Aaron Hill toils with history
When it comes to the All-Star voting, American fans often forget about the Toronto Blue Jays. So, when the starters for this year’s American League All-Star team were announced on Sunday, it was a pleasant surprise to see Aaron Hill’s name, even though he is the league’s most deserving second baseman.
Although his numbers have sagged in recent weeks, Hill’s stats have been staggering comprehensively over the first half of the season. If you expand his numbers over a 162 game schedule (not always a good way to judge a player’s performance, I know) they would look like this:
.299 BA, 208 H, 96 R, 38 HR, 112 RBI, 6 SB
Regardless of where you play, that is a staggering offensive season. Considering that Hill is an above average defender at a defensive position, the numbers look other-worldly. But how do they shape up when compared to other great offensive seasons for historic second basemen?
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Roberto Alomar: 1993
.326 BA, 192 H, 109 R, 17 HR, 93 RBI, 55 SB
Despite the nostalgia factor for Toronto area fans, 1993 was not Alomar’s best season at the plate. That honour goes to the 1999 season while he suited up in Cleveland. Consider their ties to Canada, however, a comparison between Hill’s current campaign and Alomar’s best season as a Jay are unavoidable. Alomar, the faster player by far, gets the nod in stolen bases and runs. Hill has more power, though. In 1999 Alomar hit 24 home runs. Hill should beat that mark by quite a bit. I prefer Hill’s expanded season stats to Alomar’s here mostly based on the home run/RBI totals.
Joe Morgan: 1976
.320 BA, 151 H, 113 R, 27 HR, 111 RBI, 60 SB
This was the second of two consecutive MVP seasons for Morgan and one year in a span of seven which comprise perhaps the finest period for a second baseman ever. Some people will argue that Morgan’s season is better considering he accomplished this stat line while missing 21 games. I would argue that the fact that Hill has missed only one game this season tips the scales in Hill’s favour. You’ll notice a trend emerging: Hill doesn’t run like prototypical superstar middle infielders. What he does, though, is hit the ball out of the park. Morgan had “only” 27 HRs. Hill already has 20. It’s hard to knock an MVP season in which Morgan paced the league in a number of statistical categories but in many ways Hill is playing just as well, if not better, in 2009 than Morgan played in 1976.
Dustin Pedroia: 2008
.326 BA, 213 H, 118 R, 17 HR, 83 RBI, 20 SB
Dustin Pedroia won the MVP last year. If Hill finishes with the numbers he is on track for he still won’t finish in the top five for MVP voting. Whatever you call this injustice, the fact of the matter is that Hill is on track to nearly match Pedroia in hits and runs and has already eclipsed his home run mark. Aaron Hill is quietly working on one of the greatest seasons a two-bagger has ever enjoyed and he won’t get nearly enough credit for it. Check out the mainstream media – people are not talking about Hill. Hill’s expanded season stats, provided he maintains them, are better than Pedroia’s MVP campaign hands down.
Jeff Kent: 2000
.334 BA, 196 H, 114 R, 33 HR, 125 RBI, 12 SB
Other than the fact that Hill’s batting average and on-base percentage are lower than Kent’s, his expanded stats resemble Kent’s 2000 MVP season in a number of ways. Big power numbers, few stolen bases, lots of hits, lots of runs. Say what you will about Kent, many players do, but the man could mash. Hill is enjoying the same kind of success that Kent did 10 years ago. He will not, however, receive the same accolades. Kent’s season stats for 2000 are better than what Hill’s on track for, but not by much.
Aaron Hill still has some room for improvement when it comes to running, average and on-base percentage. On the other hand, his power so far this season is unmatched for a second baseman who fields his position so well. While he may not receive a starter’s position at this year’s All-Star Game (sitting behind Pedroia and maybe even Ian Kinsler) everyone should be able to recognize that at the halfway point of the season, Aaron Hill is putting together a campaign for the ages.
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