Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Runs created by position - part 2

Today, I'll continue my series of articles on runs created with shortstops, third basemen and center fielders. Part 1 on catchers, first basemen and second basemen can be found here:

part 1

After finishing first among AL center fielders with 7.8 runs created per game in 2007, Curtis Granderson finished third with 6.5 RC/G in 2008. He trailed only Josh Hamilton and Grady Sizemore who each created 7 runs per game. Hopefully, Grandy will come out of the gates healthy next year and put up even better numbers.

This week, Curtis heads for China.

Table 3: Runs Created by AL center fielders in 2008

Rank

Player

Team

PA

RC/G

RC

1

Hamilton

TEX

704

7.0

117

2

Sizemore

CLE

745

7.0

123

3

Granderson

DET

629

6.5

100

4

Byrd

TEX

462

6.1

68

5

Upton

TB

640

5.6

88

6

Wells

TOR

466

5.5

66

7

Hunter

LAA

608

5.5

85

8

Crisp

BOS

409

4.8

51

9

Ellsbury

BOS

609

4.8

75

10

Jones

BAL

514

4.2

58

11

Reed

SEA

312

4.0

33

12

Gomez

MIN

614

3.7

63

13

Cabrera

NYA

453

3.5

42

14

Gathright

KC

315

3.5

29

15

Gonzalez

OAK

316

3.1

27



In a weak year for AL shortstops, Mike Aviles of the Royals created 5.9 runs per game in limited playing time. He was followed by Derek Jeter (5.1 RC/G) and Johnny Peralta (4.9).

The Tigers Edgar Renteria was 14th out of 17 qualifying shortstops with 4.0 runs created per game. It was his lowest rate since 2001 and he has a career average of 4.9 RC/G. So, even at age 33, I would expect somewhat of a rebound next year. The problem is his range is about gone and I think the Tigers are likely looking for a better defensive shortstop.

Table 1: Runs Created by AL shortstops in 2008

Rank

Player

Team

PA

RC/G

RC

1

Aviles

KC

441

5.9

66

2

Jeter

NYA

668

5.1

87

3

Peralta

CLE

664

4.9

85

4

Young

TEX

708

4.7

85

5

Scutaro

TOR

592

4.5

67

6

Aybar

LAA

375

4.5

44

7

Punto

MIN

377

4.5

44

8

Eckstein

TOR

303

4.5

34

9

Bartlett

TB

494

4.4

56

10

Lowrie

BOS

306

4.3

34

11

Cabrera

CHA

730

4.3

81

12

Izturis

LAA

321

4.3

36

13

Harris

MIN

490

4.2

54

14

Renteria

DET

547

4.0

58

15

Lugo

BOS

307

3.8

31

16

Betancourt

SEA

590

3.7

60

17

Crosby

OAK

605

3.3

54



with 7.6 runs created per game, Alex Rodriguez once again dominated the third base position. Rookie Evan Longoria and Casey Blake were tied for second at 6.3 RC/G. Tigers third sacker Carlos Guillen finished fourth at 5.9 RC/G. Right now, the plan is for Brandon Inge (4.0 RC/G) to play third next year. There were thirteen regular 3Bs who did better than that last year. The median RC/G for the position was 5.3.


Table 2: Runs Created by AL third basemen in 2008

Rank

Player

Team

PA

RC/G

RC

1

Rodriguez

NYA

594

7.6

107

2

Longoria

TB

508

6.3

80

3

Blake

CLE

368

6.3

55

4

Guillen

DET

489

5.9

69

5

Vazquez

TEX

347

5.6

47

6

Gordon

KC

571

5.4

76

7

Mora

BAL

570

5.3

78

8

Beltre

SEA

612

5.3

83

9

Rolen

TOR

467

5.1

59

10

Lowell

BOS

468

4.9

59

11

Figgins

LAA

520

4.7

61

12

Aybar

TB

362

4.6

43

13

Crede

CHA

373

4.3

43

14

Hannahan

OAK

501

3.7

48

15

Uribe

CHA

353

3.5

34

3 comments:

  1. Good stuff as usual, Lee. Two comments.

    One, runs created above replacement is a better measure of relative player value than straight runs created. Simply subtract out about 75% of league-average runs created given the same number of outs froma player's RC total. (I actually use 73% for AL players and 78% for NL players because AL pitching is stronger.)

    Two, RC/G is cute, but overrates OBP. Although, since it's one of the few metrics to do so, it's not a big thing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sky, I sometimes use the Runs Created Above Average which Lee Sinnis invented. I think it's similar to RCAR. I've always preferred "above average" to "above replacement". I know most sabers prefer replacement but I've always felt that replacement level is too arbitrary. What's replacement for one team is not necessarily replacement level for another team.

    I like RC/G because it's very intuitive. Not all my readers are sabers and I think most can relate to the concept of "a line-up of nine Curtis Granderson's will score 6.5 runs per game".

    Lee

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lee, good call about the accessibility factor.

    Might I suggest converting RC into RC above average, then? It will at least reward the players who don't use up many outs more accurately than straight RC.

    ReplyDelete

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