The 1938 Season as seen through the Prism of Player Won-Lost Records
pWins over Positional Average Top 10 Players |
pWins over Replacement Level Top 10 Players |
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Player | pWins | pLosses | pWOPA | pWORL | Player | pWins | pLosses | pWOPA | pWORL | ||||
1 | Jimmie Foxx | 22.4 | 13.0 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 1 | Mel Ott | 24.5 | 17.3 | 3.3 | 5.0 | ||
2 | Mel Ott | 24.5 | 17.3 | 3.3 | 5.0 | 2 | Jimmie Foxx | 22.4 | 13.0 | 3.4 | 4.8 | ||
3 | Hank Greenberg | 23.7 | 14.5 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 3 | Hank Greenberg | 23.7 | 14.5 | 3.3 | 4.8 | ||
4 | Rudy York | 18.0 | 11.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 4 | Joe DiMaggio | 23.7 | 17.1 | 3.0 | 4.7 | ||
5 | Red Ruffing | 18.6 | 13.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 5 | Arky Vaughan | 23.7 | 18.3 | 2.8 | 4.5 | ||
6 | Joe DiMaggio | 23.7 | 17.1 | 3.0 | 4.7 | 6 | Rudy York | 18.0 | 11.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | ||
7 | Big Bill Lee | 20.3 | 15.2 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 7 | Big Bill Lee | 20.3 | 15.2 | 3.0 | 4.4 | ||
8 | Arky Vaughan | 23.7 | 18.3 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 8 | Red Ruffing | 18.6 | 13.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | ||
9 | Mel Harder | 16.9 | 12.5 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 9 | Ival Goodman | 22.1 | 16.2 | 2.5 | 4.1 | ||
10 | Bill Dickey | 15.2 | 10.1 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 10 | Joe Cronin | 21.9 | 17.2 | 2.5 | 4.0 |
eWins over Positional Average Top 10 Players |
eWins over Replacement Level Top 10 Players |
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Player | eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | eWORL | Player | eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | eWORL | ||||
1 | Mel Ott | 25.2 | 16.6 | 4.0 | 5.6 | 1 | Mel Ott | 25.2 | 16.6 | 4.0 | 5.6 | ||
2 | Jimmie Foxx | 22.1 | 13.4 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 2 | Arky Vaughan | 23.7 | 18.3 | 2.8 | 4.5 | ||
3 | Hank Greenberg | 23.4 | 14.8 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 3 | Jimmie Foxx | 22.1 | 13.4 | 3.1 | 4.5 | ||
4 | Arky Vaughan | 23.7 | 18.3 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 4 | Hank Greenberg | 23.4 | 14.8 | 3.0 | 4.5 | ||
5 | Red Ruffing | 18.0 | 13.9 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 5 | Harlond Clift | 21.2 | 15.5 | 2.6 | 4.1 | ||
6 | Harlond Clift | 21.2 | 15.5 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 6 | Joe DiMaggio | 23.0 | 17.8 | 2.4 | 4.0 | ||
7 | Joe DiMaggio | 23.0 | 17.8 | 2.4 | 4.0 | 7 | Red Ruffing | 18.0 | 13.9 | 2.6 | 3.8 | ||
8 | Rudy York | 17.1 | 12.3 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 8 | Indian Bob Johnson | 23.2 | 18.5 | 2.1 | 3.8 | ||
9 | Indian Bob Johnson | 23.2 | 18.5 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 9 | Charlie Gehringer | 21.7 | 17.8 | 2.0 | 3.6 | ||
10 | Charlie Gehringer | 21.7 | 17.8 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 10 | Joe Cronin | 21.4 | 17.6 | 2.0 | 3.6 |
pWins over Positional Average Top 10 Players |
pWins over Replacement Level Top 10 Players |
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Player | pWins | pLosses | pWOPA | pWORL | Player | pWins | pLosses | pWOPA | pWORL | ||||
1 | Jimmie Foxx | 23.0 | 13.4 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 1 | Mel Ott | 24.9 | 17.5 | 3.3 | 5.0 | ||
