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August 15, 2005

Best Season With The Bat Since 1973

Runs Created Above Average (RCAA) is a Lee Sinins creation. It is the difference between a player’s Runs Created total and the total for an average player who used the same amount of his team’s outs. (A negative Runs Created Above Average indicates a below average player in this category.)

Here are the best seasons by a Yankees batter, since 1973, in terms of RCAA:

1. Derek Jeter, 1999 - 77
1. Rickey Henderson, 1985 - 77
3. Jason Giambi, 2002 - 75
4. Don Mattingly, 1986 - 67
5. Bernie Williams, 1999 - 64
6. Reggie Jackson, 1980 - 62

This season, Alex Rodriguez is on pace for a season of 69 RCAA. If he can turn it up a notch or two, he just might put together the best season by a Yankees batter since 1973.

By the way, the all-time Yankees season RCAA record (Ruth with 166 RCAA in 1921) will be safe for a long time.

Posted by Steve Lombardi at August 15, 2005 09:41 AM

Comments

Well, I for one do not need these fancy SABR stats to tell me what I can see from merely watching AROD on a regular basis: the guy is having probably the best overall year of any Yankees hitter since at least Mattingly in his prime.

Posted by: Josh at August 15, 2005 10:16 AM

I remember, from his abtract, Bill James saying that Jeter was the best player in 1999. I didn't realize he has such a statistically good year though. Good stuff, Steve, thanks for answering my question.

Posted by: Nick at August 15, 2005 10:28 AM

No problem Nick - thanks for the inspiration.

Posted by: Steve Lombardi at August 15, 2005 07:39 PM