Posted by d_rock97 on 5/11/2016 11:01:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 10:56:00 PM (view original):

Posted by sjpoker on 5/11/2016 8:59:00 PM (view original):
Now. ******* now. Thats all that counts.

So the Machado? Because he's been the best hitter in MLB this year.

Daniel Murphy, Dexter Fowler, Aldemys Diaz, Ryan Braun. All better

Based on what? Machado is beating the field by 20 points of OPS+ so far.

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 8:05:00 PM (view original):
I guess it depends on how far back you go. Just 2015 & 2016? Harper. Add 2014? Trout. Add 2013? Trout. Add 2012? Still Trout.

Even adding in 2014, based on hitting alone, I still take Harper over Trout. And Goldschmidt.

Mike Trout	0.295	0.390	0.574
Bryce Harper	0.301	0.419	0.563
Paul Goldschmidt	0.304	0.418	0.547

I'll give up 27 and 11 points of SLG for 28 and 29 points of OBP pretty comfortably...

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:50:00 PM (view original):

Posted by d_rock97 on 5/11/2016 11:01:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 10:56:00 PM (view original):

Posted by sjpoker on 5/11/2016 8:59:00 PM (view original):
Now. ******* now. Thats all that counts.

So the Machado? Because he's been the best hitter in MLB this year.

Daniel Murphy, Dexter Fowler, Aldemys Diaz, Ryan Braun. All better

Based on what? Machado is beating the field by 20 points of OPS+ so far.

OPS+? What a nerd. Bet you have a protractor u nerd

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 8:05:00 PM (view original):
I guess it depends on how far back you go. Just 2015 & 2016? Harper. Add 2014? Trout. Add 2013? Trout. Add 2012? Still Trout.

Even adding in 2014, based on hitting alone, I still take Harper over Trout. And Goldschmidt.

Mike Trout	0.295	0.390	0.574
Bryce Harper	0.301	0.419	0.563
Paul Goldschmidt	0.304	0.418	0.547

I'll give up 27 and 11 points of SLG for 28 and 29 points of OBP pretty comfortably...

Doesn't account for volume and ballpark. Trout has 330 PA over Harper and 200 over Goldschmidt while playing in one of the toughest hitter's parks. AZ and DC are two of the best hitter's parks.

Posted by bad_luck on 5/12/2016 12:43:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 8:05:00 PM (view original):
I guess it depends on how far back you go. Just 2015 & 2016? Harper. Add 2014? Trout. Add 2013? Trout. Add 2012? Still Trout.

Even adding in 2014, based on hitting alone, I still take Harper over Trout. And Goldschmidt.

Mike Trout	0.295	0.390	0.574
Bryce Harper	0.301	0.419	0.563
Paul Goldschmidt	0.304	0.418	0.547

I'll give up 27 and 11 points of SLG for 28 and 29 points of OBP pretty comfortably...

Doesn't account for volume and ballpark. Trout has 330 PA over Harper and 200 over Goldschmidt while playing in one of the toughest hitter's parks. AZ and DC are two of the best hitter's parks.

DC is actually neutral. But yeah AZ is a hitters park

Harper has the type of power none of the others will ever approach. And he's reached the stage where he controls the strike zone in such a way where he punishes even the slightest mistake. And most of all, he can still get better.

I really don't see Trout and Goldschmidt improving much if any over where they are at. Harper has surpassed them and he can - still - get better.

'nuff said, end of discussion. Right here, right now, Bryce Harper is the best hitter in baseball. Just like everyone said he would be.

Posted by d_rock97 on 5/12/2016 12:53:00 AM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/12/2016 12:43:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 8:05:00 PM (view original):
I guess it depends on how far back you go. Just 2015 & 2016? Harper. Add 2014? Trout. Add 2013? Trout. Add 2012? Still Trout.

Even adding in 2014, based on hitting alone, I still take Harper over Trout. And Goldschmidt.

