Kinsler Above Average Defensively According To Advanced Metrics

In previous posts, I looked at the Revised Zone Rating (RZR) and Out-of-Zone Plays (OOZ) metrics listed at FanGraphs.  Links to these posts are provided below:

• Conversion of RZR, OOZ to runs (from 2012)

• Shortstops

Now, I'm going to to do the above conversion for second basemen.  Table 1 below contains the following information for 24 MLB second basemen 800 or more innings in 2013:

• 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

The MLB Runs Saved Above Average leader was Mariners second baseman Nick Franklin (+24) followed by Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox (+18).   The worst was Dan Uggla of the Braves (-23). 

New Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler ranked 7th in MLB with +7 RSAA.  Kinsler was especially good at turning balls hit into the second base zone into outs finishing 11 plays better than average.  He was 2 plays above average outside the zone.  He was better on out-of-zone plays than in-zone plays in 2012, but the final result was similar (+6 RSAA). Other advanced statistics support his being a strong fielder in 2013 as he was +11 on Defensive Runs Saved, +13 on Baseball Prospectus' Fielding Runs Above Average and +10 on Total Zone.

While Kinsler appears to be an above average defender, he may not be an upgrade over Omar Infante who checked in at +10.  This is not a position where they necessarily had to have an upgrade though.  They needed a suitable replacement for the departing free agent and Kinsler should be just fine. 

Table 1: Runs Saved by MLB Second Basemen According to RZR, OOZ, 2013

Player	Team	Inn	RZR	OOZ	PIZ AA	OOZ AA	PMAA	RSAA
Nick Franklin	SEA	828	.791	62	-3	34	32	24
Dustin Pedroia	BOS	1,398	.823	63	8	16	24	18
Neil Walker	PIT	1,144	.781	67	-6	29	22	17
Brian Dozier	MIN	1,255	.832	43	12	1	14	10
Omar Infante	DET	1,025	.846	33	14	-1	13	10
Eric Sogard	OAK	865	.816	35	3	6	9	7
Ian Kinsler	TEX	1,095	.836	34	11	-2	9	7
Ben Zobrist	TBR	1,017	.803	41	1	7	8	6
Jason Kipnis	CLE	1,292	.825	42	9	-1	7	6
Robinson Cano	NYY	1,350	.802	50	0	5	6	4
Matt Carpenter	STL	1,108	.814	38	4	1	5	4
Mark Ellis	LAD	950	.839	27	10	-5	5	4
Donovan Solano	MIA	806	.844	20	12	-7	5	4
Brandon Phillips	CIN	1,347	.828	35	11	-10	1	1
Howie Kendrick	LAA	1,043	.787	36	-4	1	-3	-2
Chase Utley	PHI	1,071	.836	22	10	-14	-4	-3
Darwin Barney	CHC	1,237	.810	32	3	-9	-6	-5
Jedd Gyorko	SDP	1,008	.822	20	6	-14	-7	-5
Gordon Beckham	CHW	884	.790	23	-2	-6	-9	-7
Marco Scutaro	SFG	1,033	.808	19	2	-15	-13	-10
Daniel Murphy	NYM	1,334	.787	36	-5	-8	-14	-10
Jose Altuve	HOU	1,261	.741	49	-23	7	-16	-12
Rickie Weeks	MIL	815	.756	19	-11	-8	-20	-15
Dan Uggla	ATL	1,161	.765	20	-11	-19	-30	-23

  Data source: FanGraphs.com