How much are the padres missing Mike Cameron right now?
I own Cameron on a number of rosters this season, and while yes, the batting average is hard to swallow, Cameron is hitting homeruns, stealing bases, and basically producing in the other major categories. Unless of course, you play in a strikeout league.
The National League is seeing some terrific performances from a few center fielders this season. Nate McLouth got to his first all-star game with a great first half, while Rick Ankiel has continued to write the script for a Hollywood movie with his successful comeback.
And, of course, there’s Carlos Beltran, flying under the radar as a star who no one ever talks about.
But unless you live in Milwaukee, you might not realize that Mike Cameron is quietly putting together another pretty terrific season himself. Yes, he’s hitting .235, so if you’re stuck on batting average, he’s not the player for you.However, he does so many other things well that the batting average simply doesn’t tell the story.
Cameron’s .825 OPS is built upon a lot of power - he’s hit 15 home runs in just 226 at-bats, obviously quite happy to be liberated from Petco Park, where he spent the last two years. The low average is somewhat offset by a solid walk rate, giving him a .330 on base percentage that’s more than respectable considering his power and the position he plays.
