The ESPN set when the World Series was in Houston was in dead center, which provided Admin Bowa and I a perfect position to watch what became a favorite show -- Aaron Rowand's jumps in center field.

 

At one point Bowa made the observation that Rowand seemed to be two steps into his jump before the ball was hit. Yet, how many folks think of great center fielders and think of Aaron Rowand, perhaps other than Pat Gillick.

 

Which brings me to one of the most interesting books of the spring. John Dewan, the CEO of STATS, Inc. who moved on to found Baseball Info Solutions, has written "The Fielding Bible," with contributions from Bill James. We have all struggled with quantitative analysis on defense, but this isn't some statshead thing created in a cellar at MIT. James explains that Dewan's aides "watched video from every major league game and had recorded every ball off the bat by the direction in which it was hit [the vector], the type of hit [ground ball, fly ball, line drive, popup, mob hit, etc.] and how hard the ball was hit &"

 

So, in a game where we have long been able to measure offense and pitching, Dewan has made a strong presentation for rational and real defensive analysis.

 

According to Baseball Info Solutions, Rowand was the best defensive center fielder in the game in 2005.

 

Just go buy the book. There are charts that show where hits fell against every team. There are breakdowns by three years (2003-05). James' introductory explanation compares the game's best shortstop, Adam Everett, to Derek Jeter. Did I realize Alex Rodriguez is the worst third baseman fielding bunts? No. But I'm not surprised Nomar Garciaparra was the worst shortstop turning double plays with his arm action for the last three years. I'm not shocked the Yankees have been the worst defensive team in the game the last three years.

 

In some ways, "The Fielding Bible" is like getting James or the Hirdt Brothers books in the '80s. What I'm using doesn't kill the book, it enhances. Just go get it and think.

 

First base: Dewan struggles with this position (he does not rate catchers), but listening to Orel Hershiser it is no surprise that Mark Teixeira rated as the best in 2005. What's interesting is that Derrick Lee comes out in the middle of the pack, right below Daryle Ward. Three-year bests: Teixeira, Doug Mientkiewicz, Albert Pujols, John Olerud, Darin Erstad. Worst? Richie Sexson, Carlos Delgado, Adam LaRoche. Delgado was far and away the worst in 2005.

 

Second base: Craig Counsell was the best in 2005 and Robinson Cano the worst. Orlando Hudson, Marcus Giles, Adam Kennedy, Mark Ellis and Brian Roberts were the best for three years, Counsell, Chase Utley and Mark Grudzielanek the best in 2005. Worst? Bret Boone, Alfonso Soriano and Luis Rivas for three years, Cano, Boone and Soriano in 2005. Best at turning the DP in 2005? No surprise, Grudzielanek.

 

Third base: Mike Lowell wins a gold glove and ranked 21st last year because of his range to his left and balls hit to him. Three-year bests are Adrian Beltre, David Bell, Scott Rolen, Eric Chavez and Morgan Ensberg. Bell was the best last year, Mark Teahan the worst. I agree with Dewan, Rolen is really the best.

 

Shortstop: Everett is in a class by himself for three years. The top six shortstops for three years are all National Leaguers, which makes Orlando Cabrera the best in the AL. Everett, Jack Wilson, Jimmy Rollins and Rafael Furcal are the three-year leaders with Michael Young, Jeter and Angel Berroa at the bottom.

 

Left field: Coco Crisp, whose center-field rating is a little better than Johnny Damon's, was the best in left last season; second to Carl Crawford over three years. Three worst for three years: Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Hideki Matsui.

 

Center field: Last year? Rowand, Jeremy Reed, Joey Gathright. Three year: Torii Hunter, Rowand, Andruw Jones. Worst for last year and three years: Bernie Williams, Junior Griffey, Preston Wilson. Jim Edmonds may have slipped, but his arm remains the best.

 

Right field: Trot Nixon and Casey Blake came out the best in 2005, Ichiro Suzuki, Nixon and J.D. Drew for three years. Worst? Gary Sheffield last year, Sheff, Michael Tucker and Juan Encarnacion for three years.

 

Teams for 2005: Phillies, Indians, Angels, White Sox and Astros the best; Yankees, Royals, Marlins and Reds the worst.

 

There is so much to this book. Just go buy it and have Dewan explain what you read here means.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index..._peter#20060224

 

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I'm more into massive statistical evaluations then scout's eyes and baseball writers dishing out awards. Defense is very subjective, but atleast this has numbers backing it. I'm kind of dissapointed Castillo/Gonzalez were not mentioned because I think they have been amazing for years.... but I guess they didn't grade out as the top-top. Very surprised on Encarnacion. LOVE the Gathright mention. It's nice to know that SOMEONE considers him a premier defender, even when scouts bash him relentlessly on bad jumps and arm strength.