2 | Mel Ott | 24.9 | 17.5 | 3.3 | 5.0 | 2 | Jimmie Foxx | 23.0 | 13.4 | 3.5 | 5.0 | ||
3 | Hank Greenberg | 23.6 | 14.4 | 3.3 | 4.8 | 3 | Hank Greenberg | 23.6 | 14.4 | 3.3 | 4.8 | ||
4 | Rudy York | 17.9 | 11.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 4 | Joe DiMaggio | 23.2 | 16.8 | 3.0 | 4.6 | ||
5 | Red Ruffing | 18.2 | 13.1 | 3.1 | 4.3 | 5 | Arky Vaughan | 24.0 | 18.6 | 2.8 | 4.5 | ||
6 | Big Bill Lee | 20.3 | 15.2 | 3.0 | 4.4 | 6 | Big Bill Lee | 20.3 | 15.2 | 3.0 | 4.4 | ||
7 | Joe DiMaggio | 23.2 | 16.8 | 3.0 | 4.6 | 7 | Rudy York | 17.9 | 11.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | ||
8 | Arky Vaughan | 24.0 | 18.6 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 8 | Red Ruffing | 18.2 | 13.1 | 3.1 | 4.3 | ||
9 | Mel Harder | 17.0 | 12.6 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 9 | Ival Goodman | 22.6 | 16.5 | 2.6 | 4.1 | ||
10 | Ival Goodman | 22.6 | 16.5 | 2.6 | 4.1 | 10 | Joe Cronin | 22.5 | 17.6 | 2.5 | 4.1 |
eWins over Positional Average Top 10 Players |
eWins over Replacement Level Top 10 Players |
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Player | eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | eWORL | Player | eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | eWORL | ||||
1 | Mel Ott | 25.5 | 16.9 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 1 | Mel Ott | 25.5 | 16.9 | 4.0 | 5.7 | ||
2 | Jimmie Foxx | 22.7 | 13.7 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 2 | Jimmie Foxx | 22.7 | 13.7 | 3.2 | 4.6 | ||
3 | Hank Greenberg | 23.3 | 14.7 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 3 | Arky Vaughan | 24.1 | 18.5 | 2.9 | 4.6 | ||
4 | Arky Vaughan | 24.1 | 18.5 | 2.9 | 4.6 | 4 | Hank Greenberg | 23.3 | 14.7 | 2.9 | 4.5 | ||
5 | Red Ruffing | 17.7 | 13.6 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 5 | Harlond Clift | 21.0 | 15.3 | 2.6 | 4.0 | ||
6 | Harlond Clift | 21.0 | 15.3 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 6 | Joe DiMaggio | 22.6 | 17.5 | 2.3 | 3.9 | ||
7 | Rudy York | 17.0 | 12.3 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 7 | Red Ruffing | 17.7 | 13.6 | 2.6 | 3.8 | ||
8 | Joe DiMaggio | 22.6 | 17.5 | 2.3 | 3.9 | 8 | Indian Bob Johnson | 23.2 | 18.5 | 2.1 | 3.8 | ||
9 | Indian Bob Johnson | 23.2 | 18.5 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 9 | Joe Cronin | 22.0 | 18.1 | 2.1 | 3.7 | ||
10 | Joe Cronin | 22.0 | 18.1 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 10 | Charlie Gehringer | 21.5 | 17.7 | 2.0 | 3.6 |
Ival GoodmanBased on the above tables, the top player in the major leagues in 1938 in (normalized) context-neutral player wins over positional average and replacement level and second in pWOPA and pWORL was Cincinnati Reds right fielder Ival Goodman. Ival Goodman!? Yep, Ival Goodman.
Big Bill LeeWhile Ival Goodman's appearance in the above tables is something of a data anomaly, the appearance of Big Bill Lee is probably much more legitimate. First, I have play-by-play data for more of Lee's 1938 season: 44 of 44 games.
1938 World Series: Top Player Performances | ||||
pWins | pLosses | pWORL | ||
Red Ruffing | NYA | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
Frankie Crosetti | NYA | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
Best by Factor: Batting, Baserunning, Pitching, FieldingThere are four basic factors for which players earn Player won-lost records: Batting, Baserunning, Pitching, and Fielding. The top players in 1938 in eWOPA by factor were as follows.
