Whatever You Say
It has been claimed that one cannot compare baseball players from different eras, which is a claim that is absolutely correct, but it goes much further. Not only can't we accurately compare players from different eras, we can't even compare players from the same era or from the same season. All we can do is draw imprecise conclusions that are full of variables that cannot be controlled. This doesn't mean we may be wrong if we conclude that in 2004 Carlos Delgado was a better player than Jason Giambi, but it does mean that even when two players have virtually the same offensive season, such as A.J. Pierzynski and Ichiro Suzuki in 2003, there are so many uncontrolled variables that attempting to conclude who was the better hitter is an exercise in futility that is fun to attempt.
Let us compare Pierzynski's and Suzuki's 2003 season. Each batted .312. Pierzynski hit 11 home runs while Ichiro hit 13 home runs. Pierzynski had 35 doubles and 3 triples compared to Ichiro's 29 doubles and 8 triples. Pierzynski's slugging average was .464 while Ichiro's was .436.
In 2003, Pierzynski played for Minnesota, a team whose home is the Metrodome, which as its name indicates, is a domed stadium that had an Astroturf surface. Ichiro played for Seattle at Safeco Field, which has a retractable roof and a natural grass field. Playing indoors in a controlled environment eliminates weather elements such as wind, precipitation, humidity, and sun glare.
In 81 home games, weather factors never affected Pierzynski. Ichiro's home park provided an indoor environment when the retractable roof was closed but there were many games when the roof was partially or completely retracted to provide outdoor conditions.
Astroturf creates a fast field. The defense can play deeper than on grass because ground balls lose speed more slowly on Astroturf than they do on grass. How many ground balls did Pierzynski hit that got through the infield because the Astroturf didn't slow them down? How many ground balls did he hit that would have gotten through for hits if the infielder weren't playing so deep? How many times did Pierzynski beat out a slowly hit grounder that would have been an out if the infielders were playing at normal depth instead of playing deep because of the surface?
Ichiro plays on grass. He is one of baseball's fastest players who is an excellent bunter and who hits many balls into the outfield gaps. It is easier to bunt on grass than on Astroturf because it is easier to "deaden" the ball on grass since the ball loses speed more quickly on grass. Infielders can guard against a bunt more effectively on grass than on Astroturf because they can play in closer on grass. If the batter swings away instead of bunting, there is a much greater chance of getting a ground ball past a drawn in fielder when playing on Astroturf. Pierzynski does not bunt much so the Astroturf is no advantage in this aspect of his game but Astroturf would hinder Ichiro when he bunted and it would help him when he didn't because the threat of the bunt forces infielders to play in closer, making it easier for ground balls to get through for hits.
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