Mike Trout	0.295	0.390	0.574
Bryce Harper	0.301	0.419	0.563
Paul Goldschmidt	0.304	0.418	0.547

I'll give up 27 and 11 points of SLG for 28 and 29 points of OBP pretty comfortably...

Doesn't account for volume and ballpark. Trout has 330 PA over Harper and 200 over Goldschmidt while playing in one of the toughest hitter's parks. AZ and DC are two of the best hitter's parks.

DC is actually neutral. But yeah AZ is a hitters park

I think you're right about DC, it seems to vary. In 2014 it was 6th best for hitters but other years it's around 12th.

Anaheim is something like 27 most years.

1 game suspension for douche baggery.

Same thing happened to Kinsler a couple seasons ago. He appealed and the one game suspension was overturned. This should be a fine only.

Posted by d_rock97 on 5/12/2016 12:08:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:50:00 PM (view original):

Posted by d_rock97 on 5/11/2016 11:01:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 10:56:00 PM (view original):

Posted by sjpoker on 5/11/2016 8:59:00 PM (view original):
Now. ******* now. Thats all that counts.

So the Machado? Because he's been the best hitter in MLB this year.

Daniel Murphy, Dexter Fowler, Aldemys Diaz, Ryan Braun. All better

Based on what? Machado is beating the field by 20 points of OPS+ so far.

OPS+? What a nerd. Bet you have a protractor u nerd

Probably somewhere.

He's also leading in OPS. He's also leading in total bases. He's tied with Altuve in XBH. Altuve is the only person I would even consider close to on par with Machado so far this year. And he wasn't even on your list.

Posted by bad_luck on 5/12/2016 12:43:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 8:05:00 PM (view original):
I guess it depends on how far back you go. Just 2015 & 2016? Harper. Add 2014? Trout. Add 2013? Trout. Add 2012? Still Trout.

Even adding in 2014, based on hitting alone, I still take Harper over Trout. And Goldschmidt.

Mike Trout	0.295	0.390	0.574
Bryce Harper	0.301	0.419	0.563
Paul Goldschmidt	0.304	0.418	0.547

I'll give up 27 and 11 points of SLG for 28 and 29 points of OBP pretty comfortably...

Doesn't account for volume and ballpark. Trout has 330 PA over Harper and 200 over Goldschmidt while playing in one of the toughest hitter's parks. AZ and DC are two of the best hitter's parks.

Ballpark is a legitimate argument. I don't see what volume has to do with who's a better hitter. Nobody was talking about who produced the most volume. It was who is the best hitter. My answer is 1. Harper 2. Goldschmidt 3. Trout. Honestly, if it's just about hitting, I might still take Miggy over Trout, too.

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/12/2016 4:45:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/12/2016 12:43:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 8:05:00 PM (view original):
I guess it depends on how far back you go. Just 2015 & 2016? Harper. Add 2014? Trout. Add 2013? Trout. Add 2012? Still Trout.

Even adding in 2014, based on hitting alone, I still take Harper over Trout. And Goldschmidt.

Mike Trout	0.295	0.390	0.574
Bryce Harper	0.301	0.419	0.563
Paul Goldschmidt	0.304	0.418	0.547

I'll give up 27 and 11 points of SLG for 28 and 29 points of OBP pretty comfortably...

Doesn't account for volume and ballpark. Trout has 330 PA over Harper and 200 over Goldschmidt while playing in one of the toughest hitter's parks. AZ and DC are two of the best hitter's parks.

Ballpark is a legitimate argument. I don't see what volume has to do with who's a better hitter. Nobody was talking about who produced the most volume. It was who is the best hitter. My answer is 1. Harper 2. Goldschmidt 3. Trout. Honestly, if it's just about hitting, I might still take Miggy over Trout, too.

Volume matters. Harper's great, but if he's only playing 120 games a year, he isn't as productive offensively as someone who is playing 155 (assuming similar rates).

