July 28, 2007
Race Over?
Photo: Allen Fredrickson/Icon SMI
Ryan Braun went 3 for 4 with a home run in a losing effort by the Brewers today. Milwaukee scored all six of their runs in the first three innings, but the Cardinals bullpen shut them down over the last six. That gave St. Louis a chance to come back, as they closed to 6-4 before scoring three off Cordero in the bottom of the ninth to win the game.
But Braun raised his batting average to .356, his OBA to .402 and his slugging percentage to .680. Although qualifying for the batting title would be difficult at this point, with the wrist injury to Hunter Pence, the field is clear for Braun to win the Jackie Robinson award for Rookie of the Year.
The batting race may end up interesting anyway. If Braun gets close enough to 502 PA, the rule that allows a player who doesn't have enough PA to win comes into effect. You give the player an 0-for the number of PA he needs to qualify, and if the resulting average would still be highest in the league, the player wins the batting title. Tony Gwynn won the batting title that way in 1996.
Posted by David Pinto at
06:27 PM
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Of course, Braun could get injured, too. But he is certainly looking like the likely winner.
Bonds won the 2006 OBP title in the same fashion.
I think Braun will get very close. Fielder is averaging 4.16 PAs per game, and he's behind Braun in the lineup. If Braun gets 4.5 PAs a game here on out, that accounts for another 252 PAs on top of his current 252. It's cutting it extremely close! Maybe my 4.5 PA/G is generous - any thoughts? In the 3 hole, he's averaging 4.96 PA/G.
