Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Converting RZR, OOZ to Runs for First Basemen

In previous posts, I took the Revised Zone Rating (RZR) and Out-of-Zone Plays (OOZ) metrics listed at FanGraphs and converted them to runs based on an algorithm developed by Colin Wyers a few years ago.  Links to these posts are provided below:
Now, I'm going to to do the run conversion for first basemen.  Table 1 below contains the following information for 21 MLB first basemen with 800 or more innings in 2012:
  • Inn = Innings
  • RZR = Revised Zone Rating
  • OOZ = Out-of-Zone Plays
  • PIZAA =  Plays in Zone Above Average
  • OOZAA = Out-of-Zone Plays Above Average
  • PMAA = Total Plays Above Average
  • RSAA = Runs Saved Above Average 
Note that these statistics do not account for plays made receiving throws from infielders which is probably the most important duty of a first baseman. They only consider performance on ground balls.

Adrian Gonzalez, who split time with the Red Sox and Dodgers, led the majors with +16 Runs Saved Above Average.  He was followed by Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso at +14.  The worst first baseman by this metric was Paul Konerko of the White Sox (-12). 

Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder was 4 runs above average.  He was better inside the zone (+7 plays above average) than outside the zone (-2 below average).  Other defensive metrics also rated Fielder fairly close to average defensively.  This includes Defensive Runs Saved (-4) and Baseball Prospectus' Fielding Runs Above Average (+1).

Table 1: Runs Saved by MLB First Basemen According to RZR, OOZ, 2012

Player
Team
Inn
RZR
OOZ
PIZ AA
OOZ AA
PMAA
RSAA
Adrian Gonzalez
BOS/LAD
1,246
.865
29
16
3
20
16
Yonder Alonso
SDP
1,276
.829
37
6
11
17
14
Albert Pujols
LAA
1,021
.842
25
8
4
12
10
Carlos Pena
TBR
1,237
.829
31
6
6
12
9
Adam LaRoche
WSN
1,323
.787
38
-1
11
10
8
Joey Votto
CIN
969
.819
25
4
5
9
7
Mark Teixeira
NYY
1,032
.784
32
-2
11
9
7
Casey Kotchman
CLE
1,087
.807
25
3
3
6
5
Prince Fielder
DET
1,392
.823
27
7
-2
5
4
James Loney
LAD/BOS
982
.794
24
0
4
4
3
Ike Davis
NYM
1,222
.799
24
1
-1
-0
-0
Corey Hart
MIL
849
.811
15
2
-2
-1
-0
Justin Morneau
MIN
879
.809
15
2
-3
-1
-1
Paul Goldschmidt
ARI
1,205
.805
21
2
-4
-2
-1
Brandon Belt
SFG
976
.789
19
-1
-1
-2
-1
Carlos Lee
HOU/MIA
1,250
.754
25
-8
-1
-9
-7
Mark Reynolds
BAL
957
.743
16
-5
-4
-9
-7
Freddie Freeman
ATL
1,289
.745
26
-9
-0
-9
-8
Justin Smoak
SEA
1,155
.806
12
2
-12
-10
-8
Eric Hosmer
KCR
1,277
.783
17
-2
-9
-11
-9
Paul Konerko
CHW
886
.756
8
-5
-10
-15
-12
Data source: FanGraphs.com 

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