Behind door #12 we find...Mike Cameron!
via mlb.mlb.com
Let me preface this with a disclaimer. In the grand scheme of assessing a hitter's value, strikeouts are pretty irrelevant. Cameron posted an OPS+ of 110 last season, and has posted an OPS+ over 100 in 11 of the last 12 seasons. But man, he strikes out a lot.
Cameron struck out 142 times in 2008 in just 444 ABs (508 PAs), or once every 3.6 trips to the plate. He's also collected 100 K's in 11 of the last 12 seasons, and has amassed 1642 in his career. That's notable for two reasons:
- He has significantly more career strikeouts (1642) than hits (1474).
- He's #7 among active players in career strikeouts:
Player | K |
Sammy Sosa | 2306 |
Jim Thome | 2190 |
Carlos Delgado | 1725 |
Ken Griffey, Jr. | 1682 |
Jim Edmonds | 1669 |
Manny Ramirez | 1667 |
Mike Cameron | 1642 |
Sammy Sosa hasn't played in the big leagues since 2007, but also has not officially retired. Griffey is also unsigned for 2009 but appears to intend to play.