Batting | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Jimmie Foxx | 17.7 | 9.8 | 3.7 |
Positional Average excludes pitcher offense
Baserunning | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Harlond Clift | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 |
Stan Hack | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 |
Joe Gordon | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Lloyd Waner | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
Red Rolfe | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 |
Lee Handley | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 |
Charlie Gehringer | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
Pete Fox | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.2 |
Lyn Lary | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
Tommy Henrich | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Billy Herman | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
Positional Average excludes pitcher offense
Pitching | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Red Ruffing | 12.7 | 10.0 | 2.7 |
Emil 'Dutch' Leonard | 12.1 | 9.4 | 2.7 |
Mel Harder | 12.9 | 10.3 | 2.6 |
Lefty Gomez | 11.8 | 9.3 | 2.5 |
Lefty Grove | 8.7 | 6.7 | 2.1 |
Thornton Lee | 13.4 | 11.4 | 2.0 |
Bill McGee | 11.1 | 9.2 | 1.9 |
Fielding, P | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Johnny Murphy | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
Johnny Rigney | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 |
Fielding, C | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Al Todd | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 |
Fielding, 1B | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Hank Greenberg | 3.0 | 2.4 | 0.5 |
Fielding, 2B | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Pep Young | 7.7 | 6.9 | 0.9 |
Fielding, 3B | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Red Rolfe | 5.4 | 4.3 | 1.1 |
Fielding, SS | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Frankie Crosetti | 8.1 | 7.2 | 0.9 |
Arky Vaughan | 8.1 | 7.2 | 0.9 |
Fielding, LF | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
George Selkirk | 4.3 | 3.3 | 0.9 |
Fielding, CF | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Vince DiMaggio | 7.4 | 6.5 | 0.9 |
Fielding, RF | |||
eWins | eLosses | Net Wins | |
Ben Chapman | 7.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 |
Best by PositionNext, we look at 1938 Major-League leaders in eWOPA by position. The figures shown here only include Player decisions earned while playing this particular position, and include no contextual adjustments (expected or actual).
Catcher | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Rudy York | 12.8 | 9.4 | 1.7 |
First Base | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Jimmie Foxx | 20.8 | 12.9 | 2.7 |
Second Base | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Charlie Gehringer | 20.7 | 17.3 | 1.8 |
Third Base | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Harlond Clift | 21.5 | 16.3 | 2.4 |
Shortstop | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Arky Vaughan | 24.1 | 18.9 | 2.7 |
Left Field | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Joe Medwick | 22.5 | 18.6 | 1.5 |
Center Field | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Joe DiMaggio | 21.2 | 16.6 | 2.0 |
Right Field | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Ival Goodman | 22.2 | 17.5 | 1.9 |
Starting Pitcher | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Red Ruffing | 13.1 | 10.2 | 1.4 |
Lefty Gomez | 12.3 | 9.7 | 1.3 |
Emil 'Dutch' Leonard | 12.4 | 9.9 | 1.2 |
Mel Harder | 12.7 | 10.3 | 1.2 |
Relief Pitcher | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Harry Eisenstat | 3.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 |
Top Relief Pitchers of 1938, based on pWORL | |||||
Player | pWins | pLosses | pWin Pct. | pWOPA | pWORL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charley Root | 8.4 | 7.4 | 0.530 | 0.7 | 1.5 |
Johnny Murphy | 6.1 | 4.9 | 0.557 | 0.8 | 1.4 |
Jack Russell | 4.5 | 3.1 | 0.590 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
Bill V. Swift | 7.8 | 7.3 | 0.517 | 0.5 | 1.3 |
Mace Brown | 7.3 | 7.0 | 0.511 | 0.3 | 1.2 |
Pitcher Offense | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Red Ruffing | 1.9 | 1.9 | 0.4 |
Clay Bryant | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.4 |
Hal Schumacher | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.4 |
Pinch Hitter | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Frenchy Bordagaray | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.4 |
Pinch Runner | |||
eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | |
Pepper Martin | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
Lou GehrigLou Gehrig played in every New York Yankees' game from June 2, 1925 through April 30, 1939. I have play-by-play data for 1865 of the 2,130 games of this remarkable streak.
