.248108.36158.431110.79210011990 88.2
Matt Williams37824190.26881.317105.48964.80595113100 86.0
Roy Sievers31823197.26789.35472.47584.8297812476 84.8

It seems about right. OK, Burnitz is probably a step up from the Gaettis and Sierras, but let's just say that the Hall is not preparing a spot for Jeromy any time soon.

But I do have newfound respect for Mr. Burnitz. He's in my top three favorite Bucs outfielders behind Jason Bay and Craig Wilson. Oh, and I like that Nate McLouth (rhymes with vermouth) kid. Let's just say I prefer him to Chris Duffy and leave it at that.

Comments
2006-04-06 23:19:44
1.   das411
MIKE!! Shame on you, need I unsheath www.garygaetti.com ??
2006-04-07 20:14:14
2.   Mike Carminati
Please don't. That place scared me.

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