BBTF's Dialed In Discussion :: American League Leaders at the All-Star Break (Offense Plus Defense)

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

American League Leaders at the All-Star Break (Offense Plus Defense)

With the season at a break, we can get a snapshot of where players are performing thusfar, and see how they are helping, or hurting their team. the data here is “runs against average”. The offense is calculated using Extrapolated Runs, but the number I have will approximate any run formula - RC, LW, EQR. The Defense is converting Zone Rating to runs (as you can read about here). The run values are very close to MGL’s UZR (usually). the definition of “Position” is the innings at which a player has played the most. Yes, Ichiro is back playing RF, but he’s played the most in CF, and thus that is where he “counts” at the mid-point of the season.

First Base

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    youkilis    kevin    BOS    1B    88    328    17.6    6.6    24.1
AL    morneau    justin    MIN    1B    95    365    21.3    0.2    21.5
AL    giambi    jason    NYY    1B    83    261    20.7    -1.7    19.0
AL    cabrera    miguel    DET    1B    92    348    12.2    3.3    15.4
AL    huff    aubrey    BAL    1B    90    348    16.0    -1.7    14.3
AL    pena    carlos    TBR    1B    73    267    6.5    -1.7    4.8
AL    overbay    lyle    TOR    1B    92    308    -0.4    1.6    1.2
AL    millar    kevin    BAL    1B    89    322    0.6    0.3    0.9
AL    kotchman    casey    LAA    1B    90    330    -2.8    2.7    -0.2
AL    catalnotto    frank    TEX    1B    66    182    -1.5    0.4    -1.1
AL    barton    daric    OAK    1B    89    277    -8.1    6.5    -1.6
AL    konerko    paul    CHW    1B    68    253    -7.6    -0.7    -8.4
AL    sexson    richie    SEA    1B    74    252    -4.0    -5.8    -9.8
AL    garko    ryan    CLE    1B    84    291    -7.2    -4.4    -11.6
AL    gload    ross    KCR    1B    78    235    -9.3    -2.5    -11.8
AL    butler    billy    KCR    1B    67    233    -13.8    -1.1    -14.9

It is pretty clear that the Royals are completely lost at first base. That’s got to be below replacement level. Fortunately plenty of the AL Central chooses not to field a good player at this “difficult to fill” position. kevin Youkilis is really having an underrated season, and being a good glove helps him. He could win the rare second Gold Glove.

Second Base

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    kinsler    ian    TEX    2B    93    398    29.7    -3.1    26.6
AL    roberts    brian    BAL    2B    91    362    18.9    -3.3    15.6
AL    ellis    mark    OAK    2B    85    328    -0.7    13.7    13.0
AL    pedroia    dustin    BOS    2B    95    395    6.7    1.2    7.9
AL    casilla    alexi    MIN    2B    52    200    4.7    -0.6    4.1
AL    kendrick    howie    LAA    2B    50    187    2.5    -1.0    1.5
AL    grudz'lnek    mark    KCR    2B    74    288    0.6    0.4    1.0
AL    ramirez    alexei    CHW    2B    69    231    -0.6    0.8    0.1
AL    polanco    placido    DET    2B    83    334    0.5    -1.1    -0.6
AL    iwamura    akinori    TBR    2B    89    368    2.9    -4.0    -1.1
AL    carroll    jamey    CLE    2B    68    213    -2.6    0.9    -1.6
AL    hill    aaron    TOR    2B    55    205    -5.7    -0.1    -5.8
AL    cano    robinson    NYY    2B    93    346    -16.5    6.6    -9.9
AL    cabrera    asdrubal    CLE    2B    52    158    -13.7    1.9    -11.8
AL    lopez    jose    SEA    2B    92    379    -2.6    -9.8    -12.4

Ian Kinsler is clobbering the AL second basemen. Yes, these are park-adjusted. Mark Ellis is dominating the fielding again. Robinson Cano’s offense is terrible, but that isn’t knews to the Yankee fans. I suspect Kinsler will regress in the second half, but he’s got a great headstart.

