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Sunday, August 27, 2006
Defensive Rankings by Position- AL - Aug 27
AL Defense through August 27
The following data represent the defensive rankings for the American League players by position, with a minimum of 500 innings played. RSpt is Runs Saved for the playing time of the player above average for that much playing time. RS/150 is how many runs that would be in 150 games played. This is explained in the methodology here.
Catcher
Pos NAME LAST TEAM GP INN RSpt RS/150 2 Ivan Rodrig'z Det 94 811.3 8 13 2 Ramon Hern'ndz Bal 111 905.3 5 7 2 Jose Molina LAA 60 492.0 3 9 2 Joe Mauer Min 97 858.7 3 5 2 Jorge Posada NYY 109 852.3 3 4 2 Jason Kendall Oak 110 984.3 2 3 2 John Buck KC 94 783.0 2 4 2 Rod Barajas Tex 87 758.7 2 4 2 Kenji Johjima Sea 117 928.0 0 1 2 Mike Napoli LAA 75 569.3 0 0 2 Jason Varitek Bos 82 687.3 -1 -2 2 Toby Hall TB 61 494.0 -1 -3 2 A.J. P'rzynski CWS 106 906.3 -5 -8 2 Bengie Molina Tor 81 690.3 -6 -12 2 Victor Martinez Cle 105 879.3 -7 -11
Wow, Ivan Rodriguez is the best defensive catcher in the AL. Who knew?
First Base
Pos NAME LAST TEAM GP INN RSpt RS/150 3 Chris Shelton Det 102 867.0 14 22 3 Doug Mientkie'z KC 90 725.7 7 13 3 Justin Morneau Min 123 1084.7 5 6 3 Travis Lee TB 108 842.3 3 5 3 Andy Phillips NYY 78 498.0 3 8 3 Mark Teixeira Tex 129 1128.7 2 3 3 Dan Johnson Oak 69 612.7 1 3 3 Lyle Overbay Tor 113 976.3 0 0 3 Ben Broussard Cle/Sea 85 599.7 -1 -2 3 Nick Swisher Oak 64 510.3 -1 -3 3 Kevin Youkilis Bos 115 951.0 -1 -1 3 Kevin Millar Bal 75 596.3 -4 -8 3 Richie Sexson Sea 122 1067.7 -6 -8 3 Paul Konerko CWS 114 961.7 -7 -9
Shelton got sent down as his bat crashed. He had some value the Tigers must not have seen. And Doug Mxyzptlk right near the top.
Second Base
Pos NAME Last Team GP INN RSpt RS/150 4 Aaron Hill Tor 87 753.3 16 29 4 Placido Polanco Det 102 888.0 14 22 4 Mark Ellis Oak 92 792.3 8 14 4 Brian Roberts Bal 106 916.7 6 9 4 Mark Grudz'lnk KC 114 954.0 6 9 4 Jose Lopez Sea 120 1059.3 1 2 4 Ian Kinsler Tex 89 762.7 -1 -1 4 Tadahito Iguchi CWS 108 965.7 -1 -1 4 Robinson Cano NYY 88 764.0 -2 -3 4 Luis Castillo Min 116 1014.3 -5 -6 4 Adam Kennedy LAA 108 924.3 -5 -8 4 Mark Loretta Bos 120 1036.0 -6 -8 4 Ronnie Belliard Cle 91 768.3 -10 -17 4 Jorge Cantu TB 79 692.0 -17 -32
Aaron Hill? Maybe the turf in Toronto helps, considering Orlando Hudson’s slide in Arizona. Placido Polanco - he’s good. Well, he has been. Jorge Cantu is the worst fielder in the majors. He’s bad all over the field.
Third Base
Pos NAME Last Team GP INN RSpt RS/150 5 Mike Lowell Bos 121 1030.7 17 22 5 Brandon Inge Det 127 1112.0 17 20 5 Adrian Beltre Sea 125 1099.3 10 12 5 Joe Crede CWS 123 1038.3 4 5 5 Eric Chavez Oak 108 949.0 2 3 5 Aubrey Huff TB 60 480.7 2 4 5 Hank Blalock Tex 113 980.7 1 1 5 Nick Punto Min 59 502.0 -1 -2 5 Melvin Mora Bal 126 1087.0 -2 -2 5 Maicer Izturis LAA 60 470.0 -3 -8 5 Aaron Boone Cle 96 806.0 -3 -5 5 Troy Glaus Tor 114 943.3 -5 -8 5 Mark Teahen KC 100 845.7 -6 -9 5 Tony Batista Min 50 434.0 -7 -21 5 Alex Rodrig'z NYY 123 1062.7 -10 -12
Mike Lowell and Brandon Inge still leading the pack, and A-Rod sinking lower. There are nearly three wins the Red Sox have picked up on teh Yankees just on defense at third.
