One of the fun features of Baseball Reference.com is the "similar players" comparisons at the bottom of each player’s page. For example, we recently discovered that through the 2004 season, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts was most similar to Bret Barberie.
Yes, that Bret Barberie.
Barberie, a utility infielder with Montreal, Florida, Baltimore and the Cubs in the early to mid 1990s, played six years in the majors and hit .271-16-133 in 1,434 at-bats. Roberts ended last year at .264-12-122 in 1,502 at-bats. The major difference between the two players was in stolen bases, where Roberts topped Barberie, 73-16.
One other difference: Those numbers represent Barberie’s entire career.
Roberts, of course, is continuing his career and having a career year, batting .363 with 12 HR and 43 RBI. He has 16 SB and a .435 OBP. He ranks No. 2 in the majors in OPS with a 1.038 mark – right between Derrek Lee and Albert Pujols.
The only other middle infielder to rank in the Top 20 for OPS is Baltimore SS Miguel Tejada, who is ninth (.968).
Roberts is making $390,000 this season. Lee is making $7.7 million, Pujols $11 million, and Tejada $10.8 million. A-Rod, who is fourth in OPS, is making $25.7 million.
Bret Barberie made $958,750 with the Orioles in 1995.
Turns out that Brian Roberts is no Bret Barberie.
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