Third Base

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    rodriguez    alex    NYY    3B    75    279    25.7    -0.3    25.4
AL    rolen    scott    TOR    3B    70    255    3.0    12.7    15.7
AL    beltre    adrian    SEA    3B    92    352    6.9    7.8    14.6
AL    lowell    mike    BOS    3B    79    290    8.4    5.6    14.0
AL    longoria    evan    TBR    3B    84    306    14.9    -1.3    13.6
AL    guillen    carlos    DET    3B    86    324    6.1    5.3    11.4
AL    figgins    chone    LAA    3B    58    222    0.1    7.5    7.5
AL    vazquez    ramon    TEX    3B    69    216    8.0    -2.3    5.8
AL    inge    brandon    DET    3B    54    150    -0.9    4.6    3.7
AL    blake    casey    CLE    3B    87    301    8.0    -6.3    1.7
AL    crede    joe    CHW    3B    86    296    -0.6    2.1    1.5
AL    hannahan    jack    OAK    3B    87    266    -3.2    -3.8    -7.1
AL    mora    melvin    BAL    3B    87    326    -12.7    0.5    -12.3
AL    gordon    alex    KCR    3B    93    356    -2.9    -11.0    -13.9
AL    lamb    mike    MIN    3B    65    209    -13.8    -7.4    -21.2

All that hard work from Morneau is just being given away by Mike Lamb. And Alex Gordon - how does the idea of first base sound? It’s not like the Royals have anyone over there. Scott Rolen seems to be healthy again. And of course, Alex Rodriguez is a stud. Even missing a few weeks.

Shortstop

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    young    michael    TEX    SS    91    391    14.4    -2.5    11.9
AL    cabrera    orlando    CHW    SS    94    385    4.7    6.7    11.4
AL    aybar    erick    LAA    SS    60    216    3.8    5.0    8.7
AL    peralta    jhonny    CLE    SS    87    341    7.6    0.7    8.3
AL    jeter    derek    NYY    SS    88    352    6.4    1.6    8.0
AL    scutaro    marco    TOR    SS    83    276    4.5    2.0    6.5
AL    izturis    maicer    LAA    SS    66    240    1.2    4.3    5.5
AL    eckstein    david    TOR    SS    60    212    3.1    -2.6    0.5
AL    lugo    julio    BOS    SS    82    261    0.6    -1.2    -0.7
AL    bartlett    jason    TBR    SS    77    273    -4.8    3.2    -1.6
AL    crosby    bobby    OAK    SS    84    331    2.0    -3.9    -1.9
AL    betancourt    yuni    SEA    SS    90    326    -5.6    3.2    -2.3
AL    harris    brendan    MIN    SS    84    298    2.8    -7.0    -4.2
AL    renteria    edgar    DET    SS    82    307    -5.9    -3.1    -8.9
AL    pena    tony    KCR    SS    65    181    -18.0    2.3    -15.7

Wow, the Royals are terrible. Look! There’s Derek Jeter not stinking it up with the glove! Remember, this is a small sample at this point in the season. These numbers can, and will, move by the end of the season. It’s a fairly tight group, with no team really gaining a big advantage. If Jeter starts hitting, and maintains his defense, the Yankees could catch some people.

Catcher

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    mauer    joe    MIN    C    85    301    20.9    4.3    25.2
AL    navarro    dioner    TBR    C    69    245    5.1    5.1    10.2
AL    olivo    miguel    KCR    C    55    196    2.1    7.4    9.5
AL    rodriguez    ivan    DET    C    73    271    2.7    5.6    8.3
AL    laird    gerald    TEX    C    51    183    5.4    1.5    6.9
AL    suzuki    kurt    OAK    C    86    317    0.7    4.5    5.3
AL    barajas    rod    TOR    C    60    191    3.0    1.9    4.9
AL    martinez    victor    CLE    C    54    198    -3.5    7.0    3.5
AL    zaun    gregg    TOR    C    57    168    2.7    -0.1    2.6
AL    molina    jose    NYY    C    58    164    -10.6    11.9    1.2
AL    shoppach    kelly    CLE    C    57    165    2.9    -3.2    -0.4
AL    pierzynski    a.j.    CHW    C    78    310    3.2    -6.3    -3.1
AL    mathis    jeff    LAA    C    53    162    -0.9    -2.3    -3.2
AL    posada    jorge    NYY    C    49    162    3.3    -9.5    -6.2
AL    buck    john    KCR    C    66    227    -2.3    -4.1    -6.4
AL    hernandez    ramon    BAL    C    78    269    -3.2    -4.1    -7.3
AL    varitek    jason    BOS    C    78    257    -8.7    -1.4    -10.1
AL    johjima    kenji    SEA    C    70    240    -12.4    -0.4    -12.8

The M&M Boys in the Twin Cities are just great players. I think they may come back and win that division. ‘Tek may be done. I like the balance of Posada and Molina’s defense. Ivan Rodriguez is having a decent season, and all you hear is how bad that team has performed.

