Mariner Second Basemen Throughout the Years

by Matthew on Sep 24, 2011 10:00 AM PDT in Seattle Mariners History

And now you might be wondering, "is Matthew going to go through all of these?" Yes. Yes, I am. Or you might be wondering, "is Matthew made of blueberry pancake batter?" No. No I am not. Why were you wondering that? How could I type these words if I had pancake batter fingers? Do you realize how sticky maple syrup gets? "Where does the maple syrup come from," you ask? What do you think takes the place of blood in pancake people? Duh, dummy.

So it continues with second base. Remember to hit up the original post on catchers for a quick explanation of what sOPS+ is and where to find it if you do not know.

The team average sOPS+ for the position coming into 2011 is very close to the number for first base. While first base was a 96.9 average, second base is a hair below that at 96.8, a position I think will reverse at the conclusion of this season with the prowess of Dustin Ackley. While first base had a few notable players in the team history, second base basically rests entirely on the sheer insaneness of Bret Boone's monster seasons.

Perhaps some time in the future, there will be a similar spike with Ackley, but expecting that would be unfair to how ridiculously good Bret Boone was between 2001-3. In 2001, Boone posted a 153 OPS+. Just four players in the American League have a better mark than that this year and two of them are first baseman, one a DH and one a right fielder. Boone played second base and played it well.

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Comments

Maybe I missed this in one of the previous posts

But is there a baseline value for sOPS+? Is 100 league (starter) average?

by ColeFitz88 on Sep 24, 2011 11:28 AM PDT reply actions

Yes

by Jeff Sullivan on Sep 24, 2011 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Neato, thanks.

Can’t wait to see the difference between our centerfielders and our left fielders.

by ColeFitz88 on Sep 24, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm really surprised that Boone didn't get the MVP in 2001, or the Gold Glove that many people thought he desereved.

Obviously those awards don’t mean didily any more, but still.

"Tell my tale to those who ask. Tell it truly, the ill deeds along with the good and let me be judged accordingly. The rest is silence." ~ Dinobot

by beastwarking on Sep 24, 2011 12:20 PM PDT reply actions

I always thought

that Boone should have won MVP that year instead of Ichiro. Ichi had a great year, but a whole bunch of his runs scored were because Boonie drove him in. I do realize that Boone’s RBI would have been lower without Ichiro on base, but I still think it should have been Boone as MVP.

Common sense isn't.

by Bald Eagle 1313 on Sep 24, 2011 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions