Joey Votto demonstrates the team nature of runs scored and RBI perfectly in July 2015. He posted the highest OBP for the month among players with 80 PA with a .405/.549/.667 slash line. He reached base 62 times by a hit, walk or hit by pitch, but only managed to score 18 runs. He hit seven doubles and five home runs among his 34 hits, but only drove in ten runs. In 25 PA with men in scoring position, he walked nine times and was hit by a pitch once. There was little offense behind him to bring Votto around to score, and opponents took the bat out of his hands in game situations.

On the slugging side of the equation, Mike Trout and Carlos Gonzalez were neck and neck. Trout beat Gonzalez .861 to .841, and both posted very high batting averages and on-base percentages. Both scored 20 runs and drove in 24. Trout was all home runs, with 12 of his 14 extra base hits going out of the park, while Gonzalez hit 11 homers and seven doubles. Gerardo Parra is among the leaders in both slugging and OBP, and his hot streak helped his trade value. Parra scored the most runs in July, 23. Gonzalez and Trout were tied for the RBI lead with Josh Donaldson and Kendrys Morales.

Between Trout and Gonzalez, I’m going with Trout. Gonzalez hit well on the road, but slugged 1.000 at home in the month. Trout hit well both home and road. So then it comes down to Trout’s power versus Votto’s OBP. It’s very close but Trout’s 200 point advantage in OBP wins out. Mike Trout wins the Baseball Musings Offensive Player of the Month for July 2015.

Before I ran the leader board for pitcher ERA, I expected this to be a tight race between Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Scott Kazmir, however, led the majors in ERA, 0.26 to Kershaw’s 0.27. Both gave up one earned run, but Kazmir allowed an unearned run. Kershaw posted better three true outcomes, striking out batters at almost twice the rate as Kazmir. Kershaw walked just two batters and hit one, as opposed to six and one for Kazmir. Despite making one more start, Kazmir pitched just one more inning than Kershaw. Kershaw is more responsible for his low ERA, while Kazmir was more dependent on his fielders.

On the other hand, Kazmir didn’t get to face any pitchers during the month as he pitched in the American League. One of the 19 hits Kershaw allowed came off the bat of a pitcher, while Kazmir did not allow a hit to AL #9 hitters. It’s a small matter, but one that does favor Kazmir.

In the end, Kershaw’s numbers are simply more impressive, even without mention the scoreless inning streak. Clayton Kershaw wins the Baseball Musings Pitcher of the Month for July 2015!