Awesome stuff, Doc. Can't begin to do your kind of analysis, but here's some additional data.
Ichrio at DH:
2001-2010: 26 of 1588 games or 1.6%
April-July 2011: 4 of 106 games or 3.7%
Aug. 1-29, 2011: 5 of 26 games or 19.2%
For the 9 days from Aug. 3 to Aug. 11 he played only 4 games in the field. 2 off days, 3 DH days.
Prior to Aug. 11: .692 OPS, .292 BABIP
After Aug. 11: .782 OPS, .328 BABIP
***
Lofton never played more than 140 G/yr after age 31.
Rickey did have 148 non-DH games at 37 and 151 at 39, but those were actually more than he averaged during most of his 30s.
Biggio played 150 games in the field at 37, then 149, 141, 129, 114 for 38-41.
So the high-energy guys can produce at that age, but not 160 G/yr in the field like Ichiro was doing until this year.
Maybe it took a "forced vacation" to recharge his batteries.
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