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nanwynnfan · June 9th, 2007, 10:02 AM

As we approach mid-season (wow, so fast???), I started to set up my worksheets for defense evaluations, 2007 year-to-date. Because some of the inputs are time-consuming, I figured I'd do catchers separately, then follow with the other positions, also individually or on groups (infield), (outfield) depending on time constraints.

The ratings are not to be confused with fielding %, but the familiarity of that statistic makes the ratings (I hope) user friendly. The defense runs are derived from a formula which equates the "rating" for each player from the standard being applied. That standard is .924, which is the catching average for both leagues combined.

Year-to-date, catching has been a defensive weak spot in the AL, where the average is around .913. Over the last 10 seasons or so, the MLB average has been around .930-.935. The NL fares better on average, coming in around .932.

The Games column is based on innings played. To put defense runs into a practical context, teams had played an average of 59 games when these numbers were compiled, so Jorge Posada's approximate 46 games = 78% of the Yankee catching time. His runs-on-rating would be pro rated to -11.28*.78 = -8.80 defense runs.

2007

Player Team Position Games Rating Runs Saved

Posada, Jorge NYY C 46 0.896 -11.28
Kendall, Jason OAK C 52 0.911 -5.44
Navarro, Dioner TBD C 40 0.950 10.73
Martinez, Victo CLE C 40 0.920 -1.79
Johima, Kenji SEA C 43 0.928 1.54
Hernandez, Ramon BAL C 32 0.899 -10.15
Laird, Gerald TEX C 47 0.911 -5.49
Varitek, Jason BSX C 43 0.875 -20.11
Rodriguez, Ivan DET C 45 0.910 -5.55
Pierzynski, A.J CSX C 45 0.900 -9.89
Redmond, Mike MNT C 29 0.974 20.62
Napoli, Mike LAA C 39 0.897 -11.13
Phillips, Jason TOR C 31 0.893 -12.87
Buck, John KCR C 39 0.892 -13.25
Ausmus, Brad HOU C 44 0.947 9.22
McCann, Brian ATL C 45 0.906 -7.23
Estrada, Johnny MLW C 45 0.905 -7.87
Molina, Yadier STL C 36 0.986 25.25
Barrett, Michael CHI C 46 0.877 -19.29
Martin, Russell LAD C 53 0.947 9.47
Molina, Bengie SFG C 49 0.907 -6.88
Olivo, Miguel FLA C 49 0.910 -5.80
LoDuca, Paul NYM C 45 0.934 4.04
Ruiz, Carlos PHI C 39 0.957 13.35
Paulino, Pauly PGH C 46 0.954 12.14
Ross, David CIN C 42 0.959 14.18
Torrealba, Yorvit COL C 30 .996 29.42
Snyder, Chris AZD C 35 0.939 5.93
Schneider, Chris WAS C 48 0.935 4.36
Bard, Josh SDP C 37 0.913 -4.60

June 9th, 2007, 10:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
nanwynnfan Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,579	Defense Ratings, 2007 YTD: Catchers As we approach mid-season (wow, so fast???), I started to set up my worksheets for defense evaluations, 2007 year-to-date. Because some of the inputs are time-consuming, I figured I'd do catchers separately, then follow with the other positions, also individually or on groups (infield), (outfield) depending on time constraints. The ratings are not to be confused with fielding %, but the familiarity of that statistic makes the ratings (I hope) user friendly. The defense runs are derived from a formula which equates the "rating" for each player from the standard being applied. That standard is .924, which is the catching average for both leagues combined. Year-to-date, catching has been a defensive weak spot in the AL, where the average is around .913. Over the last 10 seasons or so, the MLB average has been around .930-.935. The NL fares better on average, coming in around .932. The Games column is based on innings played. To put defense runs into a practical context, teams had played an average of 59 games when these numbers were compiled, so Jorge Posada's approximate 46 games = 78% of the Yankee catching time. His runs-on-rating would be pro rated to -11.28*.78 = -8.80 defense runs. 2007 Player Team Position Games Rating Runs Saved Posada, Jorge NYY C 46 0.896 -11.28 Kendall, Jason OAK C 52 0.911 -5.44 Navarro, Dioner TBD C 40 0.950 10.73 Martinez, Victo CLE C 40 0.920 -1.79 Johima, Kenji SEA C 43 0.928 1.54 Hernandez, Ramon BAL C 32 0.899 -10.15 Laird, Gerald TEX C 47 0.911 -5.49 Varitek, Jason BSX C 43 0.875 -20.11 Rodriguez, Ivan DET C 45 0.910 -5.55 Pierzynski, A.J CSX C 45 0.900 -9.89 Redmond, Mike MNT C 29 0.974 20.62 Napoli, Mike LAA C 39 0.897 -11.13 Phillips, Jason TOR C 31 0.893 -12.87 Buck, John KCR C 39 0.892 -13.25 Ausmus, Brad HOU C 44 0.947 9.22 McCann, Brian ATL C 45 0.906 -7.23 Estrada, Johnny MLW C 45 0.905 -7.87 Molina, Yadier STL C 36 0.986 25.25 Barrett, Michael CHI C 46 0.877 -19.29 Martin, Russell LAD C 53 0.947 9.47 Molina, Bengie SFG C 49 0.907 -6.88 Olivo, Miguel FLA C 49 0.910 -5.80 LoDuca, Paul NYM C 45 0.934 4.04 Ruiz, Carlos PHI C 39 0.957 13.35 Paulino, Pauly PGH C 46 0.954 12.14 Ross, David CIN C 42 0.959 14.18 Torrealba, Yorvit COL C 30 .996 29.42 Snyder, Chris AZD C 35 0.939 5.93 Schneider, Chris WAS C 48 0.935 4.36 Bard, Josh SDP C 37 0.913 -4.60