FACTS/FLUKES: Hardy, Soria, Ellsbury, Avila, Smith

Health, patience are keys to another strong year for Hardy... J.J. Hardy (SS, BAL) put together a career year in 2011 by applying the strong batting skills he'd shown in the past in conjunction with logging 500+ ABs for the first time since 2008. Even after missing a month with an oblique strain, Hardy made the most of his new home in hitter-friendly Camden Yards by posting terrific offensive numbers, particularly in terms of power:

Year     AB    BA   xBA   OPS  bb%  ct%   h%   Eye   G/L/F    HR   PX  hr/f  BPV
====    ===  ====  ====  ====  ===  ===  ===  ====  ========  ==  ===  ====  ===
2007    592  .277  .275  .786   6%  88%  28%  0.55  41/17/42  26  102   12%   62     
2008    569  .283  .275  .821   8%  83%  31%  0.53 ...

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