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The Defense Thread, 2013


Frobby

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Nick has very sure hands. If his glove reaches the ball, he catches the ball. He may not have the greatest range, but what he can get to, he catches. Personally, I think he's played an excellent RF over the last six weeks, after looking a little shaky to start the season.

To socalbirdfan: the play was in the fifth inning, I believe.

I agree, he looked bad at the start of the season, but he's looked exceptional starting with a catch he made going into the stands a while back. And you're right, when he gets to the ball he's catching it. That gives me a good feeling as I watch him.

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June 11 (3-2 win over the Angels)

Almost too many good plays to count, and I didn't see them all.

- running catch by Markakis in the deep RF corner, not spectacular but he Dana very long way to get it

- more spectacular running catch by Markakis in foul territory jumping into the wall and catching the ball inches from the padding and holding

- diving stop and throw by Machado

Running catch in deep CF by Jones (didn't see it but Buck mentioned it)

Nice 1-4-3 DP started by Gonzo, relay by Flaherty

- ball caroms off Gonzalez's leg but he recovers and makes a snap throw from a tough angle and Davis holds on

On the negative side:

- Wieters loses a foul pop in the twilight sky and it drops in foul territory. (Wieters also failed to reach a foul pop near the dugout railing in the June 10 game, but it was a tough play with the wet on deck circle and the corner of the dugout railing coming into play)

- Johnson fails to field a hopper right up the middle that goes for a run-scoring single in the 9th. Definitely looked to me like it wasn't hit that hard, but JJ never really offered at it.

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I've neglected this thread over the last week or so.

June 18 (5-2 win over Tigers)

- McLouth nailed a runner at 2B

- Nice charging play by Hardy and off balance throw

- Diving play by Manny to the SS side and strong throw to 1B

- Amazing diving play by Manny to the 3B side and great one-hop throw nicely picked by Davis.

- Manny got to a ball that bounced near the foul line deep behind 3B and made a one hop throw that Davis couldn't pick. Scored an error on Manny but it was a hit in my opinion. Would have been an excellent play if they'd made it.

- Then there was Manny's DP that wasn't, thanks to the ump. Busy day for Manny!

Going back a few days, Nick made two nice catches on consecutive plays over the weekend, one over his shoulder and one diving. Pearce also made a really nice running catch in the alley in that game Manny made an "error" yesterday when he tapped his glove before throwing to first and the batter was ruled safe at 1B, when replays showed he was out. Flaherty had a costly error in one game but I forget the details.

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I've neglected this thread over the last week or so.

June 18 (5-2 win over Tigers)

- McLouth nailed a runner at 2B

- Nice charging play by Hardy and off balance throw

- Diving play by Manny to the SS side and strong throw to 1B

- Amazing diving play by Manny to the 3B side and great one-hop throw nicely picked by Davis.

- Manny got to a ball that bounced near the foul line deep behind 3B and made a one hop throw that Davis couldn't pick. Scored an error on Manny but it was a hit in my opinion. Would have been an excellent play if they'd made it.

- Then there was Manny's DP that wasn't, thanks to the ump. Busy day for Manny!

Going back a few days, Nick made two nice catches on consecutive plays over the weekend, one over his shoulder and one diving. Pearce also made a really nice running catch in the alley in that game Manny made an "error" yesterday when he tapped his glove before throwing to first and the batter was ruled safe at 1B, when replays showed he was out. Flaherty had a costly error in one game but I forget the details.

Umps must have it in for Manny.

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Machado is getting too much praise around here.

Did anyone notice him miss the runner with the tag??? Forget the fact he actually was out and the guy ran out of the baseline.

Sick diving play he made Frobby. You didn't mention the guy did a belly flop to glove the ball, got to his feet, and fired from near the foul line.

Good grief, man, you make the play seem pedestrian in nature. :)

Is this where I come to complain about him hitting the slider?

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Machado is getting too much praise around here.

Did anyone notice him miss the runner with the tag??? Forget the fact he actually was out and the guy ran out of the baseline.

Sick diving play he made Frobby. You didn't mention the guy did a belly flop to glove the ball, got to his feet, and fired from near the foul line.

Good grief, man, you make the play seem pedestrian in nature. :)

Is this where I come to complain about him hitting the slider?

MLB Network featured both of Manny's plays in its top defensive plays of the night, and gave the play you elaborated on the no. 1 prize for the day.

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MLB Network featured both of Manny's plays in its top defensive plays of the night, and gave the play you elaborated on the no. 1 prize for the day.

I'd be surprised if he isn't leading or near the top for most of those on the year.

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June 21 (7-6 loss to Blue Jays)

- Markakis made a nice catch reaching into the stands in foul territory.

- But he also let a bloop single land in front of him that preceded a 2-out 2-run homer.