Shortstop
Pos NAME Last Team GP INN RSpt RS/150 6 Juan Uribe CWS 105 892.3 12 18 6 Bobby Crosby Oak 95 828.0 7 11 6 Alex Gonzalez Bos 96 843.3 5 9 6 Jason Bartlett Min 65 582.0 4 10 6 Jhonny Peralta Cle 120 1038.7 2 3 6 Carlos Guillen Det 119 1024.0 2 3 6 Michael Young Tex 127 1106.0 1 2 6 John McDonald Tor 63 486.0 1 2 6 Julio Lugo TB 73 620.3 0 1 6 Miguel Tejada Bal 120 1041.7 0 0 6 Orlando Cabrera LAA 124 1075.3 -1 -2 6 Derek Jeter NYY 120 1041.3 -5 -7 6 Yuniesky Bet'nco'rt Sea 127 1114.7 -6 -8 6 Angel Berroa KC 112 953.3 -8 -11
White Sox fans have been wanting to see Uribe at the top of the list. He’s made it. Derek Jeter, for all the guff he takes, isn’t too bad this season. He might win his third Gold Glove.
Left Field
Pos NAME LAST Team GP INN RSpt RS/150 7 Carl Crawford, TB 122 1048.7 8 10 7 Emil Brown, KC 81 671.0 7 14 7 Scott Podsednik CWS 114 912.0 6 8 7 Reed Johnson, Tor 78 513.7 4 11 7 Nick Swisher, Oak 65 573.7 3 8 7 Raul Ibanez, Sea 124 1103.0 3 4 7 Jason Michaels, Cle 95 825.3 1 1 7 Craig Monroe, Det 83 674.3 1 1 7 Garret Anderson LAA 79 681.7 -2 -4 7 Frank Cat'l'notto Tor 82 610.0 -3 -7 7 Melky Cabrera, NYY 88 777.0 -4 -6 7 Brad Wilkerson Tex 80 664.3 -5 -10 7 Manny Ramirez, Bos 118 987.3 -30 -41
I see the Manny score, and we know that has a big park effect. Just cover one eye. Everyone else looks good.
Center Field
Pos NAME Last Team GP INN RSpt RS/150 8 Corey Patterson Bal 118 958.0 14 19 8 Torii Hunter Min 109 942.7 7 10 8 Vernon Wells Tor 117 1012.7 7 9 8 Chone Figgins LAA 71 607.7 5 11 8 Brian Anderson CWS 105 754.3 4 7 8 Grady Sizemore Cle 127 1094.7 4 5 8 Curtis Grandrsn Det 125 1037.0 2 3 8 Joey Gathright, KC/TB 104 810.7 1 2 8 Rocco Baldelli TB 61 507.0 0 -1 8 Johnny Damon NYY 107 899.7 0 -1 8 Jeremy Reed Sea 64 507.3 -1 -4 8 Mark Kotsay Oak 108 907.3 -4 -6 8 Coco Crisp Bos 86 757.7 -6 -11 8 Gary Matthews Tex 112 958.7 -6 -9
Corey Patterson in climbing the charts as one of the top defensive CFs over the last 20 years.
Right Field
Pos NAME LAST TEAM GP INN RSpt RS/150 9 Ichiro Suzuki Sea 121 1062.7 7 8 9 Alex Rios Tor 95 759.3 6 11 9 Milton Bradley Oak 64 555.0 6 14 9 Reggie Sanders KC 73 601.0 6 13 9 Casey Blake Cle 74 646.3 3 6 9 Nick Markakis Bal 95 641.3 0 -1 9 Michael Cuddyer Min 109 938.7 -1 -1 9 Magglio Ordonez Det 117 1023.0 -1 -1 9 Trot Nixon Bos 89 716.7 -3 -5 9 Vladimir Guerrero LAA 109 933.7 -4 -6 9 Jermaine Dye CWS 117 998.3 -6 -7
Finally, Ichiro Suzuki is going to be the best fielding RF in the AL when he wins a Gold Glove. That’s been annoying the last few years.
