Triple and SB Fun I - What's up with Roger Metzger?

Jayson Stark's interesting recent column on triples and stolen bases has inspired me to expand upon his research with some additional interesting findings.

More Triples than Doubles
Considering the rarity of our beloved triple, it seems impossible to hit more of them than the common double. Consider the following chart, which plots the ratio of doubles to triples since 1950...that is, the number of doubles hit for each triple.

2B/3B since 1950

Even in the fifties, there were five doubles hit for every triple. These days, that's doubled to 10 to one. That said, unsurprisingly, there have been only 22 player-seasons since 1950 (min 250 AB) in which a player achieved this feat. Here they are, and, for some context, I've included the doubles to triples ratio for the year it was done. You'll NEVER guess who done it the most.

Player Deion Sanders	Year 1992	2B 6	3B 14	Year's 2B/3B 7.76
Wes Covington	1957	4	8	5.05
Rafael Belliard	1988	0	4	7.62
Roger Metzger	1973	11	14	6.62
Roger Cedeno	2000	2	5	9.32
Lance Johnson	1994	11	14	8.16
Sonny Jackson	1969	3	5	5.71
Luis Alicea	1992	9	11	7.76
Larry Bowa	1972	11	13	6.24
Mike Felder	1987	5	7	7.59
Roger Metzger	1975	7	9	6.12
Andy Pafko	1955	3	5	4.66
Mike Phillips	1976	4	6	5.43
Craig Reynolds	1981	10	12	6.09
Craig Robinson	1974	4	6	6.15
Carlos Bernier	1953	7	8	4.82
David Hulse	1993	9	10	7.94
Jerry Lynch	1954	4	5	4.38
Tom Upton	1950	5	6	4.69
Roger Metzger	1979	7	8	6.02
Jorge Orta	1973	9	10	6.62
Fred Kendall	1972	3	4	6.24

It's not surprising that the inimitable Deion Sanders would head this list. His eight more triples than doubles is twice the second largest difference. And you've gotta love Mendoza-clone Rafael Belliard's zero double, four triple season...huh? (This is actually the only modern 250 AB season with no doubles!) But the king? Why, it's...Roger Metzger?? I can't quite explain his three appearances on the list...no one else has done this even twice! I mean, he was a stolen base threat early in his career, but...um...any ideas?

Deion and Roger appear on the career list as well. While no one has sustained such a pace over a career, these eight guys have hit more than half as many triples as doubles (min 2000 AB).

Name	2B	3B	2B/3B	3B/H	SB
Roger Metzger	101	71	1.42	7.3%	83
Lance Johnson	175	117	1.50	7.5%	327
Rodney Scott	43	26	1.65	5.2%	205
Deion Sanders	72	43	1.67	7.7%	186
Mike Felder	59	32	1.84	5.7%	161
Willie Wilson	281	147	1.91	6.7%	668
Omar Moreno	171	87	1.97	6.9%	487
Vince Coleman	176	89	1.98	6.2%	752

And just for good measure, here's the bottom of the list.

Name	2B	3B	2B/3B	3B/H	SB
Ramon Hernandez	118	1	118.00	0.2%	4
Mike Lowell	205	2	102.50	0.2%	17
Scott Servais	130	2	65.00	0.3%	3
Willie Aikens	129	2	64.50	0.3%	4
Rich Dauer	193	3	64.33	0.3%	6
Chris Hoiles	126	2	63.00	0.3%	5
Joe Oliver	174	3	58.00	0.4%	13
John Flaherty	171	3	57.00	0.4%	10
Mike Sweeney	228	4	57.00	0.4%	45
Jim Leyritz	107	2	53.50	0.3%	7
Charles Johnson	207	4	51.75	0.4%	6

What's Mike Sweeney doing on that list with a bunch of cathers? He's got a lot of doubles, and he's gotta run better than Charles Johnson! He's must be on the list of most doubles in a season without a triple.

Name	Year	2B	3B	SB
Craig Biggio	1999	56	0	28
Edgar Martinez	1995	52	0	4
Craig Biggio	2004	47	0	7
Mike Sweeney	2001	46	0	10
Shawn Green	1999	45	0	20
Jody Reed	1990	45	0	4
John Olerud	2000	45	0	0

Ah yes, there he is...but, now, what's up with Craig Biggio?? How do you hit 56 doubles, have the speed to steal 28 bases, and never manage get to third on a batted ball...even once? (a la Carlos Delgado's 2000 campaign: 57 doubles, 1 triple) Heck, teammate Mike Hampton had three triples that year! I guess that's why we love this game. (By the way, John Olerud and Frank Thomas have the most 20-plus double/zero triple seasons with seven. Which I'm sure you were wondering.)

That's it with triples for now...check back soon for some stolen base feats.