Left Field

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    damon    johnny    NYY    LF    82    313    13.2    1.3    14.5
AL    dejesus    david    KCR    LF    80    310    7.6    3.7    11.3
AL    cust    jack    OAK    LF    90    292    12.4    -1.7    10.6
AL    francisco    ben    CLE    LF    63    235    6.0    3.4    9.4
AL    scott    luke    BAL    LF    86    272    4.8    4.6    9.4
AL    quentin    carlos    CHW    LF    91    337    14.5    -6.5    8.0
AL    thames    marcus    DET    LF    64    185    8.4    -1.7    6.7
AL    matsui    hideki    NYY    LF    69    251    9.9    -4.5    5.4
AL    ramirez    manny    BOS    LF    90    328    13.5    -8.6    4.9
AL    crawford    carl    TBR    LF    88    366    -5.1    10.0    4.9
AL    anderson    garret    LAA    LF    85    327    -7.4    7.2    -0.3
AL    payton    jay    BAL    LF    81    181    -6.2    5.0    -1.2
AL    boggs    brandon    TEX    LF    54    176    -1.0    -0.4    -1.3
AL    stairs    matt    TOR    LF    75    229    -2.3    0.8    -1.5
AL    guillen    jose    KCR    LF    92    366    -7.0    0.8    -6.2
AL    ibanez    raul    SEA    LF    95    370    1.9    -8.3    -6.4
AL    stewart    shannon    TOR    LF    52    175    -9.3    0.4    -8.9
AL    young    delmon    MIN    LF    87    339    -6.6    -3.3    -10.0
AL    matthews    gary    LAA    LF    89    311    -12.2    1.0    -11.2
AL    dellucci    david    CLE    LF    76    221    -8.0    -4.0    -12.0

Johnny Damon. Really. Want a list of teams that could have used Barry Bonds this season? All the ones with left fielders not as good as Johnny Damon. That is a terrible set of left fielders. to be more fair, Manny’s defense is probably only half as bad as that -8.6, so he could be 4 runs better - or, about as good as Luke Scott. That’s got to be worth $20 million.

Center Field

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    sizemore    grady    CLE    CF    91    362    25.3    7.4    32.7
AL    hamilton    josh    TEX    CF    93    377    22.7    -3.7    19.0
AL    grandersn    curtis    DET    CF    73    277    9.2    1.9    11.1
AL    suzuki    ichiro    SEA    CF    95    391    8.3    -2.4    6.0
AL    jones    adam    BAL    CF    93    331    -3.2    8.5    5.3
AL    upton    b.j.    TBR    CF    90    330    8.3    -3.1    5.3
AL    sweeney    ryan    OAK    CF    68    206    1.0    0.1    1.1
AL    swisher    nick    CHW    CF    93    318    -3.8    2.5    -1.3
AL    ellsbury    jacoby    BOS    CF    88    323    0.1    -1.9    -1.7
AL    wells    vernon    TOR    CF    64    254    -1.4    -3.9    -5.3
AL    hunter    torii    LAA    CF    90    342    -2.1    -3.5    -5.6
AL    cabrera    melky    NYY    CF    92    323    -13.5    7.3    -6.2
AL    byrd    marlon    TEX    CF    59    175    -5.2    -1.1    -6.3
AL    gomez    carlos    MIN    CF    89    379    -16.6    9.0    -7.6
AL    gathright    joey    KCR    CF    78    235    -12.8    0.4    -12.3
AL    crisp    coco    BOS    CF    71    212    -5.0    -8.1    -13.0

Josh Hamilton got some well deserved love last night. But Grady Sizemore is looking like the MVP. He’s hitting and fielding. If he could get a little more help, maybe they could dig out of that hole. Okay, it’s too late, but Grady is earning some hardware. Hey, there is a Royal down at the bottom. they aren’t good, you say? Nick Swisher has also played quite a bit of first base for the White Sox. He’s a poor defender there, so his overall contribution is somewhat less than I am saying here.

