let's compare Machado and Moustakas, two AL 3rd basemen with virtually the same # of at-bats, one of whom gets HJ'd more often than RockState2000 on an Ozark bachelor party, and the other one who has been sent down once and cursed non-stop this year.
Machado: 213 at-bats: 51 hits, .239/.291/.371, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 7 doubles, 15 walks, 41 SO
Moustakas: 211 at-bats: 39 hits, .185/.250/.355, 8 HR, 30 RBI, 10 doubles, 19 walks, 35 SO
discussion topic: Moustakas has somehow been pretty freaking productive for having such a terrible BA.
and before you all say "but mocat, they are asked to do different things based on where they bat in the lineup" let me say you are only partially correct.
Machado batting order:
#2: 70%
#7: 30%
Moustakas batting order:
#6: 4%
#7: 66%
#8: 29%
#9: 1%