Player | Games | pWins | pLosses | pWOPA | pWORL | eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | eWORL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lou Gehrig | 154 | 22.6 | 13.7 | 3.4 | 4.9 | 22.2 | 14.1 | 3.0 | 4.5 |
Player | Season | Games | pWins | pLosses | pWOPA | pWORL | eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | eWORL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harmon Killebrew | 1967 | 154 | 21.6 | 13.5 | 3.0 | 4.5 | 21.8 | 13.3 | 3.1 | 4.6 |
Willie McCovey | 1969 | 154 | 22.8 | 12.5 | 3.9 | 5.4 | 22.0 | 13.3 | 3.1 | 4.6 |
Jeff Bagwell | 1994 | 154 | 23.9 | 13.9 | 3.8 | 5.4 | 24.3 | 13.5 | 4.2 | 5.8 |
Frank Thomas | 1994 | 154 | 20.7 | 12.7 | 3.2 | 4.7 | 20.8 | 12.6 | 3.3 | 4.8 |
Mark McGwire | 1998 | 154 | 21.3 | 12.7 | 3.2 | 4.6 | 21.5 | 12.5 | 3.5 | 4.8 |
Albert Pujols | 2006 | 154 | 25.0 | 13.6 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 23.7 | 14.9 | 3.4 | 4.7 |
Charlie GehringerDetroit Tigers' second baseman Charlie Gehringer was nicknamed "The Mechanical Man" because his performance was so consistent. Over 14 seasons from 1927 through 1940, Gehringer batted over .300 every season. He batted over .320 9 times in those 14 seasons; he collected 175 or more hits 9 times; he slugged over .500 7 times. I have calculated Player won-lost records for 4 of the 14 seasons of Gehringer's prime. And somehow, I missed every season he batted over .320, every season he had 175 or more hits, and every season he slugged over .500. Gehringer's top totals for those three things in the seasons for which I have Player won-lost records were .317 (1927), 174 hits (1938), and a .486 slugging percentage (1938). I also have 3 of his 4 lowest home run totals in that 14-season stretch (although I also have his peak home run season: 20 in 1938). I have only 1 of his 7 100-RBI seasons.
Hall of Fame Second Basemen (per 154 games) | |||||||||
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Player | Games | pWins | pLosses | pWOPA | pWORL | eWins | eLosses | eWOPA | eWORL |
Charlie Gehringer | 154 | 19.0 | 17.3 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 19.4 | 16.9 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
Rogers Hornsby | 154 | 23.1 | 16.8 | 3.1 | 4.7 | 23.2 | 16.7 | 3.2 | 4.8 |
Jackie Robinson | 154 | 21.8 | 15.6 | 2.9 | 4.4 | 21.0 | 16.4 | 2.1 | 3.6 |
Joe L. Morgan | 154 | 21.7 | 17.0 | 2.7 | 4.2 | 21.5 | 17.3 | 2.4 | 4.0 |
Joe Gordon | 154 | 21.3 | 17.0 | 2.3 | 3.8 | 20.7 | 17.6 | 1.7 | 3.2 |
Bobby Doerr | 154 | 21.8 | 17.8 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 21.0 | 18.6 | 1.4 | 3.0 |
Frankie Frisch | 154 | 22.2 | 18.5 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 21.5 | 19.2 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
Tony Lazzeri | 154 | 20.4 | 17.1 | 1.8 | 3.4 | 19.8 | 17.7 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
Billy Herman | 154 | 21.7 | 18.8 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 21.0 | 19.5 | 0.9 | 2.6 |
Charlie Gehringer | 154 | 20.4 | 17.5 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 20.6 | 17.3 | 1.8 | 3.4 |
Roberto Alomar | 154 | 20.4 | 18.2 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 20.1 | 18.4 | 1.1 | 2.6 |
Ryne Sandberg | 154 | 20.5 | 18.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 20.6 | 18.0 | 1.4 | 2.8 |
Nellie Fox | 154 | 19.1 | 17.9 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 18.4 | 18.7 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
Rod Carew | 154 | 18.4 | 16.2 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 18.4 | 16.2 | 1.0 | 2.4 |
Craig Biggio | 154 | 19.4 | 17.6 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 19.3 | 17.7 | 0.9 | 2.3 |
Eddie Collins Sr. | 154 | 18.7 | 17.4 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 18.8 | 17.2 | 0.7 | 2.2 |
Red Schoendienst | 154 | 18.2 | 17.5 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 17.9 | 17.8 | 0.2 | 1.7 |
Bill Mazeroski | 154 | 17.5 | 17.6 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 17.3 | 17.8 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
Bob FellerWhen I had only calculated Player won-lost records going back to 1947, I wrote an article that looked at Player won-lost records for Hall-of-Fame players. Bob Feller showed up on the table of Hall-of-Famers, but he was toward the bottom of the list (which was sorted by career pWORL) with players who are either widely regarded as statistical mistakes or players for whom the bulk of their Hall-of-Fame case was prior to 1947. Bob Feller fell into this latter category.