Right Field

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    bradley    milton    TEX    RF    80    269    26.0    -1.0    25.0
AL    markakis    nick    BAL    RF    92    354    15.8    2.5    18.2
AL    drew    j.d.    BOS    RF    81    278    18.1    -4.4    13.8
AL    ordonez    magglio    DET    RF    80    300    4.5    3.5    8.0
AL    dye    jermaine    CHW    RF    89    343    10.4    -4.2    6.2
AL    hinske    eric    TBR    RF    79    236    4.9    -2.8    2.2
AL    murphy    david    TEX    RF    91    352    -2.7    2.6    -0.2
AL    guerrero    vladimir    LAA    RF    87    329    0.1    -1.8    -1.7
AL    kubel    jason    MIN    RF    82    271    1.6    -3.3    -1.7
AL    rios    alex    TOR    RF    89    362    -8.7    5.9    -2.8
AL    teahen    mark    KCR    RF    91    341    -8.7    4.0    -4.7
AL    gutierrez    frank    CLE    RF    75    213    -18.9    11.9    -6.9
AL    brown    emil    OAK    RF    79    290    -13.5    3.6    -9.9
AL    cuddyer    michael    MIN    RF    62    234    -9.1    -3.7    -12.9
AL    abreu    bobby    NYY    RF    92    358    -3.5    -16.8    -20.4

Wonder who the culprit is on the Yankees’ team? Look no further, Mr. Kim, I’m your man. Abreu isn’t catching anything. At this point in the season it is difficult to miss that many balls. One of the pleasant surprises, for me anyway, was Franklin Gutierrez. Why, you ask? Because of his defense. He showed up last year as a really good fielder, and I’m glad to see that continue. There is Michael Cuddyer ruining the Twins playoff chances - or at least doing his part in that. Quietly, Nick Markakis is outstanding in Baltimore. And then Milton Bradley. I’d love to see him push out in the second half and get some MVP consideration.

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    thome    jim    CHW    DH    87    285    12.7    0.0    12.7
AL    ortiz    david    BOS    DH    54    210    3.6    0.0    3.6
AL    hafner    travis    CLE    DH    46    157    -2.3    0.0    -2.3
AL    sheffield    gary    DET    DH    55    198    -7.6    0.0    -7.6
AL    vidro    jose    SEA    DH    72    261    -15.4    0.0    -15.4

If I were concerned about the MVP, I wouldn’t just make zeroes for defense, but here, it gives you an account of what they are doing. Bonds would be dogging all these players as well.

Top Fourteen

LG    Player    FirstName    Team    pos    g    ab    Xra+AA    DRS    OPD
AL    sizemore    grady    CLE    CF    91    362    25.3    7.4    32.7
AL    kinsler    ian    TEX    2B    93    398    29.7    -3.1    26.6
AL    rodriguez    alex    NYY    3B    75    279    25.7    -0.3    25.4
AL    mauer    joe    MIN    C    85    301    20.9    4.3    25.2
AL    bradley    milton    TEX    RF    80    269    26.0    -1.0    25.0
AL    youkilis    kevin    BOS    1B    88    328    17.6    6.6    24.1
AL    morneau    justin    MIN    1B    95    365    21.3    0.2    21.5
AL    giambi    jason    NYY    1B    83    261    20.7    -1.7    19.0
AL    hamilton    josh    TEX    CF    93    377    22.7    -3.7    19.0
AL    markakis    nick    BAL    RF    92    354    15.8    2.5    18.2
AL    rolen    scott    TOR    3B    70    255    3.0    12.7    15.7
AL    roberts    brian    BAL    2B    91    362    18.9    -3.3    15.6
AL    cabrera    miguel    DET    1B    92    348    12.2    3.3    15.4

That’s a pretty good All-Star team - just stick ARod at short.

Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 01:03 PM | 78 comment(s)
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1. Scott Kazmir's breaking balls Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:00 PM (#2857166)

I thought Dustin Pedroia would be a little higher on the list. Like you said, small sample size.
Will you be posting NL players? Thanks.

2. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:02 PM (#2857169)

Yes, I am working on those and should post them tomorrow.

