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Introducing the Rob Deer All-Stars: Bo Jackson, Wily Mo Pena and More
By Jamie Mottram | August 20, 2007
Our happiness over the Wily Mo Pena trade hath wrought an avalanche of email. Well, maybe just one email, but it was a good one, from Jeff at Yardbarker alerting us that Wily Mo’s missed swings are a satirical source of energy.
This got me thinking of how many other players, active or otherwise, have the all-or-nothing approach that the Hulk has showcased so far in his young career. Pena hits 27 home runs with 175 strikeouts per 500 at-bats, so which other players are in the 25-150-500 stratosphere?
The answer, sadly, doesn’t include Pete Incaviglia or Steve Balboni, but it does include a handful of free swinging sluggers, all of them from the past 25 years. Without further adieu, these are the Rob Deer All-Stars:
- The Namesake, 30 HR and 181 K per 500 AB — Deer is the first person that comes to mind here, and his numbers don’t disappoint. In ‘91 his K total (175) was almost on par with his batting average (.179). He still hit 25 HR. All told, he posted eight straight 20-130 seasons, all while wearing elastic waistbands and stirrups (see SI cover).
- Bo Jackson, 29 HR and 175 K — The only category Bo ever led the league in was strikeouts (172 in ‘89, the same year he won All-Star MVP), resulting in many spectacularly snapped bats.
- Wily Mo Pena, 27 HR and 175 K — Pena’s is the smallest sample of any player here, but he shows no signs of slowing down over time. Nor do the Nats need him to as he’s instantly their most prolific HR hitter.
- Ryan Howard, 44 HR and 170 K — This is the first absolute stud hitter on the list, and I don’t think the Phillies mind his exorbitant strikeout totals as the kid has lifetime OPS of 1.001.
- Adam Dunn, 36 HR and 164 K — Stud hitter No. 2, and owner of not one but two 190-strikeout seasons (during which he also hit 40-plus HR and drew 100-plus walks). Bonus points for the nickname “Big Donkey.”
- Jim Thome, 37 HR and 150 K — Stud hitter No. 3 and possible HOF, making him the best of the Rob Deer All-Stars. Of course, if he cuts down on his K totals in the autumn of his career, he could be disqualified.
That’s the team, although I’m sure there are omissions (Incaviglia and Craig Wilson came sooo close). Take a look and let me know who I missed.
Update: We Rite Good nominates Russell Branyan and Melvin Nieves in the comments, and for good reason. Their career averages per 500 AB are 32-199 and 25-193, respectively. I knew I’d missed some guys, but damn.
Update No. 2: Bugs and Cranks did something similar to this a few months back and dubbed it The Rob Deer School of Hitting. It’s a fine, extensive piece but doesn’t include any additional 25 and 150 per 500 guys, although I know they’re out there.
Update No. 3: Mr. Irrelevant reader Dave brings Dave Ross to our attention. Turns out Ross, a Reds catcher, boasts career averages of 29 HR and 156 K. So he’s a Rob Deer All-Star right? Well, not yet. He’s 58 AB shy of 1,000, which is the minimum for inclusion. Regardless, Ross should be the ninth member of the squad by season’s end.
Topics: Nationals, Stupid All-Star Teams, Wily Mo Pena | 9 Comments »
August 20th, 2007 at 5:15 PM
I ain’t so good at all that math stuff, but Mo Vaughn has to be close, right?
August 20th, 2007 at 5:19 PM
Mo has the HR (30) but not the K (130) per 500 AB. Good guess, though.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:05 PM
We love the idea but petition for a name change. Over at one of Agent Steinz’s “favorite…umm, random blogs” we looked at a guy who puts Deer to shame last week.
Russell Branyan’s damage: 33 HRs and -201- K per 500 AB.
http://weritegoode.blogspot.com/2007/08/myths-of-mediocrity.html
Mighty Melvin Nieves has to be close, too…
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:27 PM
An infielder named Jose Hernandez hit more than 25 homeruns and struck out like 200 times. I think. right?
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:45 PM
Thanks for the suggestion, torsten120, but Hernandez only averaged 21 and 151 per 500. Lightweight.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:24 AM
Two words: Gorman Thomas.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:37 AM
dekezucker, I really wanted Gorman Thomas on this team, but his lifetime averages per 500 AB are only 29 HR and 143 K.
August 23rd, 2007 at 1:55 PM
How bout Dave Kingman? I miss Kong
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:04 PM
Kong Kingman does come to mind rather quickly, but, sadly, he only averaged 33 and 141 per 500.