Looking at the list (and the ranking of Lowell 21st) leads me to believe this is a combination of range-factor and outs recorded on balls in play, thus explaining Delgado's horrors and Lowell's bottom-third ranking.

 

I will say that I'm a bit intrigued and perplexed by any evaluation system that has Joey Gathright among the best in baseball in 2005 despite only playing 76 big-league games.

Looking at the list (and the ranking of Lowell 21st) leads me to believe this is a combination of range-factor and outs recorded on balls in play, thus explaining Delgado's horrors and Lowell's bottom-third ranking.

 

I will say that I'm a bit intrigued and perplexed by any evaluation system that has Joey Gathright among the best in baseball in 2005 despite only playing 76 big-league games.

 

 

I guess they feel 500+ innings or 186 total chances of defensive work is a large enough sample size

Yeah interesting that neither Castillo or Alex showed up on the leaders, and a little surprised that Enc was so low. I think he gets poor reads & jumps sometimes, but just with his speed I figured he'd be at least middle of the pack.

 

Throw in Cabrera as one of our other outfielders .... yeah we certainly had some issues out there.

Me and a few other people on here have said consistently that at least one aspect of the team this year will be better than last year - team defense. For that reason I don't think our pitching will be quite so terrible.

The one game in Philly last year will always stand out to me. The Marlins were up by a run, and the Phillies had 2 on and 2 out. AN easy grounder is hit to Delgado to end the inning, and he pulls a Buckner. Phillies took the lead and then the game. I was never so pissed at Carlos as I was in that game. Maybe it is fitting that Carlos goes to the Mets to perform his Buckner imitation, what goes around comes around even if it is 20 years later (for you young pups I refer to the Boston/NY series of '86)...

Nothing in this suprises me.

 

BTW, we need to move on Gathright, and there is no shortage of arms that I'd be willing to part with to get him. The MLEs on our CF options are appalling.

The ESPN set when the World Series was in Houston was in dead center, which provided Admin Bowa and I a perfect position to watch what became a favorite show -- Aaron Rowand's jumps in center field.

 

At one point Bowa made the observation that Rowand seemed to be two steps into his jump before the ball was hit. Yet, how many folks think of great center fielders and think of Aaron Rowand, perhaps other than Pat Gillick.

 

Which brings me to one of the most interesting books of the spring. John Dewan, the CEO of STATS, Inc. who moved on to found Baseball Info Solutions, has written "The Fielding Bible," with contributions from Bill James. We have all struggled with quantitative analysis on defense, but this isn't some statshead thing created in a cellar at MIT. James explains that Dewan's aides "watched video from every major league game and had recorded every ball off the bat by the direction in which it was hit [the vector], the type of hit [ground ball, fly ball, line drive, popup, mob hit, etc.] and how hard the ball was hit &"

 

So, in a game where we have long been able to measure offense and pitching, Dewan has made a strong presentation for rational and real defensive analysis.

 

According to Baseball Info Solutions, Rowand was the best defensive center fielder in the game in 2005.

 

Just go buy the book. There are charts that show where hits fell against every team. There are breakdowns by three years (2003-05). James' introductory explanation compares the game's best shortstop, Adam Everett, to Derek Jeter. Did I realize Alex Rodriguez is the worst third baseman fielding bunts? No. But I'm not surprised Nomar Garciaparra was the worst shortstop turning double plays with his arm action for the last three years. I'm not shocked the Yankees have been the worst defensive team in the game the last three years.

 

In some ways, "The Fielding Bible" is like getting James or the Hirdt Brothers books in the '80s. What I'm using doesn't kill the book, it enhances. Just go get it and think.

 

First base: Dewan struggles with this position (he does not rate catchers), but listening to Orel Hershiser it is no surprise that Mark Teixeira rated as the best in 2005. What's interesting is that Derrick Lee comes out in the middle of the pack, right below Daryle Ward. Three-year bests: Teixeira, Doug Mientkiewicz, Albert Pujols, John Olerud, Darin Erstad. Worst? Richie Sexson, Carlos Delgado, Adam LaRoche. Delgado was far and away the worst in 2005.

 

Second base: Craig Counsell was the best in 2005 and Robinson Cano the worst. Orlando Hudson, Marcus Giles, Adam Kennedy, Mark Ellis and Brian Roberts were the best for three years, Counsell, Chase Utley and Mark Grudzielanek the best in 2005. Worst? Bret Boone, Alfonso Soriano and Luis Rivas for three years, Cano, Boone and Soriano in 2005. Best at turning the DP in 2005? No surprise, Grudzielanek.