3. AROM Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:09 PM (#2857183)

Interesting how the wealthy Angel outfield is being dramatically outperformed by their cheap young infield.

Good job, Chris, too bad the formatting is crap. I don't know how to do any better, anyone have suggestions?

4. The Good Face Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:15 PM (#2857196)

Abreu is worse than any other defender in the AL by at least 8 runs at the break?!?

5. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:16 PM (#2857198)

Good job, Chris, too bad the formatting is crap. I don't know how to do any better, anyone have suggestions?

Dan can fix it, and I have emailed him to do so. I tried to copy it into notepad etc., but it just doesn't work for me.

6. Will Young Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:16 PM (#2857199)

Delmon Young sucks.

7. Cris E Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:20 PM (#2857207)

Since mid-June Lamb has been all but benched in favor of a couple rookies and another round of Nick Punto That Hits (vs The Nick Punto That Can't Hit). There's also been a lot of talk during Cuddyer's second trip to the Dl that Span could replace him. That's a little far-fetched for two reasons: Span's playing way over his head and Cuddy is a very familiar, friendly face in town. The Twins would catch some heck if they moved him for anything short of a very obvious step up in some other area.

8. Cris E Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:25 PM (#2857211)

And Delmon Young sucks. OK, he's also lowercase young so he may right himself soon, but geez it's a little hard to watch some of those ABs.

Actually the top names are a pretty young group. That's good to see, plus they aren't all Yanks and Red Sox. It's good to see teams like TEX and BAL getting good ink every once in a while.

9. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:25 PM (#2857212)

How can Gathright be so fast and be so awful?

10. The Milton Bradley Effect (Voxter) Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:30 PM (#2857218)

How can Gathright be so fast and be so awful?

But he's a hall-of-famer when it comes to jumping over stuff!

11. The Buddy Biancalana Hit Counter Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:31 PM (#2857219)

How can Gathright be so fast and be so awful?

Bloomquistian power and his walk rate is down. Though he has a good year (for him) as a base stealer. I guess things could be worse.

12. ekogan Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:31 PM (#2857220)

There's something strange with Boston's outfield defense.
JD Drew at -4.4, Ellsbury at -1.9, Crisp at -8.1 and Manny at -8.6.
And yet subjectively, all of them except Manny look like plus defenders.

13. The Milton Bradley Effect (Voxter) Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:35 PM (#2857225)

I've heard of Fenway's LF producing consistently wonky defensive stats, but not of the other fields. It doesn't look right, though.

14. DCW3 * Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:36 PM (#2857228)

These numbers have Longoria as a below-average defender, but, according to FRAA, he's pretty much Brooks Robinson (11 runs above average in 84 games). And FRAA has Sizemore as a terrible defender (-9). I know FRAA is crap, but it's still amazing to me how two systems can come to such wildly different conclusions.

15. Cris E Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:39 PM (#2857233)

Crisp is a rousing -8.1 in the field as well. It's stuff like this that makes me scoff at most defensive numbers. Someday they may turn out to be as robust as offensive numbers, but that's still in the future.`

16. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:43 PM (#2857239)

WRT Fenway, it's the number and nature of the chances right now. One reason MGL doesn't like posting things like this is that people (not saying you are) overreact to a poor number.

I've never been that impressed with Crisp visually. I think Ellsbury is pretty good, but not that great.

17. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:43 PM (#2857240)