Since 2014:

#	Name	Team	wRC+	wOBA	Off	G	PA
1	Mike Trout	Angels	169	0.407	130.2	349	1528
2	Bryce Harper	Nationals	165	0.415	93.7	287	1194
3	Paul Goldschmidt	Diamondbacks	157	0.408	93.5	303	1334
4	Giancarlo Stanton	Marlins	155	0.399	70.8	250	1087
5	Andrew McCutchen	Pirates	154	0.391	91.7	335	1483
6	Miguel Cabrera	Tigers	152	0.391	68.5	311	1335

This is sorted by wRC+. wRC+ is park and league adjusted but does not account for volume. If you go by wOBA, Trout is 3rd, but wOBA doesn't adjust for park and league. Offensive runs above average takes into account park, league, and volume.

Now that BL has put us to sleep with all his useless ancillary stats, lets get back to what we originally discussed. Right now, today, who is the best hitter in baseball? Not since 2013. Today.

Its Bryce Harper. Pitchers aren't pitching to the guy. At all. He's that fearsome. When he does swing, he's nabbing an extra base every other hit. While you guys stand around with your &$%^ in your hands talking about Machado, keep this in mind. He's sitting at a .366 BABIP. That ain't gonna last. Bryce Harper is at .257. That also ain't gonna last. His career BABIP is .330. The guy is that damn good.

Don't think that I am Bryce Harper superfan either. I think he's a clown. But the talent is undeniable.

Posted by bad_luck on 5/12/2016 5:08:00 PM (view original):

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/12/2016 4:45:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/12/2016 12:43:00 AM (view original):

Posted by dahsdebater on 5/11/2016 11:57:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bad_luck on 5/11/2016 8:05:00 PM (view original):
I guess it depends on how far back you go. Just 2015 & 2016? Harper. Add 2014? Trout. Add 2013? Trout. Add 2012? Still Trout.

Even adding in 2014, based on hitting alone, I still take Harper over Trout. And Goldschmidt.

Mike Trout	0.295	0.390	0.574
Bryce Harper	0.301	0.419	0.563
Paul Goldschmidt	0.304	0.418	0.547

I'll give up 27 and 11 points of SLG for 28 and 29 points of OBP pretty comfortably...

Doesn't account for volume and ballpark. Trout has 330 PA over Harper and 200 over Goldschmidt while playing in one of the toughest hitter's parks. AZ and DC are two of the best hitter's parks.

Ballpark is a legitimate argument. I don't see what volume has to do with who's a better hitter. Nobody was talking about who produced the most volume. It was who is the best hitter. My answer is 1. Harper 2. Goldschmidt 3. Trout. Honestly, if it's just about hitting, I might still take Miggy over Trout, too.

Volume matters. Harper's great, but if he's only playing 120 games a year, he isn't as productive offensively as someone who is playing 155 (assuming similar rates).

Since 2014:

#	Name	Team	wRC+	wOBA	Off	G	PA
1	Mike Trout	Angels	169	0.407	130.2	349	1528
2	Bryce Harper	Nationals	165	0.415	93.7	287	1194
3	Paul Goldschmidt	Diamondbacks	157	0.408	93.5	303	1334
4	Giancarlo Stanton	Marlins	155	0.399	70.8	250	1087
5	Andrew McCutchen	Pirates	154	0.391	91.7	335	1483
6	Miguel Cabrera	Tigers	152	0.391	68.5	311	1335

This is sorted by wRC+. wRC+ is park and league adjusted but does not account for volume. If you go by wOBA, Trout is 3rd, but wOBA doesn't adjust for park and league. Offensive runs above average takes into account park, league, and volume.

I feel like you don't even get what's going on. Nobody asked who was the most productive. Most productive and best are not synonymous.

wRC+ includes baserunning. That's certainly helping Trout out a bit.

Best hitter IS the most productive. Why is a .400 OBP better than a .350 OBP? Because it helps the team score produce more runs. There is no separating productivity from skill.