 

Third base: Mike Lowell wins a gold glove and ranked 21st last year because of his range to his left and balls hit to him. Three-year bests are Adrian Beltre, David Bell, Scott Rolen, Eric Chavez and Morgan Ensberg. Bell was the best last year, Mark Teahan the worst. I agree with Dewan, Rolen is really the best.

 

Shortstop: Everett is in a class by himself for three years. The top six shortstops for three years are all National Leaguers, which makes Orlando Cabrera the best in the AL. Everett, Jack Wilson, Jimmy Rollins and Rafael Furcal are the three-year leaders with Michael Young, Jeter and Angel Berroa at the bottom.

 

Left field: Coco Crisp, whose center-field rating is a little better than Johnny Damon's, was the best in left last season; second to Carl Crawford over three years. Three worst for three years: Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Hideki Matsui.

 

Center field: Last year? Rowand, Jeremy Reed, Joey Gathright. Three year: Torii Hunter, Rowand, Andruw Jones. Worst for last year and three years: Bernie Williams, Junior Griffey, Preston Wilson. Jim Edmonds may have slipped, but his arm remains the best.

 

Right field: Trot Nixon and Casey Blake came out the best in 2005, Ichiro Suzuki, Nixon and J.D. Drew for three years. Worst? Gary Sheffield last year, Sheff, Michael Tucker and Juan Encarnacion for three years.

 

Teams for 2005: Phillies, Indians, Angels, White Sox and Astros the best; Yankees, Royals, Marlins and Reds the worst.

 

There is so much to this book. Just go buy it and have Dewan explain what you read here means.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index..._peter#20060224

 

-----

 

I'm more into massive statistical evaluations then scout's eyes and baseball writers dishing out awards. Defense is very subjective, but atleast this has numbers backing it. I'm kind of dissapointed Castillo/Gonzalez were not mentioned because I think they have been amazing for years.... but I guess they didn't grade out as the top-top. Very surprised on Encarnacion. LOVE the Gathright mention. It's nice to know that SOMEONE considers him a premier defender, even when scouts bash him relentlessly on bad jumps and arm strength.

 

 

Yeah interesting that neither Castillo or Alex showed up on the leaders, and a little surprised that Enc was so low. I think he gets poor reads & jumps sometimes, but just with his speed I figured he'd be at least middle of the pack.

 

Throw in Cabrera as one of our other outfielders .... yeah we certainly had some issues out there.

 

Statheads hate GonzosD with a subpar FRAA of -30somethin over the last 3 years which means his D has cost the fish 30sum runs in that time

Statheads hate GonzosD with a subpar FRAA of -30somethin over the last 3 years which means his D has cost the fish 30sum runs in that time

:lol ! Based on what, errors he made on balls that go into the OF as singles against other SS?

Lowell does have bad range to his left, and A-Gon does make his share of errors... but no one can convince me that there is a better defensive shortstop or second baseman than Gonzalez and Castillo. Show me the tape. Encarnacion has tracked down some balls in that deep right center field gap and has never hurt the team on his defense. Derrek Lee not being in the top 3 automatically makes this analysis b.s.

Yeah, I don't trust Gonzalez. I haven't read too many good things about BP's FRAA anyway. However, one thing is for sure, Gonzalez lapsed bad last year. He didn't have quite the range or arm last year that he showed in 2004.

Lowell does have bad range to his left, and A-Gon does make his share of errors... but no one can convince me that there is a better defensive shortstop or second baseman than Gonzalez and Castillo. Show me the tape. Encarnacion has tracked down some balls in that deep right center field gap and has never hurt the team on his defense. Derrek Lee not being in the top 3 automatically makes this analysis b.s.

 

 

Gonzo and Castillo are top notch, and the measurement of Lee's defense reffered to is of the actual ability to get to balls, not his surehandedness and ability to stretch for throws. If anything, this rating is less applicable to 1B than the other positions since there needs to be a rating for picks and stretches, basically how many errors are prevented. I doubt that stat heads have any issue with Gonzo's D, instead it is his poor plate discipline.

 

All that said, Lowell is exceedingly average at 3B, bottom half even. Though his arm is good and his hands are sure, his range is poor. On the other hand, he was very good at 2B when he was in there, though the sample size is small.

Yeah, I don't trust Gonzalez. I haven't read too many good things about BP's FRAA anyway. However, one thing is for sure, Gonzalez lapsed bad last year. He didn't have quite the range or arm last year that he showed in 2004.

I'm not sure about the range not being there. I think it was all attributed back to the arm injury. He couldn't make the throws to first, causing errors (he had an incredible amount of throwing errors last year). Plus, if you know you have a bad throwing arm you're not going to go with a vengeance deep into the hole. Why bother, the throw isn't going to get there anyways.