Team    pos    XR+aa    DRS    OPD
BAL    1B    15.5    -1.4    14.1
    2B    18.9    -4.3    14.6
    3B    -12.9    0.6    -12.3
    C    -8.1    -3.2    -11.3
    CF    -3.2    7.6    4.3
    LF    -1.4    9.6    8.2
    RF    16.7    1.9    18.5
    SS    -18.0    -1.6    -19.6
BAL Total        7.5    9.1    16.6
BOS    1B    21.7    6.7    28.3
    2B    6.7    0.7    7.4
    3B    7.1    5.1    12.2
    C    -10.6    -3.7    -14.3
    CF    -5.1    -13.5    -18.6
    DH    3.6    0.0    3.6
    LF    11.9    -12.3    -0.4
    RF    19.3    -5.5    13.8
    SS    0.9    -4.4    -3.5
BOS Total        55.4    -26.9    28.6
CHW    1B    -8.4    -1.7    -10.1
    2B    -9.4    3.1    -6.3
    3B    -4.8    1.6    -3.2
    C    4.0    -6.9    -2.9
    CF    -7.1    1.2    -5.9
    DH    12.7    0.0    12.7
    LF    14.5    -6.6    7.8
    RF    11.2    -4.3    6.9
    SS    4.7    6.4    11.1
CHW Total        17.4    -7.3    10.1
CLE    1B    -9.3    -4.4    -13.7
    2B    -17.2    3.5    -13.7
    3B    -1.1    -7.6    -8.7
    C    0.7    1.5    2.2
    CF    25.2    8.2    33.4
    DH    -2.3    0.0    -2.3
    LF    -6.3    -3.8    -10.0
    RF    -19.1    11.0    -8.1
    SS    7.6    1.6    9.2
CLE Total        -21.7    10.1    -11.6
DET    1B    8.4    1.3    9.7
    2B    -0.1    -4.9    -5.1
    3B    5.2    4.3    9.5
    C    0.5    3.8    4.2
    CF    9.1    1.8    10.9
    DH    -7.6    0.0    -7.6
    LF    6.7    6.0    12.7
    RF    5.3    6.6    11.8
    SS    2.6    -3.6    -1.0
DET Total        30.0    15.2    45.3
KCR    1B    -24.5    -4.0    -28.5
    2B    -10.3    -1.6    -12.0
    3B    -2.9    -12.9    -15.8
    C    0.3    -0.4    -0.2
    CF    -12.8    -1.1    -14.0
    LF    0.6    0.9    1.6
    RF    -7.8    1.0    -6.8
    SS    -13.0    4.2    -8.8
KCR Total        -70.4    -14.1    -84.4
LAA    1B    -4.1    3.5    -0.6
    2B    -3.2    -2.7    -5.9
    3B    -17.4    2.4    -14.9
    C    5.5    -4.9    0.7
    CF    -2.2    -2.5    -4.7
    LF    -28.4    10.2    -18.3
    RF    1.0    -4.6    -3.7
    SS    5.0    9.9    14.9
LAA Total        -43.8    11.4    -32.4
MIN    1B    20.3    0.4    20.6
    2B    4.7    -3.5    1.2
    3B    -11.6    -6.7    -18.4
    C    19.2    3.2    22.4
    CF    -21.1    6.2    -14.9
    LF    -6.6    -3.1    -9.7
    RF    -3.4    -7.9    -11.3
    SS    5.7    -5.4    0.3
MIN Total        7.2    -16.8    -9.6
NYY    1B    10.3    -2.2    8.0
    2B    -16.5    5.5    -11.0
    3B    19.0    -4.1    15.0
    C    -7.9    4.6    -3.4
    CF    -13.5    4.7    -8.8
    LF    19.0    -3.3    15.7
    RF    -2.6    -15.1    -17.7
    SS    0.4    2.6    3.0
NYY Total        8.1    -7.3    0.8
OAK    1B    -8.7    8.2    -0.5
    2B    -0.7    13.6    12.9
    3B    -5.9    -2.0    -8.0
    C    -1.9    5.2    3.3
    CF    1.5    6.6    8.1
    DH    8.9    0.0    8.9
    LF    6.3    -1.4    4.9
    RF    -27.6    7.9    -19.7
    SS    1.8    -8.7    -6.9
OAK Total        -26.3    29.4    3.1
SEA    1B    -10.9    -5.9    -16.8
    2B    -2.6    -10.5    -13.1
    3B    6.9    6.2    13.1
    C    -18.6    1.1    -17.5
    CF    5.4    -3.9    1.6
    DH    -15.4    0.0    -15.4
    LF    1.0    -7.9    -6.9
    RF    -12.9    3.2    -9.7
    SS    -5.6    4.1    -1.5
SEA Total        -52.6    -13.6    -66.3
TBR    1B    2.8    -0.4    2.5
    2B    2.9    -2.0    1.0
    3B    14.9    3.5    18.5
    C    8.0    1.4    9.4
    CF    8.2    -5.3    3.0
    DH    4.1    0.0    4.1
    LF    -5.1    10.8    5.7
    RF    -2.9    -3.5    -6.5
    SS    -8.0    -1.6    -9.6
TBR Total        25.1    3.0    28.1
TEX    1B    -11.8    -2.4    -14.2
    2B    29.7    -1.3    28.4
    3B    0.1    -7.4    -7.2
    C    3.7    -3.3    0.3
    CF    17.3    -6.7    10.6
    LF    -1.0    -4.0    -5.0
    RF    24.9    -0.3    24.6
    SS    14.4    -3.0    11.3
TEX Total        77.4    -28.5    48.9
TOR    1B    -1.3    2.1    0.8
    2B    -2.8    3.6    0.8
    3B    3.2    17.0    20.2
    C    5.2    1.7    6.9
    CF    -1.4    -2.5    -3.9
    DH    -4.0    0.0    -4.0
    LF    -17.2    3.0    -14.3
    RF    -16.1    6.9    -9.2
    SS    1.6    -1.6    0.1
TOR Total        -33.0    30.2    -2.8

18. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:44 PM (#2857242)

Okay, if you have to read that, cut and paste it into your own spreadhseet, but it breaks down each team at each position (all players).

19. wickedwitch Posted: July 15, 2008 at 02:45 PM (#2857245)

It's amazing how little recognition Markakis gets, despite being one of the top 10 position players by virtually any metric. He wasn't even one of the top 15 outfielders in the fan vote for the all-star team, and wasn't added to the roster by the players or Francona.

20. Craig in MN Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:03 PM (#2857270)

Is there a reason DHs are listed inconsistantly (post 17 and the article in general)?

21. Cowboy Popup Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:07 PM (#2857278)

####### Jeter. Would it have killed him to play good defense and hit at his career norms?

22. Yeaarrgghhhh Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:15 PM (#2857291)

Very strange that Huff has probably been the best DH in the league so far. The Orioles SSs sure have sucked.

23. JuanGone..except1game Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:26 PM (#2857304)

Good point about Franklin Gutierrez. He's a personal favorite, but I would love to see him get traded to a team that needed a CF. Any Indians fan will tell you that he looks far superior to Grady in range, jump and his arm out there in his few chances. He might never put up MVP offensive numbers like Grady but I think he could be a perennial gold glove winner and upper echelon CF for a team like Oakland.

24. rfloh Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:39 PM (#2857315)

Are the offensive numbers park adjusted?

Orlando Cabrera is 4.7 runs above average offensively here. He has 84OPS+. BPro have him at a 241 EQA, 3.6 runs below position.

25. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:45 PM (#2857326)

Are the offensive numbers park adjusted?

Yes. That does sound strange. Let me check OCab's raw numbers.

26. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:46 PM (#2857327)

Is there a reason DHs are listed inconsistantly (post 17 and the article in general)?

There are players that are listed as DH but without much PT. The team totals consist of all players at a position.

27. DCW3 * Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:47 PM (#2857329)

Are the offensive numbers park adjusted?

Orlando Cabrera is 4.7 runs above average offensively here. He has 84OPS+. BPro have him at a 241 EQA, 3.6 runs below position.

I suspect that the difference might be that Chris is comparing players to the AL positional average, while BPro is probably using the positional average for the entire majors. The average AL SS has a 83 OPS+, while the average NL SS is at 92.

28. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 03:49 PM (#2857333)

I suspect that the difference might be that Chris is comparing players to the AL positional average, while BPro is probably using the positional average for the entire majors. The average AL SS has a 83 OPS+, while the average NL SS is at 92.

Your statements are correct, and thanks. That's exactly what has happened.

29. Dan Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:01 PM (#2857344)

Something funky is definitely going on with the Boston OF defense numbers, both in the individual numbers for Crisp, Drew, and Ellsbury and in the total team numbers. Looks like basically anyone with any time in the OF for them is showing as pretty significantly negative.

30. Dizzypaco Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:07 PM (#2857349)

The Red Sox have the third best defensive efficiency in the league, not to mention which they have given up among the lowest number of runs as a team. Their defense is clearly not bad. The numbers above say much more about the quality of the metric than they do about the quality of the defense.

Can you imagine the reaction to a metric that showed a team that is among the leaders in runs scored to be the worst offensive team in the league?

31. JPWF13 Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:10 PM (#2857354)

Can you imagine the reaction to a metric that showed a team that is among the leaders in runs scored to be the worst offensive team in the league?

