Shelton has been fielding well at 1B this year, but his numbers are way up there so far. It will be interesting to see what other defensive metrics show. It's funny that one of the main reasons he wasn't called up to the majors earlier was because of his suspect defense.

Excellent work SG. I like it when people use my methods and post the results, less work for me.

I am using Chris's run values as well now - they are more precise. I'm not using the formula for estimating 1B chances anymore, I just use the average chances per inning, but am still using assists for IF and PO for the OF.

I did some fielding numbers a few weeks ago, gave the leaders and trailers for each position plus some commentary. Haven't done the catchers yet so I'm glad to see that.

Defense through 6-4-06

I'm very surprised to see Emil Brown at the top of the LFs. I always hear his defense referred to as comically bad, and remember a game against the Tigers where he was running almost perpendicular to the path of the ball as it zoomed over his head.

Emil Brown is comically bad. Kauffman is a big time fly ball stadium from what I understand, and the Royals have a flyball staff so that could account for his high ranking. He is easily one of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball, certainly not the best defensive AL leftfielder.

Why is it that every mention of Angel Berroa ruins my day?

Always remember not to put too much faith in small sample sizes. Brown was slightly below average last year, at least when assists & errors are counted in.

Brown has caught a higher percentage of balls in his zone than average, so far. Flukes happen. That alone doesn't make him a good outfielder, and more than Gary Matthews Jr. is a real .340 hitter.

I remember watching Tony Batista this year and he was definitely comically bad, especially compared to Brandon Inge. I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did.

Is Podsednik's rating confusing to anyone else? BTW, thanks for posting this.

RF NYY Bernie Williams 239 -6.5 -36

I just threw up in my mouth.

Orlando Hudson's rating us surprising as well.

Barry Bonds +12 per 150? Dude needs a Little Rascal Scooter just to get out to his position.


Craig Biggio is still putting up a plus rating, at 40 years of age? My heart wants to believe it, but my head says he should be too beat up to keep doing that.

Given the high ERAs of Suppan and Marquis, I'm very surprised to see so many Cardinals with positive ratings.

It's funny that one of the main reasons he wasn't called up to the majors earlier was because of his suspect defense.

If you're a Pirates fan, not so funny.

Is Podsednik's rating confusing to anyone else?

Pods is messed up in here. He's a plus fielder as far as catching balls hit into his zone (108 plays on ~121 chances vs. an average of ~104), but he loses value due to his arm (-2 on assists) and his very high error total (-2). He nets a -1 to this point, -3 over 150 because of this. The 3.6 is his actual zone value in isolation and should not be what is in the chart above.

SG,
thanks for doing that - however, are you using Chone's method for estimating chances, or are you using my methodology?

I actually planned on doing the MEts players this weekend, but I will run using my system and see how it differs.

Bonds is catching balls hit to him. I'm glad you ran this.

are you using Chone's method for estimating chances, or are you using my methodology?

I was using Chone's method, although since I've posted I've updated first basemen to use your method. I am using your run values for each position though.

Andre Ethier 245.2 5.0 27
Yowza! Another reason to play Andre ahead of JCJ.

That Detroit infield is just sick. Can they keep it up? Even the OF is good. Maggs at 0 is their worst by far. Can we credit Leyland for this?

I love Vinnie Castilla at a high + rating. A Gary Gaetti for his time.

Orlando Hudson's rating us surprising as well.

For what it's worth, I've been wildly disappointed by Hudson this year. He's obviously athletic, but doesn't get to even as many grounders as Counsell did last year at second, his positioning is erratic, and he's booted more than a few routine balls. Not to mention that he damn near runs over other players so he can grab every pop-up even when they aren't his, and he spaces out on covering bases more often than he should.

He is stylish and *looks* good in the field, though.

Surprises: Wright, Tejada

Jamey Carroll's lofty rating at second, combined with his unreal offense so far (.343/.420/.460), have to make him just about the best second baseman in the NL.

Surprises: Wright, Tejada

Why is Wright a surprise? He's not good at defense.

Mark DeRosa is still a garbage defender (at 2b, anyways). And so is Michael Young.

It's too bad the Red Sox don't have much of a groundball staff. Those numbers square with my impressions of their defense pretty much around the diamond: apart from Loretta, it's a well-above-average infield, and a pretty lousy outfield, with Nixon the best of a mediocre bunch.

Wright's defense was supposed to be good; BA called him a future Gold Glover

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/five-questions-new-york-mets/

http://www.sportspagemagazine.com/published/pro/mlb-season-previews-mets-.shtml

Look down to the BA write-up that called Wright a future Gold Glover
http://sabermets.weblogs.us/archives/cat_mets_prospects.html

Why is Wright a surprise?

Wright struggled defensively at the beginning of last season but really played well in the second half. He has not been a good defensive 3b so far this year. I don't think that rating is unfair.

Wright is a future gold glover. He's an outstanding hitter, he plays in New York, he seems like a "good guy," and he's caught some line drives with his bare hands. If he keeps his (charged) errors to a minimum, he'll be a shoe-in to win several.

Alas, the Brewer "ratings" are confirmed by observational input. While I would somewhat dispute Jenkins overtly negative value the remainder seem about right.

The defense coupled with the bullpen has completely undermined the team's push forward this season. There isn't 2005 Yankee offensive like talent to overcome the inability to field batted balls........

Defensive stats - what do these stats show?

I see innings, then runs, then r/150. What is the best, what is the worst, and what does it show (especially r/150)?

Sheesh -- one must wonder how the Sox are fifth in baseball in Defensive Effificiency when their combined total in R/150 for the eight starters is a -8...

Defensive stats - what do these stats show?
Using the systems linked in the entry above, they show:

Innings: Actual innings played at the listed position so far this season

Runs: Runs above/below average (average = 0) at that same position compared to the league average

R/150: The pro-rated value of their defensive value so far if you pro-rate it over 150 games worth of defensive innings at that position.

Given the high ERAs of Suppan and Marquis, I'm very surprised to see so many Cardinals with positive ratings.

Maybe they signed all those players when MGL was still consulting for them.