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Category: John Dewan’s Stat of the Week

  • Stat of the Week: 2018 Fielding Bible Awards Preview

    For the next two weeks, this space will feature a multi-part series on the top candidates for The Fielding Bible Awards, which will be announced the week of October 29.

    The Fielding Bible Awards are voted on by a panel of 12 experts, who can vote based on visual observation and subjective judgement, as well statistical analysis.

    This week, Part I of our preview looks at catchers and infielders.

    (DRS totals in parentheses)

    Catcher
    Fielding Bible Favorites: Jeff Mathis (17), Mike Zunino (12)
    NL Gold Glove Favorite: Austin Hedges (12)
    AL Gold Glove Favorite: Salvador Perez (1)
    Other top contenders: Sandy Leon (12), Tony Wolters (12)

    What’s fascinating about the catcher leaderboard for Defensive Runs Saved this season is that it is mostly (though not entirely) composed of part-time players who excel at pitch-framing. At the top of that list is Diamondbacks catcher Jeff Mathis, who led the position by saving 17 runs in just over 500 innings, due not only to his pitch-framing, but also to his pitch-blocking. Mathis was part of a three-catcher unit, all of whom excelled on the defensive side.

    Others who fit the description of part-timers who can frame include Sandy Leon of the Red Sox and Tony Wolters of the Rockies. The AL Gold Glove Award could be a tight race between Mike Zunino of the Mariners, who had a strong year in both framing and thwarting basestealers, and Salvador Perez, whose penchant for basestealing deterrence has helped him win four Gold Gloves in the past.

    Last year’s Fielding Bible Award winner, Martin Maldonado, finished with 3 DRS, 14 back of the MLB lead.

    First Baseman
    Fielding Bible Favorites: Matt Olson (14), Brandon Belt (13)
    NL Gold Glove Favorite: Eric Hosmer (8)
    AL Gold Glove Favorite: Matt Olson
    Other top contenders: Freddie Freeman (12), Joey Votto (9)

    The Bay Area is the home of the two first basemen who led the majors in Defensive Runs Saved. Matt Olson of the Athletics finished with 14. Brandon Belt dealt with injuries for the Giants but still managed to save 13 runs, one fewer than Olson in 530 fewer innings. Belt may have the most range of any first baseman, but Olson is not far behind, and is among the best at scooping throws.

    Within reach of them are Freddie Freeman of the Braves and Joey Votto of the Reds. Olson, Belt and those two are the four first basemen who saved at least 10 runs with their range and positioning. Eric Hosmer also had some of the best numbers of his career at first base. He will be bidding for his fifth Gold Glove.

    Second Baseman 
    Fielding Bible Favorites: Kolten Wong (19), DJ LeMahieu (18)
    NL Gold Glove Favorite: Javier Baez (5)
    AL Gold Glove Favorite: Ian Kinsler (10)
    Other top contenders: Whit Merrifield (8), Ozzie Albies (8)

    If nothing else Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong should win most improved defensive player. He jumped from costing his team a run with his defense in 2017 to saving it a major league-best at the position 19 in 2018. Wong isn’t as flashy as some other candidates, but he was solid and reliable in covering ground. Same for last year’s winner, DJ LeMahieu of the Rockies, who played virtually mistake-free all season in finishing with 18 DRS, one behind Wong.

    Javier Baez of the Cubs doesn’t have a comparable Runs Saved total, but is held in high regard by many for his ability to do the amazing. He led non-first basemen in Good Fielding Plays. Ian Kinsler, who split the season between the Angels and Red Sox, also had a solid season, though he’s a notch below Wong and LeMahieu in overall performance. He’ll be a top contender for an AL Gold Glove, which would be the second of his career.

    Shortstop Fielding Bible Favorites: Andrelton Simmons (21), Nick Ahmed (21)
    NL Gold Glove Favorite: Nick Ahmed
    AL Gold Glove Favorite: Andrelton Simmons
    Other top contenders: Francisco Lindor (14), Paul DeJong (14)

    Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons entered this season having won five straight Fielding Bible Awards, and given that he tied for the MLB lead with 21 Defensive Runs Saved, it’s likely he’s headed to a sixth. Simmons was his usual excellent self, covering ground to both sides with aplomb and tying for the MLB lead in Double Play Runs Saved.

    Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed, the player with whom Simmons tied, may give him a run for his money. Ahmed may have the best arm for a shortstop in the majors, which allows him to get outs from deep in the shortstop-third base hole that others cannot get. He was considerably better than his NL counterparts and should be a favorite for the Gold Glove, too.

    Francisco Lindor of the Indians and Paul DeJong of the Cardinals had good seasons. They’re just not in the same class as the two players at the top.

    Third Baseman
    Fielding Bible Favorites: Matt Chapman (29), Nolan Arenado (5)
    NL Gold Glove Favorite Nolan Arenado 
    AL Gold Glove Favorite: Matt Chapman 
    Other top contenders: Adrian Beltre (10), Travis Shaw (9)

    Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman led the majors with 29 Defensive Runs Saved. No other third baseman finished with more than 10. So it seems like he’s in position to dethrone three-time reigning Fielding Bible Award winner Nolan Arenado. Like Ahmed at shortstop, Chapman’s arm allows him to make plays that other third basemen can’t make — in his case, on balls hit down the third base line.

    Arenado had a down year in Runs Saved, tallying only five. But he was still a regular highlight-reel playmaker. His 45 Good Fielding Plays led the position and make him a favorite to win an NL Gold Glove. Let’s also give a salute to Adrian Beltre, who saved 10 runs in an injury-shortened season. He’s the leader in DRS since it was first compiled in 2003.

  • Stat of the Week: 2018 Defensive Runs Saved Leaders

    By Mark Simon

    With the 2018 regular season concluded, let’s look at the leaders in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Athletics third baseman Matt Chapman finished as the overall leader with 29. Chapman dominated all season, with his work being particularly outstanding on balls hit down the third base line. The next-closest third baseman in Runs Saved was Adrian Beltre with 10.

    It also helped Chapman that he had an excellent defender on the other side of the diamond to handle his throws. The leader there was his teammate, Matt Olson, with 14. With Olson and Chapman at the corners, the Athletics allowed only 20 ground-ball doubles, tied with the Red Sox for fewest in MLB.

    The outfield leader was a surprise — JaCoby Jones of the Tigers. Jones saved 21 runs, 11 in 55 games in left field and 10 in 67 games in center field. His 15 jumping catches (including a pair of HR robberies) tied for second in the majors behind Billy Hamilton’s 18.

    The DRS leaders at the individual outfield positions were (from left to right) Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Mookie Betts. Cain’s 20 Runs Saved were a career-high, with the key reason being an 11-run improvement from last season in his arm rating (from costing the Royals six runs to saving the Brewers five). Gordon and Betts each led their position for the third time in their careers, with Betts having done it each of the last three seasons.

    Andrelton Simmons was the co-leader at shortstop, joined by Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed. Simmons was a standout defender in both directions and tied for the MLB lead with four Double Play Runs Saved. Ahmed had his best season at the position, with his super-strong throwing arm helping him record the bulk of his Runs Saved on balls hit in the shortstop-third base hole. Kolten Wong of the Cardinals finished as the top second baseman. He had a 20-run improvement from 2017, finishing with 19 DRS.

    The Diamondbacks led MLB with 157 Runs Saved, so it’s not surprising the team had three positional leaders. Joining Ahmed is catcher Jeff Mathis, whose 17 Runs Saved in only 523 innings were five better than anyone else there. Also, pitcher Zack Greinke finished tied with Julio Teheran and Masahiro Tanaka with each saving his team seven runs. Mathis was Greinke’s personal catcher and helped him with outstanding numbers in both pitch framing (9 DRS, one shy of the MLB lead) and pitch-blocking (he led the majors with a 96.4 percent blocking success rate).

    Greinke, one of the better athletes among pitchers, will be trying for his first Fielding Bible Award. Those winners will be announced just after the conclusion of the World Series.

    2018 Defensive Runs Saved Leaders
    Position Name DRS
     C  Jeff Mathis 17
     1B  Matt Olson 14
     2B  Kolten Wong 20
     SS (tie)  Andrelton Simmons 21
     SS (tie)  Nick Ahmed 21
     3B  Matt Chapman 29
     LF  Alex Gordon 18
     CF  Lorenzo Cain 20
     RF  Mookie Betts 20
     OF (Overall)  JaCoby Jones 21
     P (tie)  Zack Greinke 7
     P (tie)  Julio Teheran 7
     P (tie)  Masahiro Tanaka 7
     Team  Diamondbacks 157

    —

    Let’s also note that September’s top defensive player is Giants third baseman Evan Longoria. The month represented a significant turnaround for Longoria, who struggled on defense early in the season, then was injured and missed 34 games from mid-June to late July.