Well, that was pretty common in the pre-humidor days in Denver...

32. Craig in MN Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:11 PM (#2857355)

Is there a reason DHs are listed inconsistantly (post 17 and the article in general)?

There are players that are listed as DH but without much PT. The team totals consist of all players at a position.

Maybe I didn't elaborate enough, or I don't understand the answer, but there are 6 teams that don't show any DH data at all in their team totals. These are AL teams...somebody is DHing for them, even if they aren't doing so consistantly.

33. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:13 PM (#2857357)

Maybe I didn't elaborate enough, or I don't understand the answer, but there are 6 teams that don't show any DH data at all in their team totals. These are AL teams...somebody is DHing for them, even if they aren't doing so consistantly.

Right, but they don't have 200 ABs at that position.

34. Chris Dial Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:16 PM (#2857361)

The Red Sox have the third best defensive efficiency in the league, not to mention which they have given up among the lowest number of runs as a team. Their defense is clearly not bad. The numbers above say much more about the quality of the metric than they do about the quality of the defense.

35. Jim Wisinski Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:25 PM (#2857367)

These numbers have Longoria as a below-average defender, but, according to FRAA, he's pretty much Brooks Robinson (11 runs above average in 84 games)

Most people that have watched him this season (myself included) would say that the latter is closer to the truth (though almost certainly a bit over).

As for the team numbers, the Rays are 2nd in the majors in DefEff yet ZR is showing just 3 runs above average. They significantly better than that overall.

36. Master of Karate and Friendship (Kyle C) Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:30 PM (#2857374)

Can you imagine the reaction to a metric that showed a team that is among the leaders in runs scored to be the worst offensive team in the league?

That'd be a fair comparison if pitching wasn't the biggest factor in preventing runs.

37. Robert Machemer Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:36 PM (#2857381)

Can someone tell me how the Red Sox pitchers (especially the starters) fare in regards to groundball vs. flyball tendencies (not just the numbers, but also a context -- what is normal)?

Chris, if a team has more flyball pitchers than normal (and I don't know that the Sox do), how might that skew your defensive numbers for the infield/outfield? I'm not saying your numbers are screwy, Chris, but below-average defensive numbers for the Boston outfield are counter-intuitive enough that I figure these sorts of questions are worth exploring.

38. Master of Karate and Friendship (Kyle C) Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:41 PM (#2857386)

Robert, the problem with Boston's OF is mostly the wall. Hell, as weird as RF is I wouldn't be surprised if Drew is a bit better than his rating as well.

For Ellsbury, hasn't Mike E. said rookies usually struggle defensively as they get used to the new sightlines? He certainly has the tools, but I would not be surprised if he is struggling a bit as he adjusts to that and playing in such a weird park.

As for Coco, wasn't the consensus going into 2007 that he was a great LFer but for whatever reason just couldn't hack it in center? I know he looked good there last year (and the numbers backed it up) but maybe it was just a fluke?

39. DKDC Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:44 PM (#2857390)

If a Longoria is closer to Brooks Robinson than "below average", then he's the best fielding third baseman in the league.

I did a quick defense calc from the Hardball Times numbers that is IZ plus OOZ plays above average times .8 (I can't remember where I got that multiplier from). It's not regressed or park-adjusted, but it does have Longoria comfortably above average.

This quick calc agrees with the other 3B for the most part, but it also has Mora waaay below average. In fact, I have Longoria 23 runs better than Mora, while Dial's numbers have Mora rated above Longoria.

Mora
700 Innings
221 BIZ
152 Plays (.688 RZR)
19 OOZ

Longoria
740 Innings
162 BIZ
116 Plays (.726 RZR)
32 OOZ

It is odd that Mora has so many more balls in zone than Longoria. Maybe it's a positioning thing?

40. Dizzypaco Posted: July 15, 2008 at 04:51 PM (#2857403)

Defensive Efficiency isn't defense. the above ratings say the Sox are good at first and third, average at second. Really bad at catcher and LF/CF, while slightly below average at SS and RF. The LF is definitely tainted by the Monster, so they are probably a little better there (say a -6).

Defensive efficiency isn't perfect, but its the best we've got for an objective team measure on defense. It shows how often a team turns batted balls into outs, and the Red Sox do an excellent job at this. Given that the Red Sox also look good on defense (other