Elvis Andrus has a .321 batting average, a .421 OBP, and is leading the A.L. in sacrifice bunts, with 8.
8 sacrifices so far this season, with a guy with an OBP over .400.
That's mind-blowing.
There have been 6 players since 1980 who have had at least 8 SHs in a season where they hit over .300 and had an OBP over .400.
Robbie Alomar did it three times, with 12 sacrifices, 9 sacrifices, and 8 sacrifices. Luis Castillo had 9 sacrifices one year. Tommie Herr and Wade Boggs each had 8. Craig Biggio had 11 one year. And Brett Butler had an incredible 24 in 1992.
Elvis is on pace to end up with 32 sacrifices this season. There have been only 2 players with at least 30 sacrifices in a season since 1980 -- Jay Bell, who did it twice in the Leyland/Bonds era Pirates, in 1990 and 1991, and Felix Fermin, a terrible hitter for the 1989 Indians.
I'm flabbergasted by this. And I'm probably more frustrated by it than I otherwise would be because every time it happens, it seems to be praised by those in the media as being team-oriented, fundamental baseball, doing the little things to help the team win.
Having Elvis Andrus bunt last night with two on and nobody out isn't good, smart, fundamental baseball. It is stupid baseball, and continuing to do this throughout the season is going to cost the team runs, and games.
And it is making me crazy.