Friday, July 19, 2014
Hayward Thomas, Badgers Beat Writer

As this mid-summer week in an otherwise less than spectacular Kalamazoo Badgersr season began, all eyes were on Raúl García as he looked for opportunities to enter the Sovereign League record books.  The All-Star Badgers shortstop began the week a mere three stolen bases shy of 300, but the week’s six games has so far seen only one larcenous attempt.  García was thrown out by Reno Tenpinners backstop Barrett Carter while attempting a third inning steal in yesterday’s game.

Though García is temporarily denied entrance into the rarified 300 steal club, he did manage an offensive feat that he had not experienced since the 2011 season.  García cracked a round tripper!  Yes, career homer number seven!  The “shot heard ’round Kalamazoo” was no doubt aided by the brisk nine MPH wind blowing out to center as it traveled 415’ into the center field pavilion.  This rare display of muscle by García turned out to be the game-winning hit.  The Badgers went on to defeat the Omaha Cyclones 3-2 in their July 16 showdown at Portage Park.

It’s really no secret that the Badgers don’t pay García to supply the muscle in their everyday lineup, so what gives?  Probably nothing!  A quick peek into the record books reveals that Mr. García averages one big fly every 483 PA.  He’s had 3,381 PA to date – which, on average, makes this more of a once-a-year event.  Like a birthday – which, oddly enough, García celebrated just two weeks before, on July 2.

In the history of the PEBA, and including only those players that have amassed at least 3,300 career PA, only one player has a worse ratio of plate appearances to home runs!  And the dubious distinction belongs to… none other than, Duluth Warriors shortstop Miguel Cortéz.  Cortéz generates home runs at the rate of one every 518.1 PA.  Well, at least the two “sluggers” keep balls in the Great Lakes Division’s parks.

It is interesting to note that there is a wide gap between García and the #3 position for the south side of the PA/HR metric.  Bakersfield Bears catcher Gabriel Camacho averages 160.1 PA between home runs.

In what started as a beat writer’s piece on the pursuit of a baseball milestone achieved only by those swift of foot, we instead conclude with an unlikely duo joined together through some very specific mathematical computation, leaving them to endure their connection as a couple of SL sluggers that really aren’t.  But do not mistake the intent of this article as a lampooning of the boys’ masculinity and strength, dear readers.  Despite their participation in this dubious record, both Cortéz and García are All-Star-caliber players at premium positions that contribute significantly to any successes their respective teams may enjoy in many ways other than the majestic home run.