Runs Created by position - part 3

Today, I'll finish up my series of articles on runs created by position by looking at corner outfielders and designated hitters. Parts 1 and 2 covering all the other positions can be found here:

Part 1
Part 2

Carlos Quentin was the runs created per game leader among AL left fielders with 7.2 RC/G. Manny Ramirez had 6.9 RC/G before being traded to the NL and Johnny Damon had 6.6.
Marcus Thames finished 10th in the league with 4.7 RC/G in 342 plate appearances. Matt Joyce did not have the 300 plate appearances needed to qualify for the table but he finished at 5.6 RC/G in 277 PA. The plan right now is for Carlos Guillen (5.9 RC/G in 2008) to play left field in 2009. He has averaged 6.5 RC/G over the past three years but is getting older and more brittle.

Table 1: Runs Created by AL left fielders in 2008

Rank	Player	Team	PA	RC/G	RC
1	Quentin	CHA	569	7.2	97
2	Ramirez	BOS	425	6.9	69
3	Damon	NYA	623	6.6	99
4	Cust	OAK	598	6.4	90
5	Ibanez	SEA	707	6.1	107
6	DeJesus	KC	577	5.9	85
7	Scott	BAL	536	5.3	72
8	Anderson	LAA	593	5.0	77
9	Francisco	CLE	499	4.9	63
10	Thames	DET	342	4.7	44
11	Lind	TOR	349	4.7	43
12	Young	MIN	623	4.6	75
13	Crawford	TB	482	4.6	59
14	Boggs	TEX	334	4.5	38
15	Brown	OAK	438	3.6	43
16	Payton	BAL	364	3.4	34

After creating an amazing 10 runs per game in 2007, Magglio Ordonez dropped back to 6.0 RC/G in 2008. Now in his mid thirties, another year like 2008 would be satisfactory in 2009. The AL leaders were the surprising Shin-Soo Choo (7.7), Nick Markakis (7.2) and JD Drew (7.1).

Table 2: Runs Created by AL right fielders in 2008

Rank	Player	Team	PA	RC/G	RC
1	Choo	CLE	370	7.7	65
2	Markakis	BAL	697	7.2	115
3	Drew	BOS	456	7.1	74
4	Span	MIN	411	6.3	62
5	Abreu	NYA	684	6.1	103
6	Suzuki	SEA	749	6.0	110
7	Guerrero	LAA	600	6.0	92
8	Ordonez	DET	623	6.0	94
9	Dye	CHA	645	5.9	96
10	Sweeney	OAK	433	5.1	56
11	Rios	TOR	687	5.1	92
12	Murphy	TEX	454	5.0	59
13	Hinske	TB	432	5.0	56
14	Gross	TB	345	5.0	44
15	Teahen	KC	623	4.4	71
16	Guillen	KC	633	4.0	70
17	Matthews Jr.	LAA	477	3.9	49
18	Gutierrez	CLE	440	3.8	45

One reader asked whether Gary Sheffield had the lowest RC/G among designated hitters. He wasn't the worst but the once fearsome slugger finished only 8th out of 11 regular DHs. Sheffield can still hit when healthy (6.5 RC/G in 2007) but his age (he'll be 40 next season) and injury history make it unlikely he'll stay injury free. The leading designated hitters were Milton Bradley (8.4), Aubrey Huff (7.0) and David Ortiz (6.0).

Table 3: Runs Created by AL designated hitters in 2008

Rank	Player	Team	PA	RC/G	RC
1	Bradley	TEX	510	8.4	94
2	Huff	BAL	661	7.0	111
3	Ortiz	BOS	491	6.0	72
4	Matsui	NYA	378	5.7	52
5	Thome	CHA	602	5.6	83
6	Kubel	MIN	517	5.3	70
7	Stairs	TOR	368	4.4	42
8	Sheffield	DET	482	4.0	52
9	Butler	KC	478	4.0	51
10	Dellucci	CLE	375	3.8	39
11	Vidro	SEA	330	3.2	29