Hall of Fame Stats

After I wrote my thank you to Adrian Beltré, I realized I hadn't really said anything about the outstanding career stats he compiled. Any Rangers fan worth their salt is already aware of most of them, but hopefully, a few non-Ranger fans also read this blog. So here is a summary of Adrian's accomplishments on the field. They are certainly worthy of a first-ballot election to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Adrian will be eligible in five years. 

Adrian played 21 seasons in the majors. During that time, he played with four MLB clubs. Seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, five seasons with Seattle, one year in Boston, and his final eight seasons with the Texas Rangers. 

Perhaps Adrian's most impressive stat, other than playing 21 years at a high level, is the 3,166 hits. That ranks him 15th on the all-time hits list. He has more hits than any foreign-born player. More hits than George Brett, Tony Gwynn, Rod Carew, and numerous other baseball greats. 

His other stats include:

• 1,707 RBI - That ranks 24th all-time
• 477 Home Runs - Ranks 30th
• .286/.339/.480 slash numbers - Batting average/ on-base %/ slugging %
• .819 OPS - on-base + slugging
• Played 2,933 regular season games
• Five Gold Glove awards 
• Four All-Star games
• Four Silver Slugger awards 
• MLB home run leader in 2004 with 48
• MLB hits leader in 2013 with 199
• Named MLB Personality of the Year in 2017. An award he should have won numerous times

With the exception of the five Gold Gloves, the above statistics don't really touch on Adrian's outstanding fielding. Baseball continues to struggle with meaningful defensive metrics. The few measurable categories like fielding percentage are flawed. It often penalized fielders with outstanding range by charging them with an error on balls a less talented player doesn't get close to. Many of the new sabermetrics also leave a lot to be desired. All that being said, I'll give you my opinion based on over 50 years of baseball watching. I have seen Brooks Robinson, Mike Schmidt, Chipper Jones, Clete Boyer, George Brett, Eddie Matthews, and many other good and great third basemen play. Several in person. I have had the opportunity to watch Beltré almost every game for eight years. I'm not saying Adrian is the best fielder ever, but I can't name anyone who is better. 

With the above offensive numbers and one of the best ever fielding third basemen plus the leadership and off-field contributions, there should be no doubt in my mind that Adrian Beltré is worthy of a first-ballot election to the Hall of Fame. 

Thanks again Adrian for a great ride. 

wjh

Adrian Beltré

The great Adrian Beltré announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on November 20, 2018. 

First off, let me say thank you for 21 years of outstanding baseball. A very special thanks for the last eight years with the Texas Rangers. It gave me the chance to see you play almost every game. Mostly on TV, but also several times live at the ballpark. We will miss you. It wasn't just the outstanding baseball, you were also a great personality. You played the game with a smile regardless of the circumstances. You brought a smile to those playing with and against you. You brought a smile to the fans. You even brought a smile to the umpires. Your antics are legendary. 

Don't let that happy go lucky exterior fool you. Adrian was a fierce competitor. He gave full effort every game. He played hurt without complaint. He was a leader on the field and in the clubhouse. Screw up and you got the LOOK. After the look, there was often a talk and a teaching session, followed by encouragement. 

Adrian was an outstanding fielder. I can't imagine any third baseman being any better. He had catlike reflexes at the hot corner and an exceptional arm. His fielding plays often made the highlights.

Beltré also had unique mannerisms in the batter's box. He would do a little dance after being brushed back. He would immediately point to the first base umpire on a checked swing. Maybe most famously, he would sometimes hit from one knee. Several of those one kneed gems left the park. 

Let's not forget Adrian's off-field behavior either.  He was always up for a visit to the local children's hospitals, a youth center, or a charity function. He gave personal attention to special visitors to the ballpark and locker room. Aways with that big smile and humor. 

Over the 30 plus years of following the team, I can think of only one other Texas Ranger who connected with the fans the way Adrian has. That would be Hall of Famer Pudge Rodriguez. Ironically, Pudge and Adrian reached career milestones on the same weekend in 2017. I am confident that Adrian Beltré will be following Pudge into the Hall of Fame in five years. 

I was sad when Pudge was traded and I am sad today because Adrian is retiring. Sad but grateful to have had the opportunity to see great baseball. I know both gave it there all and owe us, the fans, nothing more. Pudge came back to Texas and works for the Rangers. If they are smart, the team will make a similar offer to Adrian. 

So, thank you again Adrian Beltré for an outstanding career and a bundle of joy.

wjh 

Very Random Thoughts - October 2018

• It seems we have officially merged Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas into one big commercial holiday.
• The new ESPN Monday Night Football broadcast crew is pretty much unlistenable. Guess that is what the mute button is for. 🏈
• I think it is very accommodating of shrimp to have evolved so that they turn pink when cooked just right. 
• Lobsters fall into the same category of appreciation.
• What are the odds that the last of a 1.75-liter bottle of vodka would be exactly one shot glass?
• Sports statistics have gone completely crazy. Do we really need to know that the pitcher is only the 15th person in MLB history to get more than seven strikeouts on consecutive Thursday night home games? 
• Why does it seem to always rain when the forecast is 20% yet almost never rains when you cancel outdoor plans because of an 80% rain forecast? 
• It is amazing to me how sensitive and defensive the white, Christian, privileged male is to any perceived threat to that privilege. Pretty whiney.
• The other night I had a dream about having a dream. Very confusing. 
• How come the big pipeline companies can afford to bury a huge pipe for hundreds, even thousands, of miles but the local utility companies can't bury the neighborhood utility lines? Electricity, phone, internet, and TV cables on poles will get knocked down. 
• Why is it OK to make people pay for Social Security (payroll taxes) but the GOP thinks the ACA requirement to have health insurance is un-American? 
• Are those really old recordings of Jimmy Dean or an impressionist on the new Jimmy Dean Sausage commercials? Jimmy has been dead since 2010 and sold the sausage company in 1984 to Sara Lee.
• Somebody needs to invent a champagne that doesn't sting the eyes. Then baseball players won't need to wear goggles during postgame celebrations. ⚾
• It seems to me that comedians do better crossing over to dramatic roles than dramatic actors do trying comedic roles.
• The only political poll that is truly accurate is the one on election day. 
• "America First" should not mean America only. 
• Wouldn't it be nice if when you vote early the political TV ads, emails, and junk mail stopped?
• There is a difference between "spin", exaggeration, selective/cherry-picked data and outright lying. 

wjh