Extremely Random Question

by jrose643 on May 8, 2008 11:24 PM EDT

So here goes: what is the most SB in a year by a major leaguer who finished the year sub .200. The amount of at-bats should not matter bc the parameters of my question. So it could be a pinch-run type guy even if he stays sub-mendoza for the baseball year.

I ask bc Jason Bourne (err, Mike) sits at .197 with 15 SB right now.

Did a quick net search but no luck; no clue where to turn. I figured Esix Snead had a shot but his career major league average is .308 (OK, sample size!) He did have 1 minor league season where he hit .186 with 64 SB, but that was his only full season below 2-bills.

Vince Coleman 12 SB for the 96 Reds.

Herb Washington stole 29 for the 74 A's but he NEVER HAD AN AT BAT. So I'm technically not counting that. Geez, interestingly enough, Herbie stole 31 bases and had 33 runs in his major league career without ever logging an at-bat. That has to be some kind of record in itself I would think.

Again, asinine that I haveto disable my popup blocker to preview a post. So I'm guessin fastball and swingin on this one!

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Larry Lintz

In 1976, he had a .000 average in 1 AB. He stole 31 bases.

If you don’t count Lintz, then Fritz Maisel holds the crown, with a .198 BA and 29 SB for the 1917 Yankees. He was an everyday player with over 400 at bats.

I doubt Bourn will finish the year batting below .200.

by dkdc on May 8, 2008 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

well done

I guess maybe I did need to have an at-bat minimum. I’ll go ahead and crown Fritz.

And yes, I think Bourne will be above .200 as well, but it’s an interesting if not narcisistic watch

The Giants need to sign Harry Doyle.

by jrose643 on May 9, 2008 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Crazy A's

for atleast 3 or 4 years in a row, they had a designated runner apparently…Herb Washington then Lintz in 76. They even let Lintz hit 30 times in 77, to the tune of 4 hits and 13 SB. I presume Charlie Finley was behind all that mid-70s strategery.

The Giants need to sign Harry Doyle.

by jrose643 on May 9, 2008 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Yup

Herb Washington didn’t even play baseball, did he? He just happened to be a damn good sprinter, so they used him as a pinch-runner. Needless to say, that was a Charlie Finley move.

"...and the only things I've found better than listening to Vin Scully are listening to Keith Jackson and uncut cocaine." (bleedjaxblue)

by drjayphd on May 9, 2008 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Also in 76

Matt Alexander stole 20 for the A’s while hitting a robust .033 (1-30)

The Giants need to sign Harry Doyle.

by jrose643 on May 9, 2008 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

Ha

and I thought this was going to be another Carlos Gomez thread…

by alskor on May 10, 2008 12:08 AM EDT reply actions

Random Answer To Random Question...

Julio Cruz: 45 SB, .209 AVG/.306 OBP, 1980
Gary Pettis: 44 SB, .210 AVG/.285 OBP, 1988
Freddie Patek: 33 SB, .212 AVG/.280 OBP, 1972
Rodney Scott: 30 SB, .205 AVG/.308 OBP, 1981

OBP, of course, is a more relevant metric here than AVG. For Pettis to steal 44 bases with a .285 OBP is amazing, in a perverse way.

by LogicRules on May 10, 2008 8:56 AM EDT reply actions