There were rumors swirling after Brett Myers' last start that the struggling Phillies starter would move to the bullpen in an effort to get him back on track.  Today, the Philadelphia Phillies dropped a mini-bombshell when they announced that Myers was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will be inserted into their starting rotation on Wednesday.

After compiling a 3-9 record with a 5.84 ERA in 17 starts this season, the Phillies decided it was time to give Myers a chance to work through his struggles in the Minors.  Since Myers has five-plus years of service in the Majors, he had the right to refuse the demotion but instead accepted it and will start against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees tomorrow.

No timetable has been announced for Myers' return to the Major League roster and the Phillies did not recall a player to take Myers' place on the 25-man roster — although an announcement should follow shortly.

Many bemoan the new wave of stats espoused by Bill James, Baseball Prospectus, The Hardball Times etc. However, the light they have shed on statistical analysis allow us to understand better the value of a player’s contributions. The thing is–it has allowed us to look at stats that the average fan is accustomed in order to better evaluate a player’s performance.

Before we proceed further, it’s not necessary even to get into esoteric measures here (although I will veer a bit from traditional standards here and there). I’m going to use everyday stats to demonstrate that Mickey Mantle, while he felt he was finished as a player (and his understanding of his stats bore this out), was far from it. Had Mantle properly understood his numbers in context he may have realized that he was still a valuable player and played a few more years–he was only 36 when he packed it in.

To begin with, from Mantle’s standpoint, his final two seasons were profoundly discouraging. Fans watching the Yankees on TV would have seen the following totals by Mantle’s name at year's end…

Year    AVG  HR  RBI
1967     .245   22    55
1968     .237   18    54

At this point, he was playing first base–for someone accustomed to hitting 30-50 HR, 90-130 RBI (from the key defensive position of centerfield) annually the above totals would seem pretty pathetic. There wasn’t much Mantle could do about his RBI–a player needs others to get on base before he can drive them home. In both of his final seasons, the Yankees had a team on base average (OBP) below .300, their combined OBP for 1967 and 1968 being about .292. It would be like having eight Sal Fasano level hitters in the lineup with you. Under these circumstances, a large number of RBI would be out of the question.

Both 1967 and 1968 were the final years of an era where pitching was dominant. Indeed a league average pitcher in 1967 would have had an ERA of 3.23 and 2.98 in 1968. In 2007, a league average pitcher had an ERA of 4.50.

Obviously, since RBI and runs scored are dependent on teammates getting on base or driving you home when you get on (base) the best way of assessing a player’s individual offensive accomplishments is by looking at batting average (BA), on base average (OBP) and slugging average (SLG).

Mantle felt he was done, but let’s see how he compared to other players and first basemen in the AL.

In 1967, Mantle’s batting/on base/slugging average was .245/.391/.434. What was league average for those totals that year?

MM .245/.391/.434; 33 Runs Created Above Average (RCAA)
AL   .243/.312/.365   0 RCAA

While his batting average was around league norms both his OBP and SLG were significantly higher than league average. Mantle posted an OPS+ of 150–eighth best in the AL. In layman’s terms, he’s was 50 percent better than league average.

Of course, first basemen are expected to be one of the big bats in the lineup. How was Mantle’s bat compared to other first sackers in the AL in 1967?

MM .245/.391/.434; 33 RCAA
1B    .250/.339/.416; 14 RCAA

While other first basemen hit for a higher average, Mantle blew them out of the water in OBP and was comfortably  above average in SLG. In all that year, Mantle was fourth in BA and SLG, second in OBP and tied for third in HR (22). He was probably the third best first baseman in the American League in 1967.                 

The following year, Mantle batted .237/.385/.398. Now let’s compare him both to league and positional (1B) averages

MM .237/.385/.398 25 RCAA
AL   .238/.307/.352   0 RCAA
1B    .236/.313/.370   2 RCAA

Once again, we see Mantle’s batting average was around league norms. Compared to the AL however, Mantle was about 42 percent (142 OPS+). When compared with his fellow first basemen we see Mantle as having a far superior OBP and better SLG. Mantle’s OBP was third best in the league. Compared to other first sackers he was fourth in BA, third in HR and SLG and first in OBP and well above average in RCAA.

