By Mark Martinez
When I think of the term “Lead-off Hitter,” in baseball, I automatically think of Rickey Henderson. Growing up in the 80’s, you got to see plenty of good lead-off hitters; Tim Raines, Wade Boggs, Vince Coleman, and when you got to the 90’s, you had Kenny Lofton, as well as others.The game was different back then. Speed and getting on base (OBP) were a big factor in baseball, and strategy amongst managers.
Besides Rickey Henderson, who dominates most lead-off categories in the history of baseball, you also have other guys who were really talented. Ichiro Suzuki was a left handed specialist. Ichiro had ten seasons where he had over 200 hits. Imagine if he hadn’t played his first 9 years in Japan. The All-Time Hits list might be a little different if Ichiro started in the MLB before age 27.
As the game started to change in the late 90’s, so did the lead-off hitters. Managers deliberately began putting better all around hitters in the lead-off spot, and the number two spot. The philosophy is getting your better hitters more at-bats in the later innings. In today’s game, you see it with Aaron Judge, as well as others.
Throughout history, every manager sees the game so differently, and has a different theory into turning a lineup over. Back when pitchers would hit in the National League, managers like Tony LaRussa would bat the pitcher 8th instead of 9th. I always wondered why you wouldn’t let him make the last out. The lead-off batter would then lead off again. In all honesty, the lead-off batter only really leads off once a game.
What Ronald Acuna and Mookie Betts are doing from the top spot, this season, is beyond remarkable. The mixture of power, speed, and being just pure hitters, is a rarity, especially from the top spot of the lineup. Driving in over 100 runs from the lead-off position isn’t common. Having two MVP candidates doing it in the same season may never happen again.
Acuna already has over 200 hits this season and, in my eyes, is this year’s MVP. Each statistic, between both Acuna and Betts, is very similar, with the exception of the hits. If you took either guy out of the lead-off spot, placed him 2nd to 5th in the lineup, would they have the same season?
Growing up, watching Rickey Henderson be a freak of nature until past 40, was memorable. Watching Acuna be a rare member of the 40/40 club is astounding. Being alive for every member of the 40/40 club is, secretly, an accomplishment.
Understanding the 40/40 club members is an entirely different article. Not one member of the club is in the Hall of Fame. Jose Canseco, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, and Alfonso Soriano represent speed, power, and some “substance.” Ronald Acuna is a modern day Rickey Henderson, only bigger and stronger. Never did I think I would be able to say that.