Some friends and I are arguing over the legitimacy of the season Raul Ibanez had in 2009, with the pro-Ibanez fans being Phillies fans as well....what a coincidence. But the anti-Ibanez camp may have some very valid points.
Here are Ibanez's stats for 2009:
HR-34
RBI-93
Runs-93
AVG.-.272
OBP-.347
SLG-.552
OPS-.899
But lost in the really good season that Ibanez had in 2009 is the fact that he accomplished the following:
-despite increasing his GO/AO( ground out to air out %) % from 0.88 to 1.14, and increasing his K% from 15.6% to 21.1%, he increased his HR/FB% from 8.7% to 16.9%.
-his HR/FB% was the highest of his career
-his K% was the highest of his career
-his HRs, SLG and OPS was the highest of his career
Some will argue its because he hit in a hitters park-Citizens Bank Ballpark. Well, yes, but he only hit 13 of his 34 HRs at home in 2009, hitting 21 on the road. Can Ibanez duplicate his 2009 season?
A better question is how did Ibanez accomplish career highs in the power categories at the age of 37?