New Fielding Stat

[WietersOvechkin]

I'm not sure if this was posted before but thought it was pretty interesting. I know we have discussed a lot about what makes a good fielder.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=y&type=0&season=2008&month=0

Edit: Sort by UZR

[Enjoy Terror]

Can you go into some detail on these 3-letter combinations that are supposed to mean something?

[WietersOvechkin]

Can you go into some detail on these 3-letter combinations that are supposed to mean something?

DG (defensive games): The number of outs made by an average fielder at his position given the exact distribution of balls in play for that player divided by the number of outs an average player at that position makes per game.

exO (expected outs): The number of outs plus reached base errors that would be made by an average fielder given the distribution of balls in play while that fielder was on the field.

RngR (range runs): The number of runs above or below average a fielder is, determined by how the fielder is able to get to balls hit in his vicinity.

ErrR (error runs): The number of runs above or below average a fielder is, determined by the number of errors he makes as compared to an average fielder at that position given the same distribution of balls in play.

UZR (ultimate zone rating): The number of runs above or below average a fielder is in both range runs and error runs combined.

UZR/150 (ultimate zone rate per 150 games): The number of runs above or below average a fielder is, per 150 defensive games.

--Sorry I meant to post this with it and forgot.

[Sports Guy]

What is the new stat?

UZR has been been around for a while.

[Enjoy Terror]

This seems to be saying that Adam Jones is better defensively than Nick Markakis, according to his UZR/150, and Melvin Mora has the top RF/9 for a third baseman for 2008, but the worst RngR for a 3B. I'm not really sure how to interpret these statistics.

[WietersOvechkin]

This seems to be saying that Adam Jones is better defensively than Nick Markakis, according to his UZR/150, and Melvin Mora has the top RF/9 for a third baseman for 2008, but the worst RngR for a 3B. I'm not really sure how to interpret these statistics.

basically if you sort by UZR you can tell that Melvin Mora is not a good fielder. As for Adam Jones, they are saying that he is a better fielder than Nick due to the fact he plays CF and he has to cover more ground.

[JTrea81]

I still like the plus minus system because it actually looks at the all the attempted plays that the fielder should have made vs. the ones they actually made.

[TyCobb]

I still like the plus minus system because it actually looks at the all the attempted plays that the fielder should have made vs. the ones they actually made.

UZR/150 just doesn't pass the smell test. Look at RF

Winn 18.9

Fukodoma 13.4

Giles 10.4

Markakis 3.4

How is there such a deep drop from the top 3 and the 4th. And why are the top 3 all from the NL?

[Old#5fan]

UZR/150 just doesn't pass the smell test. Look at RF

Winn 18.9

Fukodoma 13.4

Giles 10.4

Markakis 3.4

How is there such a deep drop from the top 3 and the 4th. And why are the top 3 all from the NL?

Just because Markakis doesn't fare so well doen't mean the stat is not valid. Eearlier in the thread it was shown that one of the ratings indicates Adam Jones is better than Markakis because he has to cover more ground. This is sort of common sense as all centerfielders are normally the best outfielder on any given team. Probably why they give them the most Gold Gloves.

[Old#5fan]

basically if you sort by UZR you can tell that Melvin Mora is not a good fielder. As for Adam Jones, they are saying that he is a better fielder than Nick due to the fact he plays CF and he has to cover more ground.

I don't see why anyone would need a stat like this to realize that Melvin Mora is not a great fielding third baseman. His deficiencies in charging slow rollers alone makes him below average.

[TyCobb]

Just because Markakis doesn't fare so well doen't mean the stat is not valid. Eearlier in the thread it was shown that one of the ratings indicates Adam Jones is better than Markakis because he has to cover more ground. This is sort of common sense as all centerfielders are normally the best outfielder on any given team. Probably why they give them the most Gold Gloves.

Put any AL RF in there and you still have the same problem. I am talking about RF. I am not an idiot. I know CF covers more ground.

[Crazysilver03]

I don't see why anyone would need a stat like this to realize that Melvin Mora is not a great fielding third baseman. His deficiencies in charging slow rollers alone makes him below average.

You have stats so you can compare multiple players against each other. Yes, for Orioles fans we might be able to tell that Mora is a below average fielder, but if we want to compare him to Beltre, Longoria, Teahen, Blalock, etc., it is easier to use statistics.

[DrungoHazewood]

Just because Markakis doesn't fare so well doen't mean the stat is not valid.

Old#5's test of statistical validity: Does the number produce results that confirm his previously formed opinions based on nothing but personal observation? In other words, Old#5 thinks Markakis is vastly overrated, so any number that can be interpreted as indicating he's not great is a wonderful stat. Almost all other stats are to be treated with a mixture of contempt and derision.

[DrungoHazewood]

I don't see why anyone would need a stat like this to realize that Melvin Mora is not a great fielding third baseman. His deficiencies in charging slow rollers alone makes him below average.

You need the numbers because it's easy to fall into a trap, such as weighing one small area of responsibility (charging slow rollers) many times what is realistic.

[BRob51]

old#5's test of statistical validity: Does the number produce results that confirm his previously formed opinions based on nothing but personal observation? In other words, old#5 thinks markakis is vastly overrated, so any number that can be interpreted as indicating he's not great is a wonderful stat. Almost all other stats are to be treated with a mixture of contempt and derision.

ziiiiiiiiiing!!!!!!!!!!!