I didn't actually see the game, so if there's more, please add it in.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The defense in June:

3 unearned runs allowed was fewest in the AL

.25 errors per game (7 total)

+ 6.3 UZR (5.3 IF, 1.0 OF)

+14 Rtot

+1.3 dWAR

PLAYER/April/May/June

Davis 0.0 UZR, -0.1 dWAR (1 error)/ -1.8, -0.7 (1 error)/-0.1, -0.4 (1 error)

Flaherty 1.7, 0.2/ 2.8, 0.1/ 0.5, 0.1 (2 errors)

Casilla 0.9, 0.3/ 1.3, 0.1/ 0.2, 0.2

Roberts 0.4, 0.2/ ----, ----/----, ----

Hardy 0.6, 0.3 9 (3 errors) /1.9, 0.4 (2 errors)/0.2, 0.6 (1 error)

Machado 6.9, 0.6 (2 errors)/ 4.0, 0.8 (1 error)/4.4, 1.0 (2 errors)

McLouth 0.1, 0.1/ 0.3, 0.4/0.7, -0.5

Reimold -0.6, -0.4/ 0.0, -0.1/----,----

Jones -2.2, 0.0 (1 error)/ -4.6, -0.1 (1 error)/0.2, 0.0

Markakis -1.3, -0.4/ 0.7, 0.0/-0.4, -0.1

Wieters 3.0, 0.4 (2 errors)(4 SB, 8 CS in 207 innings)/ 0.0, -0.3 (5 SB, 2 CS in 214.2 innings)/-1.0, -0.2 (1 error)(8 SB, 3 CS in 193.2 innings)

Yet another really good month for the defense, in fact, there's a good case that it was the best month so far. Only 7 errors for the entire month, leading to only 3 unearned runs, and the team also had its best month as measured by Rtot and dWAR (2nd best to April by UZR). This is one really good defensive team.

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The defense in June:

3 unearned runs allowed was fewest in the AL

.25 errors per game (7 total)

+ 6.3 UZR (5.3 IF, 1.0 OF)

+14 Rtot

+1.3 dWAR

PLAYER/April/May/June

Davis 0.0 UZR, -0.1 dWAR (1 error)/ -1.8, -0.7 (1 error)/-0.1, -0.4 (1 error)

Flaherty 1.7, 0.2/ 2.8, 0.1/ 0.5, 0.1 (2 errors)

Casilla 0.9, 0.3/ 1.3, 0.1/ 0.2, 0.2

Roberts 0.4, 0.2/ ----, ----/----, ----

Hardy 0.6, 0.3 9 (3 errors) /1.9, 0.4 (2 errors)/0.2, 0.6 (1 error)

Machado 6.9, 0.6 (2 errors)/ 4.0, 0.8 (1 error)/4.4, 1.0 (2 errors)

McLouth 0.1, 0.1/ 0.3, 0.4/0.7, -0.5

Reimold -0.6, -0.4/ 0.0, -0.1/----,----

Jones -2.2, 0.0 (1 error)/ -4.6, -0.1 (1 error)/0.2, 0.0

Markakis -1.3, -0.4/ 0.7, 0.0/-0.4, -0.1

Wieters 3.0, 0.4 (2 errors)(4 SB, 8 CS in 207 innings)/ 0.0, -0.3 (5 SB, 2 CS in 214.2 innings)/-1.0, -0.2 (1 error)(8 SB, 3 CS in 193.2 innings)

Yet another really good month for the defense, in fact, there's a good case that it was the best month so far. Only 7 errors for the entire month, leading to only 3 unearned runs, and the team also had its best month as measured by Rtot and dWAR (2nd best to April by UZR). This is one really good defensive team.

Agreed and after some of the previous teams and the tendency to rank up more errors than runs, a very pleasant and welcome change. :)

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July 2 (5-2 loss to White Sox)

- great play by BRob charging a grounder towards the 2B bag and making a strong off balance throw to get the hitter.

- great play by Manny on a sharp grounder down the line which he grabbed behind the bag and fired a bullet from foul territory.

- great play by Hardy charging a slow roller towards the hole and making an off balance throw to 1B

- very poor rundown play by Machado and BRob that allowed the batter to get to 2B while they chased a runner between 2nd and 3rd. Mostly on Manny IMO.

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July 7 (2-1 win against the Yankees)

- Machado made what may be the most amazing defensive play in MLB this year, gloving a ball while going into foul territory, and when it started to squirt away, picked it up again and threw out Cruz from an impossible angle falling away at least 10 feet into foul territory.

July 8 (8-5 loss to Texas)

- Nice DP turn by Casilla after Hardy dropped a grounder and had to shovel it to Casilla with a runner bearing down on him. Very quick release by Casilla, and good scoop by Davis of the one-hop throw.

- Nice DP started by Manny, picking up a slow chopper on the short hop, making a quick throw to 2B, which Casilla picked up slightly off-line and converted for the DP.

- Diving catch by Flaherty of a would-be opposite field bloop to short RF.

- McLouth fell trying to charge a bloop hit to LF and that played a big role in the Rangers' 6-run sixth inning.

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