The Defense Thread, 2013

[Frobby]

I thought it might be nice to have one place where we can find commentary on all the really good or bad defensive plays. I may try to go back and create a kind of game log. For now, here's a brief summary through 15 games, in my opinion.

1B: Davis looking better than last year, but still a downgrade from Reynolds IMO. We lost a game on a ball that went through his legs, and he's failed to pick at least two throws that I'm pretty sure Reynolds would have picked.

2B: Everyone has played well here IMO. BRob was a notably pleasant surprise, turning 5 DP's in 3 games, including a couple of tough ones. Casilla made a beautiful play where he gloved a ball going towards the bag and made an incredibly quick toss to Hardy to start a DP. Flaherty has been solid if unspectacular, but he made a really nice pick-and-tag on a Wieters throw to get a CS the other day (the runner may have been safe, but Flaherty sold it).

SS: Hardy's arm hasn't been as steady as usual. 2 errors (including one that cost a run last night) and at least one bad throw on a play scored as a hit that should have been an error (Strop was pitching at the time). He's also made some nice plays but nothing really spectacular I can think of.

3B: Manny's been a human highlight reel. His play on the 9th inning swinging bunt on 4/16 may be the defensive highlight of the year so far. He made a great throw from medium RF on a shift play to gun out the batter at 1B (I forget against who). I can't think of any other specific plays right now but there have been a host of above average plays, and only one play he might have made, but didn't (it initially was scored an error, but subsequently changed to a hit; correct scoring IMO but still a play Manny might have made.

C: Wieters is 5 for 7 throwing out runners and most of those have been really quick-release throws. Two of them had to be picked, but we're quickly made and right on line with the base. The two successful steals involved terrible throws. One was on Opening Day and the throw sailed into CF for an error. The other was April 17 vs. Tampa and the throw literally hit Gonzo in the foot. Wieters also dropped a pop up for his other error. No exciting tag plays yet.

LF: One ill-advised dive by McLouth that turned a single into a double in a game situation where playing it safe would have been wiser. Can't think of anything else notable. Reimold made a really nice throw to the plate last night but the runner was safe anyway.

CF: Unfortunately, a lot of trouble here so far, though I expect Adam to bounce back. There was the ball lost in the sun for two runs. There was the drop deep CF against the Yankees for 3 runs on April 12. There was the ball that skipped past him vs. Tampa on April 17, plus the throw where he missed the cutoff man and nearly threw it too high for Wieters to catch. There have been three other plays where posters have runners advanced a base and posters questioned whether Jones had positioned himself properly to make a strong throw. And I missed it, but was there some ball that skipped past him last night? The game thread seemed to say so. Meanwhile, I can't think of any great plays by Jones yet this year. I'm sure they'll come, but so far he's well on the negative side of the ledger.

RF: I count three poor plays by Markakis: a ball he misjudged in Arrieta's first start that went for a triple, a ball he didn't get to in the rain vs. Boston (I think) and a ball hat sailed over his head in NY (not sure he could have caught it anyway but he clearly misjudged it). He's made a couple of nice reads on hard hit balls in this Tampa series, but nothing I'd call exceptional.

In summary, the defense has been more bad than good in the early going, with the outfield being a particular sore spot and Manny being the bright spot.

If other posters can add in details I've missed from the first 15 games, good or bad, please list them here. Even for the plays I noted, if you can pinpoint specifics (date, opponent) where I didn't. And feel free to post video!

I'll try to update this as the year goes along, but I hope everyone will weigh in when you see a notable play, good or bad.

[OFFNY]

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Good thread that we can keep going throughout the year.

[jtschrei]

I think Hardy is hurt. He just looks very slow to me. He's not fast. We know that but he doesnt look right to me.

[luismatos4prez]

1B: Davis looking better than last year, but still a downgrade from Reynolds IMO.

Reynolds has made 2 errors in 3 starts at first base for Cleveland.

[Frobby]

Davis had been solid. I'm getting a little tired of people acting like Reynolds is a gold glove 1B who would never make an error. Davis has been good at starting the DP's with a good accurate arm.

According to his fangraphs player page, Davis hasn't started a DP this season. Are you talking about previously, or is fangraphs mistaken?

