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Charlie Hoke

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Blog Entries posted by Charlie Hoke

  1. Charlie Hoke

    Six Down Years

    By Charlie Hoke,


    Great Sox
    If your batting average declines each year for 6 years straight, can you stay in the big leagues?
    Although there are many new and more advanced statistics, batting average is still a useful measure of a player's ability.
    Is 6 consecutive years of declining batting average irreversible?
    Red Sox Dave Stapleton, an infielder who played from 1980-1986, is the only MLB player who played at least seven years whose batting average declined each year throughout his career. [1]
    From a high of .321 in his rookie debut in 1980, Dave's batting average declined every year to a nadir of .128 in 1986.
    Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1980-1986) Batting
      Age Team Lg WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 1980 26 BOS AL 3 106 449 61 144 33 5 7 45 3 2 13 32 .321 .338 .463 .802 113 .357 108 1981 27 BOS AL 1.3 93 355 45 101 17 1 10 42 0 4 21 22 .285 .325 .423 .747 109 .346 111 1982 28 BOS AL 0.6 150 538 66 142 28 1 14 65 2 4 31 40 .264 .305 .398 .703 87 .315 81 1983 29 BOS AL -1.6 151 542 54 134 31 1 10 66 1 1 40 44 .247 .297 .363 .661 76 .299 67 1984 30 BOS AL -0.2 13 39 4 9 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 3 .231 .286 .282 .568 55 .253 33 1985 31 BOS AL -0.3 30 66 4 15 6 0 0 2 0 0 4 11 .227 .271 .318 .590 59 .279 56 1986 32 BOS AL -0.9 39 39 4 5 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 10 .128 .171 .154 .325 -10 .154 -32 7 Yrs 2.0 582 2028 238 550 118 8 41 224 6 11 114 162 .271 .310 .398 .707 90 .320 84 162 Game Avg 0.6 162 564 66 153 33 2 11 62 2 3 32 45 .271 .310 .398 .707 90 .320 84 Dave Stapleton, Boston Red Sox (1986 and Career Totals) 1B Fielding Stats 
            Pos G CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% lgFld% Rtot Rtot/yr RF/9 lgRF9 RF/G lgRFG 1986   BOS AL 1B 29 5 85 86 79 7 0 10 1.000 .991 -1 -13 9.11 9.42 2.97 9.33 1B (7 Yrs) 1B 318 270 2547 2815 2593 201 21 266 .993 .992 11 5 9.87 9.87 8.79 9.78
     
    Dave Stapleton is most well-known for what he didn't do than for what he may have done.
    In Game 6 of the 1986 World Series with the Red Sox leading by 2 in the bottom of the 10th inning, he was not inserted as a defensive substitution at 1st base, something that had been done throughout the regular season and the playoffs, coming in 25 times during the regular season and in all 7 winning playoff games (4 in the ALCS and 3 in the World Series) in 1986.
    The losing play of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series [2] was on an error by the Red Sox 1st Baseman, which allowed the New York Mets to score the winning run and consequently forced a World Series Game 7, which the Red Sox also lost.
    Had Dave Stapleton been playing in the field in that 10th inning, would that same result have occurred, and would the Red Sox have won the 1986 World Series subsequently?
    Would a 1986 World Series win by the Red Sox helped him to continue his career? It's interesting to speculate on how one bouncing ball could have changed the course of history for a team and its players.
    As it was, 1986 was Dave Stapleton's final season at the age of 32.
    For him, 6 years of decline was not recoverable.
     
