The RBI is a limited stat. It means more than nothing, since it does tell you about an important thing that happened in a game. But it’s not a terribly useful metric for individual analytical purposes because the raw version is completely dependent on opportunity — two equal players will have vastly different totals depending on how well their teams set them up. A higher number is good, but from the player’s standpoint there are many uncontrollable external factors that go into it than just his ability and performance.
Driving in runs requires having runners on base, but many A’s hitters have enjoyed a ton of such opportunities.