    In September, Longoria performed like the player who had 11 Defensive Runs Saved last season and who saved an average of 13 runs defensively from 2008 to 2013. He finished with 9 Defensive Runs Saved for the month, pushing his season total from -3 to 6. His six Good Fielding Plays tied for the most of any third baseman. Longoria totaled five plays by either sliding, diving or jumping in September. He totaled eight for the season prior to that month.

    Defensive Players of the Month
    Month Player Team, Pos
    April Matt Chapman Athletics, 3B
    May Lorenzo Cain Brewers, CF
    June (tie) Trea Turner Nationals, SS
    June (tie) Alex Gordon Royals, LF
    July Keon Broxton Brewers, CF
    August Adam Engel White Sox, CF
    September Evan Longoria Giants, 3B

  • Stat of the Week: Minor League Defensive Runs Saved End-of-Season Roundup

    When a promising position player gets called up from the minors, you almost never hear about his defensive prospects unless they are extreme in one direction or the other. At Baseball Info Solutions, we use Minor League Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) as a tool to expand fans’ knowledge of the defensive side of the game.

    We track minor league DRS the same way we do in the majors, even comparing minor leaguers to the same baseline as their big league counterparts. With the 2018 minor league year completed, let’s look at the best of the best in Double-A and Triple-A. You’ll see the leaders at each position with their runs saved total at that position. To allow for comparison between players who are more likely to be future prospects, the leaders are split between ages 23 and younger and ages 24 and older.

    2018 Minor League DRS Leaders by Position, Ages 23 and Younger


    Pos
    Player, Organization
    Age
    Level
    DRS
    P Dedgar Jimenez, Bos 22 AA/AAA 5
    P Ranger Suarez, Phi 22 AA/AAA 5
    C Jake Rogers, Det 23 AA 18
    1B Bobby Bradley, Cle 22 AA/AAA 10
    2B Luis Urias, SD 21 AAA 13
    3B Mandy Alvarez, NYY 23 AA 9
    SS Andrew Velazquez, TB 23 AA/AAA 8
    LF Justin Williams, TB/StL 22 AAA 5
    CF Myles Straw, Hou 23 AAA 10
    RF Justin Williams, TB/StL 22 AAA 11

    Jake Rogers looks like a dominant performer on this list with 18 runs saved at catcher, but there are a couple guys competing with him when you consider their value across multiple positions. Luis Urias was the only minor leaguer to save at least three runs at three different positions this year (13 at 2B, 3 at 3B, 5 at SS). Justin Williams appears twice on the list, and is one of only three minor leaguers to save at least five runs at two different positions this year. Recent Astros callup Myles Straw has one carrying tool: his arm. He saved 9 of his 10 runs in center field with his arm alone.

    2018 Minor League DRS Leaders by Position, Ages 24 and Older


    Pos
    Player, Organization
    Age
    Level
    DRS
    P Mitch Talbot, Cle 34 AAA 10
    C Austin Allen, SD 24 AA 14
    C Rocky Gale, LAD 30 AAA 14
    1B Taylor Jones, Hou 24 AA/AAA 6
    2B Heiker Meneses, Phi 27 AA/AAA 8
    3B Josh Fuentes, Col 25 AAA 19
    SS Ildemaro Vargas, Ari 26 AAA 9
    SS Bengie Gonzalez, Was 28 AAA 9
    LF Andrew Guillotte, Tor 25 AA/AAA 9
    CF Jacob Hannemann, CHC 27 AAA 8
    RF Blake Drake, StL 24 AA 8

    This group is more of the Quad-A type that might get a cup of coffee or two in the majors but at this point in their careers are unlikely to make a true splash. The exception might be Josh Fuentes, who led the minors in Total Runs, which takes into account his hitting, fielding, and baserunning. But with his cousin Nolan Arenado (seriously) manning third base in Colorado, that splash may have to be at another position or with another organization. Rocky Gale and Andrew Guillotte had great defensive seasons thanks to excellence in one particular skill—Gale saved 13 runs with his pitch-framing, and Guillotte saved five in left field with his throwing arm. And I would be remiss not to mention Mitch Talbot, who led pitchers in DRS and held a 2.52 ERA in Triple-A after playing in independent ball and internationally from 2014-17.

