Monster Card Monday: 2018 Christian Yelich

Christian Yelich became the NL Most Valuable Player in 2018 with the Milwaukee Brewers.  My friend Rob Moore drafted him for his Chicago Highlanders in our Illowa APBA League the year after he was a rookie.  And not to take anything away from Yelich but each year, he seemed solid but in a “OBP” kind of way.  

Not in 2018.  After two years of increased power in 2016-17, Yelich broke through and had a season like none previous.  He led the NL in hitting (.326), slugging (.598), and total bases (343) for the Brewers while still playing flawless defense.  For that, he was awarded the NL MVP honor.  

Let’s start with the intangibles.  Yelich is a Fast baserunner which will score a few more runs every season.  In addition, he’s an OF-3 and that will help stop a few opposing runs as well.  

But that’s not new.  Yelich has been a F OF-3 for most of his career.  What’s different is hit numbers.  I don’t think Christian will be leading off for Rob Moore’s Highlanders next season.  

Yelich’s power number are 1-4-5-5.  Yum!  Those 5s are all the more reason to bat him a little lower.  In fact, his card is very suited for a runner on first.  He has a 25-10 to go along with his 15-11.  Not only that, his 64-22 will be converted to a hit by pitch.  

That said, Yelich could certainly serve as a leadoff man if hard pressed.  He has plenty of on-base results on his card.  I just know that finding a good OBP guy who is fast is hard to find.   

With 135 Ks, I would think that Yelich would have a lot of 13s.  He has six.  I compared him 1966 Dick Allen who struck out 136 times in 599 plate appearances (compared to Yelich’s 651 PA).  Allen has seven 13s to Yelich’s six.  

My hypothesis?  Because of the high rate of strikeouts, more pitchers in 2018 are given Xs, Ys, and Ks.  Many more of 2018 Yelich’s ground outs and fly outs are going to be converted to strikeouts than 1966 Allen’s.