Really?
S Sizemore, 2011: 112 K's, .245, 11 HRs
P Polanco, 2011: 44 K's, .277, 5 Hrs
since 2009:
Raburn 295 hits, .291, .280, .256, .154 162 RBIs, 158 Runs
Polanco 507 hits, .285, .298, .277, .281 182 RBIs, 218 Runs
and we won't even mention the fielding differentials.
Triple crown stats, strikeouts, and hits?
This isn't 1940.
First, Sizemore and Polanco last season:
Sizemore .245/.342/.399 for a .741 OPS. He had a .330 wOBA, good for a 108 wRC+.
Polanco .277/.335/.339 for a .674 OPS. He also had a .304 wOBA, for a 88 wRC+.
So yeah, Polanco got on base less and hit for significantly less power. Using these raw numbers alone it's clear Sizemore was a more effective hitter.
But then you factor in Polanco did this with half his games coming in a little league ballpark while Sizemore played in Detroit and Oakland, and yeah, you get the large gap you find in their wRC+ numbes.
At the plate...Sizemore>>>Polanco.
Now for Raburn.
2009:
Raburn hit .291/.351/.533 for a .378 wOBA.
Polanco hit .285/.331/.396 for a .321 OBP.
This season isn't even close.
2010:
Raburn hit .280/.340/.474 for a .354 wOBA.
Polanco hit .298/.339/.386 for a .323 wOBA.
Once again, it's not even close.
2011:
Raburn hit 256/.297/.432 for a .314 wOBA.
Polanco hit .277/.335/.339 for a .304 wOBA.
This season is close, but Raburns power makes up for Polanco's OBP advantage.
Hey, if Polanco didn't have the power of a little leaguer he'd have an argument here, unfortunately he does, and really doesn't get on base all that much to make up for it either.