How is Alex Avila's Defense in 2014?

Alex Avila has excelled at stopping the running game and pitch blocking in 2014
(Photo credit: TheMajors.net)

One of the hardest parts of the game to quantify is catcher defense.  It is believed by many baseball insiders that handling of pitchers is the most important defensive skill of any catcher.  By pitcher handling, I mean studying opposing batters, game calling, understanding pitcher abilities and tendencies, helping pitchers maintain focus and other duties unique to the catching position.  These things are difficult to measure because we do not know how much of good pitching is due to the pitcher versus the catcher.  Much of pitcher management is still a mystery to statistical analysts, but there are some things than can quantified.

The algorithm I have used to evaluate catchers is complex and will not be described in detail here, but the methodology can be found in an earlier article.  I do want to give credit to others such as Sean Smith, Justin Inaz, Matt Klaasen and Mike Rogers who inspired me with similar work in the past.  The system evaluates catchers based on what we can most easily measure - controlling the running game, pitch blocking and avoiding errors.  Thanks to analysts such as Mike Fast, Max Marchi and Harry Pavlidis and Dan Brooks, I can now add a new component to my formula - pitch framing or receiving.

I'll use Detroit Tigers backstop Alex Avila as an illustration.  Based on innings caught, stolen bases attempted, runners caught stealing and league caught stealing rate, it is estimated that Avila has saved the Tigers about five runs (4.5) compared to an average catcher.  This is tied for best in the majors with Yadier Molina of the Cardinals.

Similarly, passed ball and wild pitch rates suggest that Avila has saved the Tigers an estimated three runs (3.2) with pitch blocking.  This is second only to Jonathan Lucroy of the Brewers who has 4 runs saved. better   Avila has not cost the Tigers any runs on throwing errors (0.2) or fielding errors (-0.2). 

Finally, I take the pitch framing data from Baseball Prospectus pitch receiving data from.  According to Pitch f/x data, there should have been 1,568 strikes called with Avila behind the plate.  There have actually been 1,543 strikes, so he has cost the Tigers 25 strikes with translates into an estimated four runs (-3.7).  

The five elements listed above (stopping the running game, pitch blocking, avoiding throwing errors, avoiding fielding errors and pitch receiving) are combined to arrive at total runs saved.  Avila's numbers sum to about four runs (4.1) indicating that he has saved the Tigers an estimated four runs overall with his catching. 

So, Avila has been good at at stopping the running game and pitch blocking, but not so good at pitch receiving.  It's interesting to note that the opposite was true last year when he was -6 stopping the running game, -2 blocking pitches and +9 receiving pitchers. 

Like other defensive algorithms, this system should be taken with a grain of salt.  First, it does not address important pitcher management skills.  Moreover, pitch receiving measurement is a work in progress.  There is evidence that these numbers tend to stay relatively consistent from year to year though indicating that they probably describe real skills to some extent.

Table 1 below shows that Yankees receiver Brian McCann is the major league leader with 17.7 runs saved in 2014.  He has been especially good at stopping the running game (3.2) and pitch receiving (13.2 runs). Lucroy is next with 16.2 total runs saved thanks to his pitch blocking (4.0) and receiving (11.4).

Table 1: Catcher Runs Saved Leaders, 2014 (as of June 28, 2014)

Player	Team	Inn	Running Game	Pitch Blocking	Throwing Errors	Fielding Errors	Pitch Receiving	Total
Brian McCann	NYY	504	3.2	0.4	0.5	0.3	13.2	17.7
Jonathan Lucroy	MIL	623	0.2	4.0	0.7	-0.1	11.4	16.2
Buster Posey	SFG	473	0.8	2.8	-0.1	0.3	10.1	14.0
Miguel Montero	ARI	647	-0.5	1.5	-0.7	-0.6	14.0	13.8
Rene Rivera	SDP	311	2.4	-1.2	-0.3	-0.3	12.0	12.6
Russell Martin	PIT	375	1.7	-0.1	0.3	0.3	10.4	12.5
Hank Conger	LAA	330	0.9	-0.7	-0.0	0.2	11.5	11.9
Mike Zunino	SEA	572	1.5	-1.5	0.1	0.4	10.7	11.2
Ryan Hanigan	TBR	378	0.8	0.8	0.6	0.3	8.5	11.0
Jose Molina	TBR	341	-1.4	-0.6	-0.0	0.2	12.7	10.9
Jason Castro	HOU	513	-0.2	2.2	0.5	-0.6	8.9	10.8
Yadier Molina	STL	623	4.5	2.8	0.4	0.4	2.5	10.7
Alex Avila	DET	503	4.5	3.2	0.2	-0.2	-3.7	4.1
Travis d'Arnaud	NYM	358	-0.8	-1.7	-0.3	0.2	6.6	4.1
Robinson Chirinos	TEX	401	5.5	1.6	0.1	0.3	-4.3	3.1
Tyler Flowers	CHW	566	1.4	-3.5	0.1	-0.1	5.1	3.0
Yan Gomes	CLE	584	2.3	-2.1	-1.6	-0.1	4.2	2.7
Jose Lobaton	WSN	351	1.0	2.1	0.3	0.2	-0.9	2.7
Yasmani Grandal	SDP	323	-3.2	-3.1	-0.0	-0.3	8.1	1.5
Carlos Ruiz	PHI	580	-0.7	2.8	0.1	0.4	-1.4	1.2
Wilin Rosario	COL	434	0.3	-2.2	-0.1	-0.2	2.8	0.6
Devin Mesoraco	CIN	398	0.5	1.9	0.1	-0.2	-2.2	0.0
Salvador Perez	KCR	614	1.4	-0.6	0.1	0.4	-2.8	-1.4
Evan Gattis	ATL	483	-1.1	-3.8	-0.4	-0.2	2.9	-2.5
A.J. Pierzynski	BOS	495	-1.6	-0.2	0.2	0.3	-4.1	-5.4
Dioner Navarro	TOR	404	-1.3	0.8	0.1	0.3	-6.9	-7.0
Derek Norris	OAK	414	-3.0	0.7	0.1	-0.2	-5.2	-7.7
Welington Castillo	CHC	406	-2.8	0.3	0.4	-0.2	-6.2	-8.6
Chris Iannetta	LAA	388	0.5	-3.3	0.6	0.3	-7.5	-9.4
Kurt Suzuki	MIN	511	-1.1	2.8	-0.0	0.4	-11.6	-9.6
Jarrod Saltalamacchia	MIA	461	-2.8	-0.7	-1.5	-0.2	-6.2	-11.4

 Data sources: Baseball-Reference.com and BaseballProspectus.com