    In his 6th down year
    In 2025, another player has seen his batting average decline year after year for 6 years.
    Tim Anderson, a former AL batting champion, silver slugger, and 2-time All-star has seen his batting average drop 6 straight years since winning the 2019 AL batting crown. It was not an errant ball, but perhaps an errant brawl that has symbolized Tim Anderson's decline. when he exchanged punches with Jose Ramirez after a dispute on the basepaths on August 5, 2023.
    In his age 32 season, Tim Anderson was just released by the Los Angeles Angels on May 31, 2025.
    Is this the end of the line for Tim Anderson?
    Tim Anderson Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2016-2025) Batting
      Age Team Lg WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 2016 23 CHW AL 2.3 99 410 57 116 22 6 9 30 10 2 13 117 .283 .306 .432 .738 100 .326 101 2017 24 CHW AL -0.3 146 587 72 151 26 4 17 56 15 1 13 162 .257 .276 .402 .679 81 .305 82 2018 25 CHW AL 3.9 153 567 77 136 28 3 20 64 26 8 30 149 .240 .281 .406 .687 87 .308 88 2019 26 CHW AL 4.2 123 498 81 167 32 0 18 56 17 5 15 109 .335 .357 .508 .865 128 .369 128 2020 27 CHW AL 2.5 49 208 45 67 11 1 10 21 5 2 10 50 .322 .357 .529 .886 140 .382 140 2021 28 CHW AL 4.5 123 527 94 163 29 2 17 61 18 7 22 119 .309 .338 .469 .806 118 .357 123 2022 29 CHW AL 1.3 79 332 50 100 13 0 6 25 13 0 14 55 .301 .339 .395 .734 109 .332 105 2023 30 CHW AL -1.8 123 493 52 121 18 2 1 25 13 2 26 122 .245 .286 .296 .582 62 .263 56 2024 31 MIA NL -1.5 65 234 16 50 3 0 0 9 4 4 7 68 .214 .237 .226 .463 29 .204 15 2025 32 LAA AL 0 31 83 8 17 3 0 0 3 1 1 3 29 .205 .258 .241 .499 40 .224 31 10 Yrs 15 991 3939 552 1088 185 18 98 350 122 32 153 980 .276 .307 .407 .714 94 .316 93 162 Game Avg 2.5 162 644 90 178 30 3 16 57 20 5 25 160 .276 .307 .407 .714 94 .316 93 Tim Anderson Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Angels (2024-2025 and Career Totals) Fielding
    Season Age Team Lg Pos G CG Inn Ch PO A E DP Fld% lgFld% Rtot Rtot/yr Rdrs Rdrs/yr RF/9 lgRF9 RF/G lgRFG 2024 31 MIA NL SS 63 59 537 245 66 170 9 34 .963 .972 -1 -2 0 0 3.95 3.82 3.75 3.77 2025 32 LAA AL 2B 16 12 125 65 23 40 2 14 .969 .982 -1 -10 1 10 4.54 4.03 3.94 3.97 2025 32 LAA AL SS 15 8 101 50 20 28 2 9 .960 .976 1 9 1 12 4.28 3.73 3.2 3.67 10 Yrs   981 913 8443 3822 1294 2384 144 517 .962 .973 -51 -7 -25 -4 3.92 3.9 3.75 3.84 SS (10 Yrs) SS 963 899 8300 3751 1268 2342 141 503 .962 .973 -50 -7 -26 -4 3.91 3.89 3.75 3.84 2B (2 Yrs) 2B 18 14 143 71 26 42 3 14 .958 .982 -1 -11 1 8 4.28 4.03 3.78 3.97 With above league average range factor per 9 innings (RF/9) and averaging 0.4 dWAR over the past two years.  Tim Anderson can still be a defensive asset for a team.
    As an example, struggling Tigers' shortstop Javier Báez in the midst of 4 declining seasons of batting average, among other performance drops, had the opportunity to get a new lease on his career by moving to centerfield to start the season. While also playing 2nd base, shortstop, and 3rd base, Javier upped his batting performance and was selected to the AL all-star team as a starter as an outfielder.
    Tim Anderson also had some reps in the outfield during Spring training but never started there in the regular season. With his previously shown talent, will Tim Anderson get a chance to reverse this six-year decline?


    Sources:
    [1] "Dave Stapleton". Sons of Sam Horn. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
    [2] 1986 World Series - Wikipedia
  2. Charlie Hoke
    Carlton Fisk's first 11 years of a 24-year Hall of Fame Major League Baseball career was with the Red Sox, where he was the Rookie of the Year in 1972, a 7-time All-star, and in the top 10 of the MVP voting 3 times.
    Fisk may be the best Red Sox catcher ever, but who else had great careers while catching for the Red Sox? 
    Carlton Fisk (1969-1980)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 39.5 1078 3860 627 1097 207 33 162 568 61 26 389 588 .284 .356 .481 .837 126 .385 127                                   Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk hit the iconic 1975 Game 6 World Series 12th inning walk-off (wave-off) homer. With the Red Sox he was Rookie of the Year in 1972 and won the Gold Glove. A Three-time silver slugger and 11-time All-star in total, Carlton Fisk holds the AL record for years playing catcher at 24, and finished with 3 more top 20 MVP voting results, his highest being 3rd in 1983 with his division winning White Sox.

    Jason Varitek (1997-2011)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 24.2 1546 5099 664 1307 306 14 193 757 25 18 614 1216 .256 .341 .435 .776 99 .343 96                                   The first Red Sox catcher to catch 1,000 games and 4th team captain in history since 1923, Jason won two World Series with the Red Sox in 2004, and 2007. and led the Sox to the playoffs in 5 other years (1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008).

