Comments on: Answers Aweigh!

By: Brent

Brent — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:47:21 +0000

I was wondering if they figured base running stats and defensive stats by team. I was wondering if overall team stats in these categories were indicative of playing winning baseball…

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:16:11 +0000

Good points above. Question I had, though, was about the bases taken stat. Don’t know how much weight it had in the formula, but the inclusion of David Ortiz has to throw some question on the matter. Because, honestly, most of those are (mostly, anyway) outside the runner’s control. And I know that the stat can have some real usefulness, particularly if it shows that players have an ability to influence/cause those events to happen. But it doesn’t seem to be proven that players can cause it to happen (though maybe I’m just not seeing this right)…

By: JB

JB — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 17:24:26 +0000

Another factor to consider is how often was the runner forced out on a fielders choice. I suspect the effect is small but a player who reaches on a FC now has an opportunity to score a run even though he created an out.

By: Aaron M

Aaron M — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:20:08 +0000

I suspect you would be correct in taking out the runs scored for the very reasons you stated. You’re kind of double counting things. This would also be affected by where they bat in the lineup. Dejesus was almost always at the top and therefore had the 2,3,4, and 5 hitters to score him. Teahen batted 3 for a good chunk of time, but also went as low as 6 and the bottom of the lineup was basically automatic outs especially when Larue played.

Or explained another way, counting circumstances of baserunning is independent of who is batting. A runs scored metric is very dependent on who is batting. In effect, it measures the batters behind you, unless you stole home 40 times last year.

I seriously hope we can do better than Scott Thorman for DDJ. Seems like a waste. Dayton Moore should be banned from dealing with the Braves if only for the Kyle Davies fiasco. He could be good, and we essentially lost nothing, but the deal of Dotel for Wladimir Balentien will haunt me forever when I think of what could have been.

By: Brian Dieffenderfer

Brian Dieffenderfer — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:12:23 +0000

My first reaction is, who were the players hitting the singles? Lets say I am on first and I have Slappy McSingle up versus Henry G. Hitsalot. If the outfield is playing deeper, there may be more opportunity to score. The argument to that is that a hard hit single may be fielded faster. I do not know which happens more. Does the metric also take into account the number of outs. If Teahen is on first a bunch with two outs, he is going to get the green light a bit more than being on first with no or one outs.

By: Seth Feldkamp

Seth Feldkamp — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:41:23 +0000

Great analysis on DeJesus vs Teahen. They are both great to watch, the Royals must be doing something right with their base running coaching, considering that Beltran was here just a few years ago. I wonder what the rankings would look like taking that last consideration out of the formula…

By: Vegas Watch

Vegas Watch — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:25:17 +0000

“League average: 58.9% (not including Kenny Lofton in the playoffs)”

Too soon.

By: ajnrules

ajnrules — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:02:55 +0000

Well, it’s good to see such a heady discussion about two Royals players, it shows that there may be some hope for us in the future, unless the DeJesus trade that the Journal-Constitution reported about falls through.

And how about that Omar Vizquel? He can potentially get 2700 hits in 2008, and he still plays great defense. Can his glove sustain him to the grand 3000-hit milestone?