For the second year in a row, Mickey Mantle was one of the top three first basemen in the AL. However, his triple crown numbers (BA HR RBI) obscured how good he still was–he felt he was done because of them while he remained one of the better first basemen in the league and remained an elite offensive performer.

In 1967 and 1968 Mickey Mantle was 50 and 42 percent above league average (respectively). Let’s put this into some kind of modern context. If you go to <a href=”http://www.baseball-reference.com/”>Baseball Reference</a>, they have a wonderful toy where you can take a player’s numbers and put them into the aforementioned modern (or any year) context. Put another way, were Mickey Mantle 50 and 42 percent better than league average in 2007 it tells us what those totals would be last season.

To give an idea of how different the leagues were in 1968 and 2007 let’s look at what an average player produced those years…   

1968 AL   .238/.307/.352
2007 AL   .271/.338/.423

What would Mantle’s 1967-68 totals look like today?

Mantle’s 1967 season in 2007’s environment .289/.444/.509
Mantle’s 1968 season in 2007’s environment .292/.453/.490

Sadly, Mantle felt he was done because there was insufficient understanding of how good he still was back in the late 1960’s. With our modern understanding of numbers we do–alas it is too late to convince Mantle not to retire (unless he was simply tired of all the aches and pains). The fact remains that he was still among one of the better hitters in the American League when he called it quits.

Best Regards

John

…According to the Rocky Mountain News, the Colorado Rockies are going to wait until at least the All-Star Break to decide whether or not they are sellers at the trade deadline. Also according to the article, the players other teams are interested in include Matt Holiday, Brian Fuentes and Willy Taveras.

…With some rumors flying around about being possibly traded to the Chicago Cubs Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Gil Meche wants nothing more than to stay in KC.

…You wont be seeing Boston Red Sox Designated Hitter David Ortiz in the starting line up, or the line up period at the Mid Summer Classic. He'll still attend the All-Star game in New York but will not play as he's still nursing his injured wrist that's kept him sidelined since May 31st.

…He may not be having a great year by his standards but Seattle Mariners Right Fielder Ichiro, is still making his mark in the record books. With five hits on Sunday against the San Deigo Padres he became the first player since Stan Musial to record seven five hit games in fewer than 1,200 games.

…An injured groin has allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to extend Center Fielder Rocco Baldelli's rehab assignment as he tries to make it back to the big club. He had almost used up all the time alloted in his current rehab assignment, and now that he has a new injury they can restart the clock on his rehab assignment (such an assignment is usually 20 days).

To avoid redundency, the blogger's awards occur for each week on an every other rotating week basis. This week's edition checks in with the National League up to June 22nd. To check out the results, head over to RotoJunkie to view the results of all who voted.

It is also interesting to reflect upon a previous weeks voting. Here is my last posting which was for week 6.

The following will be how I voted, and why…

MVP
Winner - Lance Berkman
Runner Up - Dan Uggla
3rd - Chipper Jones

Berkman has been the class of Major League Baseball. For those in fantasy leagues, he has been a godsend. Combining excellent power numbers, with the steals and on base percentage, Berkman has been one of a kind. I place Uggla at this level as his performance for a second basemen has been incredible. Chipper Jones' name just looks good on this list, having a .400 batting average does not hurt.

Cy Young
Winner - Ben Sheets
Runner Up - Edinson Volquez
3rd - Tim Lincecum

Ben Sheets has eaten innings for the Brew crew. In one less start then Volquez, Sheets had logged an extra inning. Over the last week that amount has further increased. However, denying Volquez his due would be wrong and second place is outstanding for a player of his age and experience. As for Lincecum, he has absolutely dominated. While I typically do not give much credit for wins and loses, when your team has logged a loss in 57% of their games and you are sitting with 2% of that total, you are doing something right.

Rookie of the Year
Winner - Geovany Soto
Runner Up - Kosuke Fukudome
3rd - Joey Votto

Soto is definitely slowing down, but one cannot deny what he has done to this point as a 25 year old catcher. If this award was given out based on what a player has done lately, Soto would be on the outside looking in, but his April happened, and no one can take that away. Despite not really being a rookie, Fukudome qualifies and has been as good as advertised. Owning a .400+ on base percentage is outstanding for anyone, let alone a rookie. Lastly, despite currently ranking 3rd, it wouldn't come as a surprise to anyone if Votto or someone else from Cincinnati won this award. Votto has had a nice season and is a hot streak from jumping Soto and Fukudome.

