Best leadoff hitter in the game today

[Sooga]

Best leadoff hitter in the game? I guess I'd go with Ichiro. If you're just talking about last season, I'd go with Chone Figgins. Out of a leadoff guy, the most important stat by far is a high OBP. (at least .350) After that I'd be looking mainly for excellent speed AND excellent baserunning skills. Of course, this is all kind of moot, because some of the players I would think of to be prototypical leadoff type hitters are usually the further down in the lineup because of their power, hitters like Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, and Jason Bay.

[bugstud]

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Best leadoff hitter in the game? I guess I'd go with Ichiro. If you're just talking about last season, I'd go with Chone Figgins. Out of a leadoff guy, the most important stat by far is a high OBP. (at least .350) After that I'd be looking mainly for excellent speed AND excellent baserunning skills. Of course, this is all kind of moot, because some of the players I would think of to be prototypical leadoff type hitters are usually the further down in the lineup because of their power, hitters like Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, and Jason Bay.

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jeter had a higher obp

[Dudd]

Based on the stats in the earlier link, I'd say it would have to be either Jeter or Roberts, at least for last season. I did like the Mets batting Reyes first with a .299 OBP, just what you want in a leadoff hitter.

[Jack of Arcades]

Hey guys,

power's kinda important, too. Jetes is awesome because he hits bunches of doubles. Getting on base is great. Getting to second base is awesome.

My leadoff hitter would be simply my best hitter (by, essentially, 1.8*OBP+SLG) that hits around 20 HR or less.

[bottomset]

<font class="small">Code:</font><hr /><pre> Hey guys,

power's kinda important, too. Jetes is awesome because he hits bunches of doubles </pre><hr />

he only had 3 more than ichiro, and was 11 behind Damon, 19 behind Roberts

in fact he was in the bottomhalf of leadoff hitters in doubles

[Sooga]

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Best leadoff hitter in the game? I guess I'd go with Ichiro. If you're just talking about last season, I'd go with Chone Figgins. Out of a leadoff guy, the most important stat by far is a high OBP. (at least .350) After that I'd be looking mainly for excellent speed AND excellent baserunning skills. Of course, this is all kind of moot, because some of the players I would think of to be prototypical leadoff type hitters are usually the further down in the lineup because of their power, hitters like Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, and Jason Bay.

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jeter had a higher obp

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Hey, don't get me wrong, Jeter's a great leadoff guy... it's definitely close, but I like Figgins, especially since I'm a Halos fan.

[sublime]

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Best leadoff hitter in the game? I guess I'd go with Ichiro. If you're just talking about last season, I'd go with Chone Figgins. Out of a leadoff guy, the most important stat by far is a high OBP. (at least .350) After that I'd be looking mainly for excellent speed AND excellent baserunning skills. Of course, this is all kind of moot, because some of the players I would think of to be prototypical leadoff type hitters are usually the further down in the lineup because of their power, hitters like Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, and Jason Bay.

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jeter had a higher obp

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Hey, don't get me wrong, Jeter's a great leadoff guy... it's definitely close, but I like Figgins, especially since I'm a Halos fan.

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lol, its not close. and thats not saying anything bad about figgins, hes a solid player.

[Sooga]

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Best leadoff hitter in the game? I guess I'd go with Ichiro. If you're just talking about last season, I'd go with Chone Figgins. Out of a leadoff guy, the most important stat by far is a high OBP. (at least .350) After that I'd be looking mainly for excellent speed AND excellent baserunning skills. Of course, this is all kind of moot, because some of the players I would think of to be prototypical leadoff type hitters are usually the further down in the lineup because of their power, hitters like Bobby Abreu, Chase Utley, and Jason Bay.

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jeter had a higher obp

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Hey, don't get me wrong, Jeter's a great leadoff guy... it's definitely close, but I like Figgins, especially since I'm a Halos fan.

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lol, its not close. and thats not saying anything bad about figgins, hes a solid player.

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Eh, then we'll agree to disagree. I mean obviously Jeter's had a brilliant career so far, but he'll be 32 next year, which isn't exactly old, but it's a good bet he won't have a career year anytime soon. Figgins will be 28, which should be right in the middle of his peak years. Jeter will hit more home runs, but they'll both probably hit about .300 next year, and Figgins will have more triples (he had 17 in 2004!) and stolen bases.

If you're just asking who's the better hitter, you're right, I don't think it's close, it's Jeter by far. But if you're talking about who's the better leadoff man, it's closer than you think.

[PokerFink]

Well, if we only count the last 36 games, it would have to be...

[rwperu34]

Can't argue with Jeter. He was the best in '05. Ichiro is right up there with Jeter over the last 5 years. In an ideal world, either of those guys would bat second since they get so many hits. I think Ryan Freel gives you the best value as a leadoff hitter. If I could take one player and make him a leadoff hitter, it would be Bobby Abreu.

The basic formula is OBP + speed, baserunning more than base stealing. I'd rather not use a guy who makes up his OPB with a lot of hits, because I'd rather use that guy to bat second, possibly third. I'd also rather not have my homeruns in that spot, for obvious reasons.