Bob Feller Basic Player Won-Lost Records |
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Season | Age | Games | pWins | pLosses | pWin Pct. | pWOPA | pWORL | eWins | eLosses | eWin Pct. | eWOPA | eWORL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1936 | 17 | 13 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 0.603 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 0.513 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
1937 | 18 | 26 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 0.504 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 0.502 | 0.3 | 1.2 |
1938 | 19 | 39 | 19.7 | 16.6 | 0.543 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 0.500 | 0.4 | 1.9 |
1939 | 20 | 39 | 20.4 | 15.2 | 0.573 | 3.1 | 4.8 | 20.1 | 15.5 | 0.565 | 2.8 | 4.5 |
1940 | 21 | 43 | 25.0 | 16.6 | 0.602 | 4.9 | 6.7 | 23.9 | 17.7 | 0.574 | 3.7 | 5.5 |
1941 | 22 | 44 | 23.9 | 17.4 | 0.579 | 3.9 | 5.7 | 21.9 | 19.3 | 0.532 | 1.9 | 3.7 |
1942 | 23 | |||||||||||
1943 | 24 | |||||||||||
1944 | 25 | |||||||||||
1945 | 26 | 9 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 0.511 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 0.532 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
1946 | 27 | 48 | 27.3 | 20.0 | 0.577 | 4.3 | 6.6 | 26.1 | 21.2 | 0.551 | 3.1 | 5.4 |
1947 | 28 | 42 | 20.6 | 17.1 | 0.547 | 2.3 | 3.9 | 19.9 | 17.8 | 0.528 | 1.6 | 3.2 |
1948 | 29 | 44 | 18.9 | 18.3 | 0.509 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 18.7 | 18.5 | 0.503 | 0.5 | 2.1 |
1949 | 30 | 36 | 12.5 | 14.2 | 0.468 | -0.5 | 0.6 | 13.6 | 13.1 | 0.509 | 0.6 | 1.7 |
1950 | 31 | 35 | 16.2 | 14.0 | 0.537 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 15.5 | 14.7 | 0.513 | 0.8 | 2.2 |
1951 | 32 | 33 | 17.3 | 13.2 | 0.567 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 15.0 | 15.4 | 0.494 | 0.2 | 1.5 |
1952 | 33 | 30 | 10.5 | 12.9 | 0.449 | -0.9 | 0.2 | 11.1 | 12.3 | 0.474 | -0.3 | 0.7 |
1953 | 34 | 25 | 10.4 | 9.6 | 0.520 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 9.8 | 10.3 | 0.488 | 0.0 | 0.9 |
1954 | 35 | 19 | 10.1 | 7.5 | 0.573 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 9.0 | 8.6 | 0.512 | 0.5 | 1.3 |
1955 | 36 | 25 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 0.432 | -0.5 | -0.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 0.493 | 0.0 | 0.4 |
1956 | 37 | 19 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.323 | -0.8 | -0.5 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.462 | -0.1 | 0.1 | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ | ------ |
CAREER (reg. season) | 569 | 257.0 | 217.6 | 0.542 | 26.1 | 47.2 | 247.6 | 227.0 | 0.522 | 16.6 | 37.7 |