Where Did James McCann Rank Defensively in 2015?

Tigers' Rookie catcher James McCann excelled at controlling the running game and avoiding errors in 2015 (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, Dan Brooks, Jonathan Judge and Harry Pavlidis, a relatively new component - pitch framing or receiving - can also be added to the formula

I'll use Detroit Tigers backstop James McCann as an example.  Based on innings caught, stolen bases attempted, runners caught stealing and league caught stealing rate (all found at Baseball-Reference.com), it is estimated that McCann saved the Tigers about five runs (4.7) compared to an average catcher this year.  That was third best in the majors behind Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin (6.6) and Nationals receiver Wilson Ramos (5.0). 

Similarly, passed ball and wild pitch rates suggest that McCann saved the Tigers two runs with pitch blocking which is good for sixth in the majors.  Ramos was the leader with 6.3.

McCann saved the Tigers an estimated two additional runs by avoiding errors - fielding (1.3) and throwing (0.7).  No other catcher fared as well in that category this year.  

Data for another catching skill - pitch framing - can be found at Baseball Prospectus.  The algorithm was developed by researchers Jonathan Judge, Harry Pavlidis and Dan Brooks.  They do a good job of introducing this very complex topic here. According to Pitch f/x data, there should have been 2,614 strikes called with McCann behind the plate.  There were actually 2,563 strikes, so he cost the Tigers 51 strikes with translates into an estimated two runs (-7.5).  Yasmani Grandall of the Dodgers was the MLB leader with 26.8 runs saved with pitch receiving.

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. McCann's numbers summed to just over one run (1.2) indicating that he saved the Tigers an estimated one one run overall with his catching. 

If we omit pitch framing from the equation, McCann saved the Tigers 8.7 runs which was fourth in the majors behind Ramos (11.7), Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (9.3) and Posey (9.1).  So, McCann was good at stopping the running game, pitch blocking and avoiding errors, but not so good at pitch receiving.  

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 still new. 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 Grandall was the MLB leader with 28.1 runs saved followed by followed by Posey (23.1) and Molina (20.5).

Table 1: Catcher Runs Saved Leaders, 2015

Player	Team	Inn	Running Game	Pitch Blocking	Throwing Errors	Fielding Errors	Pitch Receiving	Total
Yasmani Grandal	LAD	884	-0.3	0.7	0.3	0.7	26.8	28.1
Buster Posey	SFG	901	2.4	5.4	0.6	0.7	14.0	23.1
Yadier Molina	STL	1,149	4.5	4.8	0.1	-0.1	11.2	20.5
Derek Norris	SDP	1,040	3.7	-0.6	-0.0	0.3	12.6	15.9
Wilson Ramos	WSN	1,078	5.0	6.3	0.0	0.3	4.2	15.9
Jason Castro	HOU	883	2.7	-1.6	0.9	0.7	13.1	15.8
Russell Martin	TOR	994	6.6	-6.3	0.5	0.2	13.2	14.3
Chris Iannetta	LAA	718	-1.6	0.7	0.7	-0.5	14.8	14.1
Caleb Joseph	BAL	826	1.0	2.4	0.8	-0.4	10.1	14.0
Tyler Flowers	CHW	878	-2.0	-2.8	0.6	-0.8	18.1	13.1
Francisco Cervelli	PIT	1,099	-6.1	-2.3	-0.2	0.8	19.9	12.0
Mike Zunino	SEA	919	1.8	-2.8	0.1	0.2	11.7	11.0
Miguel Montero	CHC	825	-5.4	-0.7	-1.7	-0.4	16.6	8.4
Yan Gomes	CLE	800	1.1	2.9	0.2	0.6	1.6	6.4
Rene Rivera	TBR	784	2.7	-3.2	-0.9	-0.9	7.8	5.4
Brian McCann	NYY	1,042	3.0	-1.7	-0.3	0.3	1.5	2.8
Salvador Perez	KCR	1,192	0.4	1.4	0.5	0.9	-0.8	2.4
James McCann	DET	943	4.7	2.0	1.3	0.7	-7.5	1.2
Cameron Rupp	PHI	701	2.6	-0.7	0.1	0.0	-1.9	0.2
Jonathan Lucroy	MIL	745	-1.2	-1.5	-0.7	0.1	3.3	-0.0
Stephen Vogt	OAK	803	0.8	0.4	0.5	0.6	-3.5	-1.2
Brayan Pena	CIN	754	-5.1	2.8	1.0	0.1	-1.6	-2.8
A.J. Pierzynski	ATL	909	-3.3	-0.4	0.6	0.7	-2.1	-4.5
Nick Hundley	COL	866	2.1	-1.0	-0.2	0.6	-6.0	-4.5

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