HR and RBI normally go hand-in-hand, but not batting average (BA). One reason no one has won the Triple Crown since 1967 is guys with good BA were not HR hitters (Rod Carew, Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Pete Rose, Bill Madlock, and Willie McGee).
This makes Derrek Lee's 2005 season intriguing. He is easily leading the NL batting average race, he is tied for HR lead, but Carlos Lee has a four RBI lead on Derrek Lee. With all those HR (and he leads Carlos in HR 27 to 22), that great batting average (he is even leading the NL in total hits), why isn't he leading in RBI? We need to check RBI opportunities.
First, let me explain the definition of RBI opportunities. It's the number of RBI a player would accumulate if he homered every plate appearance (PA). For example, if the bases are loaded, he has four opportunities. A PA with the bases empty counts for one opportunity. A player is not charged with any opportunity on walks, HBP, or catcher's interference, unless a run scores. Then he gets one opportunity for the one RBI.
Carlos Lee has 102 more opportunities than Derrek Lee (591 to 489). That is a huge difference! Here are the top ten NL hitters in RBI per Opportunities (minimum 100 opportunities).
Name Tm % RBI Opp
Clark,Tony Ari 15.2% 47 309
Lee,Derrek ChC 14.7% 72 489
Ensberg,Morgan Hou 13.2% 65 491
Lee,Carlos Mil 12.9% 76 591
Pujols,Albert StL 12.5% 69 553
Edmonds,Jim StL 12.4% 51 412
Niekro,Lance SF 12.3% 34 276
Delgado,Carlos Fla 12.3% 66 536
LaRoche,Adam Atl 12.1% 52 429
Greene,Todd Col 12.1% 19 157
Derrek is the second most efficient RBI guy and significantly better than Carlos. So how many RBI would Derrek have if he had Carlos’ opportunities? 87 and the Triple Crown at the All-Star break.