There are the AL leaders and trailers of the regular starters. When you start your MVP arguments, you have some data to go for defense. Oh, in 68 innings, David Ortiz is a zero (average).
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Wily Mo Pena must be pretty close to the 500 IP cutoff in either RF or CF or both. Could you post his numbers just so we can get the full effect of the suck that is the Sox OF defense.
Ya gotta figure that, if there's a dumb move to be made, Hendry is on it like white on rice.
Adding up totals of all listed players be team (leaving out two-team players Brosourd and Gastright) here's how the AL teams stack up. In parathesis is number of players listed for each team. No, I'm not going to add up innings fielded.
1) Detroit +57 (8)
2) Oakland +22 (9)
3) Toronto +20 (9)
4t) Baltimore +19 (7)
4t) Chicago +19 (8)
6) Kansas City +14 (7)
7) Seattle +8 (8)
8) Minnesota +5 (8)
9) Tampa Bay -5 (7)
10) Texas -6 (7)
11) Anaheim -7 (8)
12) Cleveland -10 (7)
13) New York -15 (7)
14) Boston -25 (8)
Numbers here are RSpt, not R/150. The difference between 8th and 14th is Manny Rameriz.
The Miguel Tejada number is pretty surprising. Ever since spring training, scouts have been quoted as saying that he's turned into a DH and is killing the Orioles on defense. Who knows what to think.
If Manny is a zero. He's probably a little worse. The Sox could easily be average.
The Miguel Tejada number is pretty surprising. Ever since spring training, scouts have been quoted as saying that he's turned into a DH and is killing the Orioles on defense. Who knows what to think.
Tejada was considered a good fielder before. Compared to his former self, he may well look like he is "killing the O's" on defense.
I actually first noticed this trend for LF, where there are some historically bad ZR performances this season (at least before adjusting for park). Manny, Matsui, Dunn, Preston Wilson, and Josh Willingham have all put up atrocious numbers this year. Last year, only one qualified LFer put up a ZR below 0.821 (Manny with his crazy park factor, plus Reggie Sanders in limited playing time). This year there are 4, plus Matsui and Wilkerson in limited playing time.
I may have missed this in your discussion of your methodology, but have you considered using a multi-year average at each position to reduce season-to-season variation in league defensive ability?
We haven't spent much time discussing that, and until we had this great database SG provided, the feasibility wasn't as simple. As we develop a good historical norm, I think that warrants investigation. However, for OPS+, we adjust to a yearly baseline, so I think that is likely to win out.
Alternate read?
Are his rate stats very different for CF vs RF (sample size considerations notwithstanding)?
Well, the OPS+ convention is to use a yearly baseline, but I would argue that the situations are not completely analogous. League OPS is a function both of the quality of hitters and pitchers in the league. An overall change in LgOPS is hard to credit to the hitters or pitchers. ZR by contrast is "supposed to be" (I am sure you are much more familiar than I with the truth of that statement) a measure of the fraction of balls that were fielded. Assuming a relatively constant definition of zones, a league-wide change in ZR is likely to be due to the changing quality of MLB fielders.
Zone rating and DER will correlate well, but its never going to be a perfect match. DER will count every ball, ZR excludes grounders hit up the middle, through the holes, flyballs in the gaps, and a lot of line drives (though unfortunately still includes hits off the monstah).
Also, this only includes the guys with the most innings, not all Angel fielders. All the 1B have fielded well, except for Kendrick, and Erstad was a plus in center before he got hurt.
The Angels have hurt themselves on defense by making probably 1-2 dumb plays every game. Some of the mistakes show up in ZR (and DER) but some don't.
An example of one that doesn't show up: One out, runners on 1st and 3rd, grounder hit to SS. OC fields it, and instead of flipping to Kennedy takes 4-5 steps to make the play at 2B himself, then throws to first. He gets the out at 1st, but Coco Crisp is safe at 2B and the run scores. Stupid play, costs us a run and a ballgame, but by ZR or DER it shows up as: 1 groundball, 1 out recorded.
