What are the chances that MLB will have a Triple Crown winner for the first time in 41 years?
Not since 1967, when Boston¹s Carl Yastrzemski turned the trick, has a player led their respective league in batting average, homeruns and RBI.
We're only two months into this baseball season, so any talk of a potential Triple Crown winner, at least one that doesn¹t run on four legs, seems a tad premature, right?
Perhaps.
But if you take a closer look at the numbers put up by Texas' Josh Hamilton and Houston's Lance Berkman they figure to be in contention for the Triple Crown come September.
Hamilton currently ranks fourth in average (.324), second in HR (13) and first in RBI (58). The former first overall pick (Tampa Bay, 1999) is enjoying a breakout year with the Rangers after being sent over from the Reds in the off season (in exchange for Edinson Volquez and a minor leaguer).
This guy's an amazing story too, having overcome years of substance abuse, just to finally make it to the Majors eight years after being drafted. Sure, he's unproven. But having just turned 27 he is entering his physical prime. The talent is there, it may just be a question of dealing with the pressure and media scrutiny should he maintain this pace through the summer.
Berkman, now in his 10th season with the Astros, sits second in average (.384), tied for first in HR (17) and first in RBI (47). Berkman is attempting to become only the second switch-hitter in MLB history (Mickey Mantle, 1956) to win the Triple Crown.
The major obstacle standing in Berkman’s way appears to be Chipper Jones, who¹s hitting a godlike through Thursday.
But considering it’s been 67 years since Ted Williams became the most recent person to finish a season batting over .400, history would suggest Chipper will come back down to earth, at least enough to give Berkman a legitimate shot at the crown.
So who’s got the best shot to win the Triple Crown?
Oddsmakers give Big Brown (1-3) a much better chance in next weekend’s Belmont Stakes, than either Hamilton (25-1) or Berkman (30-1) to pull off the feat.
My money is on Berkman. How about yours?