What do you think? How would have you voted? Clearly Bill Chuck would have went in a different direction for each award except for Rookie of the Year.

- Miguel Olivo hit a pinch-hit home run in the 9th inning to tie the game, and Jose Guillen drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the 11th inning as the Royals rallied to beat the Orioles, 6-5. Billy Butler had 3 hits for Kansas City.
- Scott Feldman allowed just one run in 5 2/3 innings, and the Texas bullpen was perfect the rest of the way as the Rangers held off the Yankees, 2-1. Michael Young was 3-for-4 with 2 doubles for Texas.
- Jerry Hairston Jr. doubled and homered, and Ken Griffey Jr. smacked a 2-run shot in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Reds a 4-3 walk-off win over the Pirates. Adam LaRoche was 3-for-3 with a home run and 3 RBI, and Paul Maholm gave up just 2 runs in 7 innings for Pittsburgh.
- Roy Oswalt struck out 9 in 6 strong innings, and Lance Berkman reached base 3 times, hit a solo home run, and scored twice as the Astros downed the Dodgers, 4-1. Miguel Tejada also doubled twice and walked for Houston.
- Nick Swisher hit a solo home run and a grand slam, and Jim Thome added a double and a 3-run homer as the White Sox pounded out a 9-7 win over the Indians. Jhonny Peralta went 5-for-5 with 3 doubles, a home run, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored for Cleveland in defeat.
- Mark Reynolds ripped 2 doubles, a home run, and drove in 3 runs, and Stephen Drew contributed 2 more doubles and 2 runs as the Diamondbacks “doubled” up the Brewers, 6-3. J.J. Hardy had a single and 2 doubles for Milwaukee.
- Roy Halladay tossed a complete game 4-hit shutout, Scott Rolen picked up 3 base hits, and Rod Barajas and Marco Scutaro each drove in a run as the Blue Jays blanked the Mariners, 2-0.
- Kyle Lohse allowed just one unearned run through 7 innings, Troy Glaus doubled twice, scored, and drove in a run, and Albert Pujols collected 2 hits and 2 RBI as the Cardinals cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Mets. Aaron Miles went 3-for-5 as well for St. Louis.
- Gabe Gross reached base 4 times, homered, and drove in 2, and James Shields was effective for 6 1/3 innings to lead the Rays past the Red Sox, 5-4. B.J. Upton homered for Tampa Bay, and Mike Lowell went 3-for-4 for Boston.
- Hanley Ramirez hit his 19th home run of the year in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game, and Josh Willingham belted a solo shot in the bottom of the 10th to win it as the Marlins pulled out a 6-5 walk-off win over the Nationals. Willingham hit 2 home runs, drove in 3, an scored 3 times on the day.
- Curtis Granderson went 3-for-4, and 5 different Detroit hitters contributed RBI hits as the Tigers rallied for 2 runs in the 7th inning and 2 more in the 8th to sneak past the Twins, 5-4. Joe Mauer singled, doubled, walked, and knocked in 2 runs for Minnesota.
- Edgar Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with 2 home runs, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored, Brian Giles added 4 more hits, and Jody Gerut collected 2 hits, a home run, and 4 RBI as the Padres smashed the Rockies, 15-8. Kevin Kouzmanoff also had 3 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI for San Diego while Brad Hawpe and Chris Iannetta drove in 3 runs apiece for Colorado.
- Greg Smith pitched a complete game 4-hitter, and Carlos Gonzalez led the offense with 3 hits as the Athletics knocked off the Angels, 6-1.
- Mark DeRosa went 3-for-4 with a grand slam and a 2-run home run, Matt Murton doubled twice and drove in 2 runs, and Geovany Soto singled, doubled, walked, and scored 3 times to lead the Cubs to a convincing win over the Giants, 9-2. Ted Lilly gave up 2 runs over 8 solid innings of work. Rich Aurilia had 2 hits and 2 RBI for San Francisco.

Monday's Scoreboard