Doubles vs. Homers (in power hitting)

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

In the modern game of professional baseball, do you believe doubles are more difficult to get than homers?

For one, hitting a double takes a certain amount of luck. There are hundreds of factors that can influence a double, many of which are out of human control. As skilled a pro hitter is, there is no way his human brain can account for the difference in milliseconds between grounding out to the third baseman or hitting it down the foul line or hitting it into a gap. The ball must not only be placed, but it must be hit with enough power to give the batter time to reach second, but not enough to leave the park. This can prove difficult for ultra power guys, especially those who are slow.

I've noticed that most good hitters with 30+ homers usually max out at 35 doubles or so. Obviously, the more homers, the less room for doubles. What do you think? Are doubles tougher to obtain than homers when it comes to the stronger hitters?

[RaysFan_98]

In the modern game of professional baseball, do you believe doubles are more difficult to get than homers?

For one, hitting a double takes a certain amount of luck. There are hundreds of factors that can influence a double, many of which are out of human control. As skilled a pro hitter is, there is no way his human brain can account for the difference in milliseconds between grounding out to the third baseman or hitting it down the foul line or hitting it into a gap. The ball must not only be placed, but it must be hit with enough power to give the batter time to reach second, but not enough to leave the park. This can prove difficult for ultra power guys, especially those who are slow.

I've noticed that most good hitters with 30+ homers usually max out at 35 doubles or so. Obviously, the more homers, the less room for doubles. What do you think? Are doubles tougher to obtain than homers when it comes to the stronger hitters?

Doubles take a bit more speed...... But no i think HR's are still harder All you have to do to get a double or triple is drive it into the gap or shoot it down the line and BAM! you have one.

[dominik]

statistics say homers are more rare:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/bat.shtml

This year: 1.02 HRs/game, 1.73 2B/game

A 3B is harder to get than a HR but a double usually doesn't take a lot of speed (unless you are trying to stretch a long single). you just have to get it past the OFer

[SamtheBravesFan]

I have to disagree about doubles over home runs. While it takes skill to do both things and both require their own bits of luck. With a double, you don't have to crush the ball, but you have to place it right. Most players can do that.

For home runs, you have to crush the ball AND get the timing right. Otherwise it's a harmless flyball. Most players either can't or won't do that.

[White Knight]

Well, just do the math. No one has hit 73 doubles, so to me they are harder.

[four tool]

Well, just do the math. No one has hit 73 doubles, so to me they are harder.

Do all the math: single season individual totals and all player totals. did hitting homeruns become easier after 1998, when 60+ HR became much more common and someone finally hit more HR in one season than the all-time record for doubles, which is 67? How many players go for HRs rather than other hits?

[GiambiJuice]

Doubles take a bit more speed...... But no i think HR's are still harder All you have to do to get a double or triple is drive it into the gap or shoot it down the line and BAM! you have one.

Doubles have almost nothing to do with speed. Speed only matters when stretching a single into a double, and that just doesn't happen very often. The speedy guys usually hit fewer doubles than the slow powerful hitters. The speedy guys definitely hit more triples, though.

Here's a list of the top 10 batters in history in AB:double ratio. Not a lot of burners here.

Albert Pujols
David Ortiz
Todd Helton
Hank Greenberg
Chick Hafey
Lyle Overbay
John Valentin
Tris Speaker
Brad Fullmer
Dustin Pedroia

The top 10 since 2000 are:

Albert Pujols
David Ortiz
Todd Helton
Scott Rolen
Matt Holliday
Lyle Overbay
Joey Votto
Evan Longoria
Dustin Pedroia
Ryan Church

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Do all the math: single season individual totals and all player totals. did hitting homeruns become easier after 1998, when 60+ HR became much more common and someone finally hit more HR in one season than the all-time record for doubles, which is 67? How many players go for HRs rather than other hits?

In White Knight's defense, that why I labeled this thread for power hitting. Every year, more doubles are garnered than homers, but I noticed guys who hit more homers seem to hit less doubles. However, your point is very valid.

[RaysFan_98]

Doubles have almost nothing to do with speed. Speed only matters when stretching a single into a double, and that just doesn't happen very often. The speedy guys usually hit fewer doubles than the slow powerful hitters. The speedy guys definitely hit more triples, though.

Here's a list of the top 10 batters in history in AB:double ratio. Not a lot of burners here.

Albert Pujols
David Ortiz
Todd Helton
Hank Greenberg
Chick Hafey
Lyle Overbay
John Valentin
Tris Speaker
Brad Fullmer
Dustin Pedroia

The top 10 since 2000 are:

Albert Pujols
David Ortiz
Todd Helton
Scott Rolen
Matt Holliday
Lyle Overbay
Joey Votto
Evan Longoria
Dustin Pedroia
Ryan Church

Interesting thought Crawford would be in the tops.

[GiambiJuice]

Interesting thought Crawford would be in the tops.

With the notable exception of Brian Roberts, the bigtime stolen base guys haven't been bigtime doubles hitters in recent history.