By Mark Simon, Sports Info Solutions
You can’t tell much from a quarter-season’s worth of defensive statistics.
That’s mostly true, but not entirely so. There is plenty of imperfection in small sample sizes, but if you look closely, you can find patterns and trends that might be important down the road.
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We’ve found a few as we hit a quarter of the way through the baseball season:
The Yankees have a much better infield with Gleyber Torres playing
The Yankees went 10-9 in their first 18 games prior to his arrival and one of the early issues was that their infield defense was not great. Their conversion rate turning grounders and bunts into outs ranked 29thin the majors at 69 percent.
Since Torres’ arrival, the Yankees have turned grounders and bunts into outs at a 74 percent rate, which ranks 11th. They’ve ranked fourth in out conversion on balls hit to the right of second base.
Torres has three Defensive Runs Saved, with plays like this ‘Good Fielding Play’ being among the most responsible for his numbers.
Torres’ six Good Fielding Plays at second base are tied for second at that position since his recall (Ozzie Albies leads with eight). Right now, he looks the part.
Bryce Harper is being careful
Bryce Harper typically rates average to slightly above average in right field, but this season he’s cost his team six runs, which ranks next-to-last among right fielders this season.
Watching video of the plays that were most costly to Harper, a few had something in common — he pulled up near fences, rather than try to make a tough catch, or he didn’t dive for something hit in front of him.
In his first 37 games this season, Harper had one Good Fielding Play and six combined Defensive Misplays & Errors in 37 games this season. The latter is in line with Harper’s past totals. The former is low (he had 24 two seasons ago, 12 last season).
It goes without saying that the Nationals want Harper on the field, and perhaps they’ll take a drop in his defensive riskiness to ensure he’s in the lineup more often than he’s previously been.
Yan Gomes may have returned to form
The last three seasons, the Indians catching situation has been clearcut. Roberto Pérez is a high-end pitch framer. Yan Gomes was, but seemed to decline.
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In the early part of 2018, Gomes has been very good. The current leader is Diamondbacks backstop Jeff Mathis (who has a rep as an elite framer) with Gomes right behind him (Tyler Flowers will likely surpass both once he has a larger sample of games).
Gomes has been excellent this season at both ensuring that pitches in the strike zone are properly called, and at widening the outside corner at the knees when a left-handed batter is at the plate and widening both corners for right-handed hitters.
Gomes may not be at Perez’s level, but he’s reestablishing himself well for now.
The Rangers may have a future standout
Rangers infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa may be best known for his unusual name to this point, but he may one day also be known as a defensive star.
Kiner-Falefa is versatile. He’s primarily played third base in the minors, but has also spent time at second base, shortstop, catcher, and dabbled for a few innings in center field and at first base.
Sports Info Solutions tracks Defensive Runs Saved in Double A and Triple A, and Kiner-Falefa’s numbers at third base were better, on a per-inning basis, than current Oakland Athletics’ standout Matt Chapman. He hasn’t played much third base yet, but this play from spring training shows what he can do.
Projecting defensive performance is an imperfect science, but Kiner-Falefa, despite a few mishaps, seems on the right track. He’s saved four runs defensively so far.
Dee Gordon is having some challenges
Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has been highly positive in talking about every aspect of Dee Gordon’s play, but the analytics show Gordon is facing a steep learning curve in center field.
Gordon’s primary issue has been going back on balls hit over his head. Mike Trout, Michael Brantley and Brian McCann are among those who have gotten extra base hits due to a Gordon stumble or faceplant.
Gordon has 14 combined Defensive Misplays & Errors, most for any outfielder in MLB, and has cost his team nine runs with his play. That said, Gordon’s athleticism did come in handy for teammate James Paxton’s recent no-hitter.
Gordon did win a Gold Glove at second base. But center field is going to take time. The Mariners are thankful he’s made up for his misplays with his bat.
The Phillies may need to rethink their shifts
Gabe Kapler came out shifts blazing in the first series of the season against the Braves. The Phillies have shifted the usual assortment of hitters who warrant such treatment, but added on a few others as well (Nick Markakis among the notables). The results haven’t been great.
By our calculations, Phillies opponents have had a net gain of 11 hits against their shifts. The Phillies enteredThursdayas one of two teams for whom the shift was a net loss (the Dodgers are the other). So far this season, the results haven’t been what the Phillies have wanted.
Sports Info Solutions, based just outside Allentown, Pa., works with MLB and NFL teams on sports analytics.
(Top photo of Torres: Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Sports Info Solutions, based just outside Allentown, Pa., works with MLB and NFL teams on sports analytics.
