Chone Figgins

[mp170.6]

I've always had a pessimistic view of speedy hitters.  Not all, but most of them.  The ability to run fast is often their primary skill.  Their batting averages are padded by the ability to get from homeplate to first base faster than other hitters.  Ichiro is the textbook example of this. 

 

A good counterexample is Bengie Molina.  He hit .281 or better in five different seasons.  That's pretty remarkable when you think about it.  Put some average legs under Bengie and he would have been a .300-.310 hitter.

 

My point is that Figgins was probably a .260-.275 hitter in the years when his official AVG was around .300.  The legs were good for another 30 points. 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

A good counterexample is Bengie Molina.  He hit .281 or better in five different seasons.  That's pretty remarkable when you think about it.  Put some average legs under Bengie and he would have been a .300-.310 hitter.

 

My point is that Figgins was probably a .260-.275 hitter in the years when his official AVG was around .300.  The legs were good for another 30 points. 

 

Bengie didn't get a lot of leg hits, that's for sure. And you're right about Figgins. His BA was padded by his speed, beating out ground balls on which most hitters would have been thrown out. You can't keep that up for long. Foot speed deserts you before most other skills.

[Angelsjunky]

The weird thing is that there was no gradual decline - he went from his best overall year in 2009 to just about his worst. Hard to know why, but it might have been a combination of factors: new team, a fractional loss in speed, resulting loss of confidence which he never gained back, which in turn led to inability to adjust and pull himself together. Too bad, really. I imagine that if he had stayed with the Angels his decline would have been more gradual.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

The weird thing is that there was no gradual decline - he went from his best overall year in 2009 to just about his worst. Hard to know why, but it might have been a combination of factors: new team, a fractional loss in speed, resulting loss of confidence which he never gained back, which in turn led to inability to adjust and pull himself together. Too bad, really. I imagine that if he had stayed with the Angels his decline would have been more gradual.

 

I have the same idea. Had he stayed here he would have been in his comfort zone. In Seattle a lot was expected of him, and I believe that it got to him. Some guys thrive under that kind of expectation while others crumple. Unfortunately for Chone it was the latter.

[mp170.6]

I've always found the career paths of the little guys fascinating.  Guys in the Chone Figgins mold.  No power, but fast and they steal bases well.

 

Once they reach about age 35 the majority simply vanish from MLB.  No drastic decline, no significant injury struggles, they just go from being decent to being, well, unemployed.  When was the last time you heard of a little guy getting a multi-year contract in their late-30's?