Sanó’s fall from a prospect I couldn’t wait to see reach the majors to a guy I found absolutely unwatchable was quite precipitous.
And Luis getting props for his first base defense (warranted or not) further exposes Miguel's flaws there.
According to OAA, there's one good fielder at first this year, Christian Walker, and almost everyone else is about average. Arraez finished at +1. The Guardians' Owen Miller had the best season in the AL at only +3 runs. Five other players ranked above him in the AL but it's all close.
Much like OAA has special metrics for outfield and catchers, I wonder if there’s something particular to playing first base that could merit its own metric. I don’t think first base defense is as important as critical other position on the field, but I’d like more insight into who is good at some of its unique duties.
It's a similar situation with DRS. Walker finished at +17 and the next closest, Alfonso Rivas, finished at +6. Arraez had +4 and that tied him with Carlos Santana for the AL lead. Guerrero Jr. is a close third at +3. The other finalist, Rizzo, had -3 runs. From what I can tell, Walker simply had much better range than anyone else.
No doubt having a first baseman with good range is a nice bonus. I’d be curious to see how a that affects the second baseman’s metrics, considering it likely frees them up to play further toward the middle.
But fielding throws from defenders is something the first baseman does more often than any other player, and I’d love to see more definition on who is good at the fielding components that lead to turning bad or weak throws into outs.
So before you start opining about how your favorite first baseman is so great defensively because he “saves so many errors,” consider that scooping ability is probably worth less than a ¼ of total defensive ability or value at first base. Fielding grounders is at least 75% of the package and “scooping” is the rest. But every little bit helps.
With Statcast however, we an actually measure the errant throws and track who does well with that. I suspect Tango will eventually post about it. He recently covered arm strength so I hope ability to corral throws, as a first basemen or middle infielder, is next.
That link’s a great pull, sean. I share your curiosity about what Tango might find.
But nobody doubts his talent.
I hope whoever picked up my shirsey from Goodwill got some good use out of it
Baseball, potatoes, and heat. That's three of my favorite things.
And when they hit a home run, they can call it the Hot Tot Trot
"Another Hot Tot moonshot! No...caught"
- John Gordon
😂😂😂😂
"by the shortstop!"
The shift is now illegal.
covid boosted and flu jabbed. pretty productive Friday
Enjoying St. Louis tonight, hanging out at Union Station. Philosofette and a couple kids are about to ride the ferris wheel, but enclosed carriages and claustrophobia are keeping me on the ground.
Sanó’s fall from a prospect I couldn’t wait to see reach the majors to a guy I found absolutely unwatchable was quite precipitous.
And Luis getting props for his first base defense (warranted or not) further exposes Miguel's flaws there.
According to OAA, there's one good fielder at first this year, Christian Walker, and almost everyone else is about average. Arraez finished at +1. The Guardians' Owen Miller had the best season in the AL at only +3 runs. Five other players ranked above him in the AL but it's all close.
Much like OAA has special metrics for outfield and catchers, I wonder if there’s something particular to playing first base that could merit its own metric. I don’t think first base defense is as important as critical other position on the field, but I’d like more insight into who is good at some of its unique duties.
It's a similar situation with DRS. Walker finished at +17 and the next closest, Alfonso Rivas, finished at +6. Arraez had +4 and that tied him with Carlos Santana for the AL lead. Guerrero Jr. is a close third at +3. The other finalist, Rizzo, had -3 runs. From what I can tell, Walker simply had much better range than anyone else.
No doubt having a first baseman with good range is a nice bonus. I’d be curious to see how a that affects the second baseman’s metrics, considering it likely frees them up to play further toward the middle.
But fielding throws from defenders is something the first baseman does more often than any other player, and I’d love to see more definition on who is good at the fielding components that lead to turning bad or weak throws into outs.
MGL wrote about it a very long time ago.
With Statcast however, we an actually measure the errant throws and track who does well with that. I suspect Tango will eventually post about it. He recently covered arm strength so I hope ability to corral throws, as a first basemen or middle infielder, is next.
That link’s a great pull, sean. I share your curiosity about what Tango might find.
But nobody doubts his talent.
I hope whoever picked up my shirsey from Goodwill got some good use out of it
“Casserole” is not the preferred nomenclature.
This is fantastic. It's appropriate and rhymes.
Baseball, potatoes, and heat. That's three of my favorite things.
And when they hit a home run, they can call it the Hot Tot Trot
"Another Hot Tot moonshot! No...caught"
- John Gordon
😂😂😂😂
"by the shortstop!"
The shift is now illegal.
covid boosted and flu jabbed. pretty productive Friday
Enjoying St. Louis tonight, hanging out at Union Station. Philosofette and a couple kids are about to ride the ferris wheel, but enclosed carriages and claustrophobia are keeping me on the ground.
And beautiful weather for it, too