    Bill Carrigan (1906-1916)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 13.2 709 1970 194 506 67 14 6 235 37 14 206 187 .257 .334 .314 .648 94 .322 97                                   Bill played 11 years for the Red Sox and was a player manager for the last 4 seasons and won 3 World Series championships (1912, 1915, 1916), the last two as a player manager. He holds the record for the highest post-season winning percentage (.800) of any manager with multiple postseason appearances and was the first Red Sox manager to win two world championships.

    Rick Ferrell (1933-1937)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 11.9 522 1791 221 541 111 17 16 240 7 11 269 75 .302 .394 .410 .804 103 .376 107     Rick was a 4-time All-Star with the Red Sox and 7-time All-Star overall in an 18 year playing career, holding the AL record for games caught at 1,806 for over 40 years and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984. Together with his brother, Wes Ferrell, Rick was one of the top brother catcher/pitcher combinations in MLB history.

    Rich Gedman (1980-1990)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 11.7 906 2856 315 741 164 12 83 356 3 3 206 448 .259 .310 .412 .723 95 .327 90     Rich Gedman was the primary backstop for three Red Sox post-season teams, the 1986 AL Pennant winners, and the 1988 and 1990 division champs. A two time All-Star, he was one of only 5 catchers to register 2 All-Star selections in the 1980s.
    He set the record for put-outs by a catcher when he caught Roger Clemens' 20 strikeout performance on April 29, 1986. Subsequently on the next day, he registered 16 putouts and set the record for catcher putouts in consecutive starts at 36.

    Sammy White (1951-1959)
    WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ rOBA Rbat+ 2.0 981 3342 316 881 162 20 63 404 14 15 214 356 .264 .308 .381 .689 81 .321 73 Sammy was third place for Rookie of the Year in 1952 and, on June 18, 1953, became the only player after the 19th century to score 3 runs in one inning.  Between 1953 to 1955, he appeared in over 90% of the Red Sox games, averaging 138.7 games over that three year span, and starting 142 of 154 games in 1955. Known for his excellence at framing pitches and getting strike calls, Sammy caught lefty Mel Parnell's no-hitter on July 14, 1956.

    Do you agree with this list of top Red Sox catchers?
    Anyone else who should be considered?
    Real players only.
    In this article though, the writer did pick Carlton Fisk as the Red Sox's top catcher, he couldn't find a great catcher for the San Diego Padres and just made up a player's career.  The actual Rene Rivera was a journeyman catcher who did play for the Padres in 2013-15 but was in junior high school in 1998 when the Padres made the World Series.  No one Padres catcher played from 1992-2009. There should be no way an article like this should have been published with such a glaring error. 
    This story was picked up and copied to several sites without checking. Some of the sites have removed it, but others still have it up.
    The Greatest Catcher in Each MLB Franchise's History
    https://living.alot.com/entertainment/the-greatest-catcher-in-each-mlb-franchises-history--22296

     
  3. Charlie Hoke
    Ted Williams had a great career, but did this 1950 injury hurt him more than the two interruptions for military service during World War 2 and the Korean War? Three full years and close to two more years were cut short from his baseball career, yet a mid-career injury might have affected him more.
    The missing years often are said to have cost him the chance to have higher career totals and preventing him from getting to 3,000 hits and 600 home runs,

    In 1950 at the All-Star Break, after 70 games, Ted has 25 home runs and 83 RBIs, well on track for career highs.  However, on that summer day, July 11, 1950, in the 1950 All Star Game at Chicago's Comiskey Park, fate intervened.
    Going after a high drive by Ralph Kiner in the 1st inning, Ted crashed into the wall and scoreboard. Staying in the game, Ted singled in a go-ahead run in the 5th inning, but afterwards, his elbow had swollen up, and it was discovered that it was broken. This sidelined him until mid-September when he was able to return after the Red Sox were well out of contention for the pennant.

    With the hot summer months still to come, Ted perhaps even had a chance also of challenging for Babe Ruth's then single season home run mark of 60. Also denied was the chance to win back-to-back MVP awards to follow up his 1949 MVP season.
    This elbow injury lingered on through the next year and had Ted contemplating retirement before the season start. Ted had said that he was never the same hitter after that elbow injury. 
    So if Ted Williams had not gone after that high drive by Ralph Kiner with such alacrity, he may have been even better.
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