Mr. Visible and Mr. Invisible

I’m looking at the stats sheet in the morning paper. Dan Wilson is third on the Mariner team in batting average with .316 (behind Ichiro and Olerud). Where’s Boonie? Let’s see…he’s 12th with a .225 average. That’s a switch from early last season, when Wilson was more likely to occupy that 12th position.

I sit down at my computer and start clicking my mouse…MLB.com…interesting headline: “Boone needs late run for starting job.” Next stop…

All-Star AL balloting updates:

Boone, who has the worst batting average; who has the worst on-base percentage; who has the worst OPS and who has the second worst slugging percentage of the five candidates, is second in the all-star voting, just 123,381 votes behind Alfonso Soriano.

Wilson, who has the second best batting average of the five candidates; who is third in on-base percentage OPS and slugging percentage, is fifth in the voting--just 340,397 behind Jorge Posada.

It just goes to show you—fans vote for their favorite players, not necessarily the players with the best numbers of the season (and that’s okay).

Visible Man

In spite of his struggles offensively, Boone’s RBI is 45, the same as Alfonso Soriano. Defensively he is doing as well as last year. I think the feeling among the fans is that it is just a matter of time before his batting average catches up. But in the meantime, they love him anyway.

He seems to be a media favorite as well. Even when he struggles or is a non-factor in games, they often quote him. He is good at laughing at himself and helps the team keep things in perspective.

Invisible Man

Dan is having the best year, since his rookie season in 1992, in on-base percentage (.349). In slugging percentage and OPS, he only had two better seasons.

Except for some brief media talk about what an outstanding year he is having, has anyone really noticed?

Dan is used to being the invisible man. For years he played next to superstars like Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr.. He doesn’t seem to mind though—he isn’t a guy who has to be in the spotlight. "Willie" just wants to do his job. He seems more concerned about how his pitcher did and if the team won, than about his batting average.

Still it must be nice for him to know he is on the top of the heap offensively at this time when the Mariners need all the offense they can get. Maybe someone should write an article about “Dan, the Invisible Man”.

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