Nobody could make sense of it in Cincy and with Jr. around he wasn't going to play there anyway.
But for Red Sox fans who wonder if this is just a Fenway Park thing it isn't. As counterintuitive as this appears, I think the Sox would be served to stick Wily in centerfield.
I like it. We'll bat it around in these threads, and I'll take a look at the numbers with, say, a 3-yr avg. It would help too - finding the league average each year is a pain, so every standardization is helpful.
If he COULD play a passable CF, it would open up a lot of options for that team, especially with a Pena/Crisp CF/RF discussed here before that could be a net positive at both positions from what they're running out there now.
Or they could play Wily Mo in CF and find a corner OF who could actually hit.
N.p., most anyone can do the Excel thing, that's why I pointed it out. IIWY I wouldn't lift a finger.
OTOH, if you wanted to update them, like, weekly, and publish that... 8-)
No.
No.
Good enough for LF.
Regarding Aaron Hill how does turning the double play factor into the equation? My own subjective viewpoint is that he's outstanding at this facet of the game. Also there seems to be a lot of sample size brittleness with players below a certain innings threshold.
Great work overall, I've really enjoyed these articles.
I thought Teixeira had quite a good defensive reputation?
Wigginton hasn't been too bad this season, Cantu has definitely been worse. Huff was surprisingly not sucky at 3B, when he was allowed the chance in the spring to reclaim his old position he seemed to really take to it and was noticeably better than he has been in the past.
Patience, my pretty. We'll have a piece for all teh key players.
Is this honest wonderment or slight snarkiness? I apologize that I cannot tell.
The reason I ask is I thought I had that Pudge was having an amazing year controlling the running game. I do not remember if that is one of the aspects of our catcher defense ratings.
By which I meant, of course, "I thought I heard that"
our catcher defense ratings.
By which I meant, of course, Your catcher defense ratings.
But will you get the h and e keys right? :)
I feel pretty! I feel pretty!
His innings are too few. But he's a -5 in RF and a -8 in CF. But those numbers have more noise than signal.
I watched C Patterson every day for a few seasons when he was with the Cubs. I agree whole-heartedly with these numbers for him.
Yet that one highlight reel catch has apparently convinced the DFW sports media that Gary Matthews is a great CF worthy of a multi-year contract committment.
Shelton? Not a great fielder. Not a good fielder. He's adequate. He must be getting helped out a lot by Polanco, because Shelton can't move. He can't dive. He doesn't stretch for balls thrown to him at 1B (see large number of errors for Inge and Guillen). But if you hit it at him, he's probably going to get a glove on it.
Yes.
That won't matter in his ZR. He converts GBs hit to first into outs.
Like I said: "But if you hit it at him, he's probably going to get a glove on it."
And unlike those systems, you can calculate it yourself, since zone rating is available on the ESPN and CNNSI stat sites.
But that's the same criterion other 1B are judged on, and they are worse at that. So how do you describe him as "adequate"?
Minus,
I agree it would be *more* accurate, but I don't know that we'll see "great" improvement. We are very likely very close. That is to say, when we say Vizquel saves 350 runs, compared to 340 runs for an average fielder, bettering the method for him may mean 1 or 2 runs, which is only improving about 1-2%.
The OF will likely see some more improvement, but it is probably just going to be about 5% - still just 3 runs. We aren't likely to see changes like the difference between Chipper traditional and Chipper ZR (~200 runs) - Manny would be some exception, but I think most ZR methods know that is an issue, whereas people using traditional stats for a basis (FRAA, DSG, whatever) actually think Chipper may not be a HOF player because of a terrible, horrible misuse of defensive analysis.
And for Manny, MGL and joe arthur have taken some great strides in working on park effects for walls too close in.
I htink we'll also see some changes in the OF like Andruw's BIP selection or Steve Finley as "only good hands, weak range". In these cases, we're looking at marginal increases, not orders of magnitude. Refinement as compared to overhaul.
When you make an observation like you did regarding 3rd Basemen and how Boston has picked up 3 games over the NYY based on defense, how do you arrive at the 3 game figure?
Thanks,
Scott
Lowell is +17, Arod is -10 for a difference of 27. A win is approximately 10 runs - so that's almost 3 wins from the 3B defense alone.
Thanks for the info, it is much appreciated.
Scott
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