I'm not too down on Davis, but I do think Reynolds was better at picking throws. Davis may be better in other areas.

[Dipper9]

Good thread. I think in general, our defense (and base running) has been very sloppy and unfocused thus far this season.

One nitpick. I know the error went to Hardy last night, and the throw WAS a little high, but that ball should have been caught. Gonzo wasn't set at the base, and when he went to catch the ball he kinda pushed his glove at it, which forced it to go even higher in the air after it sailed past him. He should have made that catch.

[Dipper9]

In Gonzalez's defense, he's running to get to the bag, and getting set for the throw. It's not like a 1B who has some time to focus on the throw. If you look at the replay, Gonzalez had to leave the ground to attempt the catch. Not a terrible throw, just not a good one.

:agree:

I have made throws like this in softball. As soon as I throw it I think "oh ****!" But then I think..."Cmon man, you coulda had that!" lol

[Frobby]

Good thread. I think in general, our defense (and base running) has been very sloppy and unfocused thus far this season.

One nitpick. I know the error went to Hardy last night, and the throw WAS a little high, but that ball should have been caught. Gonzo wasn't set at the base, and when he went to catch the ball he kinda pushed his glove at it, which forced it to go even higher in the air after it sailed past him. He should have made that catch.

A couple of the plays referenced in the OP are plays I've read or heard about, but didn't see. That Hardy play is one, the ball that went throughh Davis' legs is another, and a couple of the plays where runners advanced on Jones. And, I'm sure there were some other good or bad plays that I either didn't see or forgot about already. So, I hope other posters will chime in.

[El Gordo]

I think we have the potential to have great defense. So far it has been merely good because of a few E's and misplays. But by and large it's solid. I think Reynolds had a tendency to make routine plays look hard, while Davis makes routine plays look routine.

[BobDylanBundy]

I think Davis will be fine. He only played 38 games at 1B last year and Spring Training doesn't fully mimic a regular season setting. Also seems like the historic HR start may have gone to his head a bit. Things should balance out, he has the ability to be a quality fielder.

Pretty much everyone on the team except for Jones has a strong defensive reputation (and even he has won a Gold Glove). This just goes to show defense can slump as easily as hitting. The general consensus seems to be that advanced defensive metrics aren't able to reliably measure small sample sizes. I think we're going to eventually realize the small sample sizes are accurate measurements, and the crazy results are because defensive play across the board is nowhere near as consistent or automatic as assumed. If Nolan Reimold hits .175 in April, we don't just dismiss the data as meaningless due to sample size - we accept it within it's exact limited context. I've yet to see a reason defensive stats can't be treated the same way.

[Say O!]

Jones had the nice play in Fenway where he ran down a line drive in the left-field alley.

[Say O!]

According to fangraphs,

Machado has cumulative UZR of 4.7 already. That's 162 game pacing for 50.76 which would be an all-time record (I think).

Wieters very strong behind the plate too, with UZR of 3.0 thus far.

Of course the counterbalance with Jones, Markakis, Davis a cumulative -5.3 UZR.

*** edit to re-state as fangraphs FLD numbers (which I assume to be UZR).

[backwardsk]

Jones had the nice play in Fenway where he ran down a line drive in the left-field alley.

I believe O'Day was pitching on that play. It was part of a 1-2-3 inning. Best play Jones has made that I have seen this season.

[El Gordo]

According to fangraphs,

Machado has cumulative UZR of 4.7 already. That's 162 game pacing for 50.76 which would be an all-time record (I think).

Wieters very strong behind the plate too, with UZR of 3.0 thus far.

Of course the counterbalance with Jones, Markakis, Davis a cumulative -5.3 UZR.

Much too soon to look at defensive metrics, but just for S's & G's, Manny leads all MLB 3B with 6 RS so far according to the FB. Wieters and Chen lead at their positions, although tied with several others. Davis and Flaherty are 0 RS and Casilla is 2RS. McLouth is 1 RS and Jones 0, Hardy-2 and Markakis -2. The O's as a team, thanks to Manny, lead all AL teams with +8 RS so far.

[Frobby]

My nominee for defensive play of the year so far by the O's:

http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?tcid=mm_bal_vid&c_id=bal

Not sure why it's not imbedding.