RLakin

Diamondback Batting Stats for April 03’ (12-15)
AB: 938 R: 109 H: 248 2B: 61 HR: 22 RBI: 108 BB: 80 OBP: .325 SLG: .408 OPS: .733

Diamondbacks Batting Stats for April 02’ (16-10)
AB: 877 R: 138 H: 226 2B: 50 HR: 34 RBI: 133 BB: 91 OBP: .331 SLG: .449 OPS: .781


Notice how the D-backs had more hits in 03’ than 02.’ Their batting average was also 6 points higher, which shows you how overrated that stat is. Same w/ doubles, D-Backs had 11 more this April than in 2002, yet run production was down 29. That’s where OBP comes in. It was (ironically) 6 points higher in 2002. This is why I’ll take +6 points in OBP rather than +6 points w/ BA.
So what’s missing? Bob Brenly might not want to hear this, but it’s namely Erubiel Durazo and Greg Colbrunn. Both hit in the middle of lineup the majority of their starts in 2002, and as you’ll see w/ these stats, they were much more productive than the righty/lefty replacement duo of Williams and Overbay.

2002 monthly averages:
Durazo/Colbrunn (combined)
AB: 65.5 R: 14.2 H: 21.1 2B: 5.1 HR: 4.8 RBI: 14.1 BB: 12 OBP: .387 SLG: .588 OPS: .975

2003 April:
Williams/Overbay (combined)
AB: 130 R: 16 H: 33 2B: 10 HR: 4 RBI: 12 BB: 12 OBP: .311 SLG: .400 OPS: .710


Williams and Overbay get twice the AB’s but still lose badly in most significant offensive categories, including HRs, RBI, BB, OBP, SLG, and (then of course) OPS. You’ll also notice that many of these categories are the same ones that the D-Backs have struggled in. Coincidence, I think not.