Runs created by position - part 1

Earlier this week, I looked at how Tiger players ranked in runs created (RC) and runs created per game (RC/G) among 136 American League players with 300 or more plate appearances (PA) in 2008. Today, I will start comparing players by position. Position comparisons are often useful because some positions demand more of players defensively and thus their offensive expectations are somewhat lower. For example, catchers are not expected to create as many runs as first basemen and, on average, they don’t.

The catchers are listed in Table 1. The most productive catcher in the league was Joe Mauer with 6.9 runs created per game (RC/G). A whole run behind him in second place was Kelly Shoppach at 5.9 RC/G. Pudge Rodriguez was in third place at 4.9 RC/G, a big jump from 4.0 in 2007.

Brandon Inge finished 11th among 15 AL catchers with 3.7 RC/G. Next year, it is likely that Dusty Ryan and somebody else from outside the organization will share the catching duties in 2009. I'm hoping they can find a combination that will finish closer to 4.9 than 3.7. I also think Inge will need to do better than 3.7 next year if he is going to keep his starting job at third base next year.

Table 1: Runs Created by AL Catchers in 2008

Rank	Player	Team	PA	RC/G	RC
1	Mauer	MIN	633	6.9	101
2	Shoppach	CLE	403	5.9	59
3	Rodriguez	DET	328	4.9	42
4	Navarro	TB	470	4.7	57
5	Suzuki	OAK	588	4.5	67
6	Laird	TEX	381	4.4	43
7	Hernandez	BAL	507	4.3	57
8	Pierzynski	CHA	570	4.2	64
9	Olivo	KC	317	4.1	35
10	Barajas	TOR	377	3.8	39
11	Inge	DET	407	3.7	40
12	Varitek	BOS	483	3.4	44
13	Buck	KC	418	3.3	38
14	Johjima	SEA	409	2.9	33
15	Mathis	LAA	328	2.9	26

The league leading first baseman (Table 2 below) was Kevin Youkilis with 7.3 RC/G. Former Tiger Carlos Pena and Jason Giambi tied for second with 6.6 RC/G. Miguel Cabrera and Justin Morneau tied for 4th with 6.6 RC/G. If we look at total runs created, Morneau and Cabrera would be one and two.

In the prior three years with the Marlins, Cabrera averaged 8.3 runs per game. The AL is a tougher league but, now that he is settled in, I think Cabrera will be over 7.0 RC/G for the next few years and has the potential to be over 8.0 in any given year.


Table 2: Runs Created by AL First Basemen in 2008

Rank	Player	Team	PA	RC/G	RC
1	Youkilis	BOS	621	7.3	106
2	Pena	TB	607	6.6	95
3	Giambi	NYA	565	6.6	89
4	Cabrera	DET	684	6.3	108
5	Morneau	MIN	712	6.3	109
6	Davis	TEX	317	5.8	47
7	Garko	CLE	563	5.1	72
8	Kotchman	LAA	398	4.8	50
9	Overbay	TOR	630	4.8	76
10	Konerko	CHA	514	4.7	62
11	Millar	BAL	610	4.4	69
12	Swisher	CHA	588	4.2	64
13	Barton	OAK	523	4.2	56
14	Gload	KC	418	3.6	41

Ian Kinsler topped all AL second basemen with 6.8 RC/G in 2008 (Table 3 below). He was followed by Dustin Pedroia (6.5) and Brian Roberts (6.3). After a career high and league leading 7.3 RC/G last year, Placido Polanco dropped to 5.4 this year. He could rebound a bit next year but a 33 year old middle infielder who relies heavily on batting average can decline fast so I will probably be happy if he just maintains.

Table 3: Runs Created by AL Second Basemen in 2008

Rank	Player	Team	PA	RC/G	RC
1	Kinsler	TEX	583	6.8	96
2	Pedroia	BOS	726	6.5	114
3	Roberts	BAL	704	6.3	107
4	Inglett	TOR	385	5.4	52
5	Polanco	DET	629	5.4	85
6	Iwamura	TB	707	5.2	90
7	Lopez	SEA	687	5.1	91
8	Kendrick	LAA	361	4.9	46
9	Grudzielanek	KC	360	4.9	45
10	Carroll	CLE	402	4.9	48
11	Ramirez	CHA	509	4.6	64
12	Casilla	MIN	437	4.5	51
13	Cabrera	CLE	418	4.3	46
14	Ellis	OAK	507	4.2	56
15	Cano	NYA	634	4.0	69