Quote Originally Posted by smootness View Post
This is backwards thinking. Cleanup hitters are in the best position to get RBI, which is why Markakis has so many. And leadoff hitters bat with runners on less than any other position, which is a large reason why Acuna has hit so many solo HR. Switch them in the order, and you will see Acuna hit fewer solo HR and Markakis have fewer RBI. That's just the way it works.

14 of Acuna's 25 HR this year have led off an inning. 8 of those have been leading off the 1st, but the other 6 have come in some other inning later in the game...because he leads off innings and/or bats without runners on more than any other player in the Braves lineup, not because he just has some bent toward hitting solo HR. Just like Markakis gets RBI because he hits with runners on most, not because he is more bent toward RBI.
Wl this doesn't take into consideration two things...1) maybe acuna hits the way he has been BECAUSE he's in the lead off spot 2) the mental affect those lead off homeruns have on the psyche of the team