It’s not often we see a trade like this pay immediate dividends of this magnitude. As of June 4th, most have noticed that Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers is leading the American League in all Triple Crown categories with a .331 batting average, 16 homers and a jaw-dropping 65 RBIs. In the shadows of this blockbuster deal, Edinson “Voltron” Volquez is accomplishing nearly the same feat as Hamilton on the opposite end of the spectrum.
While not getting quite as much attention as Hamilton, Edinson Volquez, the Reds’ prized piece in the off-season trade, is putting together a nice little season himself. I knew that he had been flat out dominant this season, but I couldn’t believe it when I noticed that he is leading the National League in two of the three Triple Crown Categories. With a dismal 1.46 ERA and 83 Ks, he is just a few tough luck decisions away from Brandon Webb’s league leading 10 wins. Volquez hasn’t given up more than 2 earned runs in a start all season, and there have only been two occasions all season where allowed 2 runs on his watch.
It’s tough to argue with Volquez’s Major League leading 10.99 K/9 innings, and what is being dubbed “one of the best changeups in baseball,” by his catcher Javier Valentin. It’s his changeup that is drawing comparisons to that of his hero, Pedro Martinez. In spite of all the positives he’s shown during his young career in Cincinnati, Voltron has a few more question marks surrounding his future success this season. I’m not completely buying into the theory that since Volquez pitched in winter ball, he is due to run out of gas sooner rather than later, but it remains a concern. It wouldn’t worry me nearly as much if it wasn’t paired with the fact that Dusty Baker allows Volquez’s pitch counts to consistently climb over 100. He’s reached that magic number in 8 of his last 10 starts. While we’re on it, is there any scientific baseball reasoning that causes baseball enthusiasts to cringe when they see 100 pitches vs. 99?
Barring injuries, major drop-offs or breakdowns, these two should both be in the hunt for their respective Triple Crowns. No one has ever questioned Josh Hamilton’s talent. Now that he is sober, hitting in one of the top 5 hitter-friendly parks in baseball, and batting in the heart of what is quickly becoming a great lineup, he is in great position to keep up his current numbers and contend in all three Triple Crown categories.
If it keeps up, we can expect the baseball media frenzy that always surrounds Triple Crown candidates, to follow Josh Hamilton during the later months of the season. But if Volquez does keep up his own Triple Crown pace, the frenzy would be like no other. It is already shaping up to be one of the most unique trades in recent memory, but it could turn historic when the season wraps up in September when the centerpieces of a low-profile trade make their bids toward their own separate Triple Crowns.
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