Did you notice nobody makes errors anymore?

[DrungoHazewood]

So I'm exaggerating. And I wouldn't have even thought about this if not for the Orioles and Mark Reynolds making so many errors. But the O's lead the league in errors so far this year with 8 in 9 games, or on a pace to make 144.

In 1983 the average AL team made 131 errors, and the AL made .81 errors/team/game.

In 2000 that was down to .69 E/T/G.

In 2011 it was down to .63.

So in the last quarter-century or so errors have disappeared by almost 25%. Last year the O's weren't a good defensive team, nor a particuarly sure-handed one and made 110 errors. The '69 Orioles were a magnificent defensive team that easily led the AL in fewest errors, with 101.

Somehow I had it in my head that errors hadn't significantly changed in the past 50 years or so, but I was wrong. They're consistently going down, and the trend continues.

[bdlj0887]

I think a lot of things that would've been scored as an error in '69 would not be now.

[SoBo]

Better fielding or more lenient scorers?

[OFFNY]

.
Refresh my memory. What is an error, and how does it pertain to baseball ???

[CA-ORIOLE]

So I'm exaggerating. And I wouldn't have even thought about this if not for the Orioles and Mark Reynolds making so many errors. But the O's lead the league in errors so far this year with 8 in 9 games, or on a pace to make 144.

In 1983 the average AL team made 131 errors, and the AL made .81 errors/team/game.

In 2000 that was down to .69 E/T/G.

In 2011 it was down to .63.

So in the last quarter-century or so errors have disappeared by almost 25%. Last year the O's weren't a good defensive team, nor a particuarly sure-handed one and made 110 errors. The '69 Orioles were a magnificent defensive team that easily led the AL in fewest errors, with 101.

Somehow I had it in my head that errors hadn't significantly changed in the past 50 years or so, but I was wrong. They're consistently going down, and the trend continues.

Do you know if it's a steady trend since 2000? I noted in another thread that it looked like DER has been improving since 2008, but I kinda eyeballed it and didn't go back further than that. I had done something more precise last year, but can't find it. I'm sure ther are multiple reasons, but I think part of it is you just have more teams looking at the defensive metrics and you don't see guys like Adam Dunn and Jack Cust in the field anymore.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Have we gotten to the point where players' mothers are complaining to the official scorer, or is that generation of kids still in high school?

[Pickles]

Don't forget there are lot less balls in play in 2012 compared to 1969 for instance. I'm sure that would explain alot of the discrepancy.

Edit: I'm sure fielding percentages would be far more static.

[LookinUp]

Don't forget there are lot less balls in play in 2012 compared to 1969 for instance. I'm sure that would explain alot of the discrepancy.

So we should look at Fld %.

[MurphDogg]

Is it possible that this can also be somewhat attributed to improvements in grounds keeping? That is, players are getting truer, more dependable hops? I would be curious to see the breakdown in throwing errors vs. errors when attempting to field the ball on the ground vs. attempting to field the ball in the air. I am curious whether that ratio has changed. Also, I would be curious to learn whether the ratio of outfield errors to infield errors has remained consistent.

Though it is not recent, one possible reason for fewer errors is the fact that there is much less foul territory than their used to be, so Mark Reynolds only drops a ball in foul territory twice per season instead of five times per season.

It would be difficult to quantify any shift in leniency by official scorers. I'm not sure what stat that is currently kept could help quantifying this.

[Bazooka Jones]

Side thought: Both Reynolds and Betemit have a hard time fielding 3B. I think Buck needs to explore the other possibilities of having Andino, Flaherty and Davis over there. That could help cut down on some of the potential errors out there. Reynolds seemed best at 1B.

[Mr Snuffleupagus]

I get nervous about what it means for this thread. So far the count is at one, but it could have easily been 3.

[Frobby]

Better fielding or more lenient scorers?

I would guess both. The higher K rate also cuts down on errors, as Pickles pointed out.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Side thought: Both Reynolds and Betemit have a hard time fielding 3B. I think Buck needs to explore the other possibilities of having Andino, Flaherty and Davis over there. That could help cut down on some of the potential errors out there. Reynolds seemed best at 1B.

Davis has a hurt arm and Andino is the every day 2B. I agree that Flaherty will probably see increased time there, though.

[weams]

Davis has a hurt arm and Andino is the every day 2B. I agree that Flaherty will probably see increased time there, though.

Without surgery, Chris Davis is no longer a Third base man.

[scOtt]

Without surgery, Chris Davis is no longer a Third base man.

Nice avatar today!

"My Lord, whatever I done, don't strike me blind for another couple of minutes. "