    Other Notable
    Performances

    A couple of touted outfield prospects—Willie Calhoun of the Rangers and Raimel Tapia of the Rockies—sit towards the bottom of the minor league DRS list, with -29 and -30 respectively. Also in that neighborhood is Tim Tebow, whose broken hamate bone cut his season short after costing Binghamton 21 runs in the field.

    Of the top five prospects according to MLB Pipeline (Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr., Eloy Jimenez, Nick Senzel, and Victor Robles), Nick Senzel of the Reds easily stands out as the best of the bunch defensively, saving four runs in only 42 games between second and third base. Jimenez falls lowest among that group, costing 13 runs in the outfield in less than two-thirds of a season.

     

  • Stat of the Week: Tommy John Surgery in Major League Baseball

    Stat of the Week: Tommy John Surgery in Major League Baseball

    This month, two of baseball’s promising young pitchers—Shohei Ohtani of the Angels and Michael Kopech of the White Sox—learned that they will likely need Tommy John surgery due to torn ulnar collateral ligaments in their throwing arms. While Ohtani remains in the Angels’ lineup as a hitter, Kopech’s debut season is over after fewer than 15 innings.

    In the 2018 Bill James Handbook, Sports Info Solutions added Tommy John surgery information for every pitcher who appeared in MLB in 2017, including surgery dates. This information will be updated for every 2018 pitcher in the upcoming 2019 Bill James Handbook as well. Did you know that several pitchers have undergone multiple Tommy John surgeries? For example, Oakland A’s reliever Shawn Kelley has had two surgeries—the first in 2003 and the second in 2010.

    More than 25 percent of the league’s pitchers in 2018 have undergone Tommy John surgery at some point in time. That’s a surprisingly high figure, demonstrating how common the procedure is, as well as how pitchers have been successfully able to pitch in the majors after the surgery.

    Over the past three years, just under 20 additional MLB pitchers per year have had the surgery. There are also typically about one to three Tommy John procedures for MLB position players each season, such as the Dodgers’ Corey Seager and the Mets’ Travis d’Arnaud in 2018.

    TJS

    Among the pitchers who have returned to the Major League level after the surgery, the average return time is about 19 months, while the median is 16 months. Long recovery times skew these results; the most common returns are 12 and 13 months.

    However, not every pitcher returns from the operation—for example, former relievers Joel Hanrahan and Joel Zumaya. More than 20 percent of MLB pitchers who had Tommy John in 2016 or earlier did not return to the majors after the surgery.

    We also looked at how velocity changes after Tommy John surgery compared to before, considering fastballs thrown one year prior to the surgery date and one year following the return date for pitchers who returned to the same role (starter or reliever).

    Of the 156 pitchers in our sample, 96 had a lower average fastball velocity in the year after their return. The median increase among velocity gainers was about 0.6 miles per hour, while the median decrease among decliners was about minus-1 mile per hour. The declines may not be entirely attributable to the surgery, of course; pitchers tend to lose velocity steadily with age.

    That said, players who are younger at the time of surgery are more likely to gain velocity when they return. Of the 94 players who were 28 years old or younger, 43 saw their velocity increase (46 percent). Of the 62 players who were older than 28, 17 saw their velocity increase (27 percent).

    Baseball researcher Jon Roegele’s publicly-shared Tommy John Surgery List is an invaluable resource that aids Sports Info Solutions in the collection of Tommy John data.

  • Stat of the Week: Who was August’s top defensive player?

    In a crowded group of highly-talented center fielders, it has been tough for Adam Engel to stand out from the rest. But in August he did. He’s our selection as the MLB Defensive Player of the Month.

    Engel finished the month with eight Defensive Runs Saved, the most by any outfielder. Half of that total was accumulated from three amazing home run robberies in a seven-day span. Engel snagged one from Greg Bird on Aug. 6, Kyle Higashioka the next day and Yonder Alonso on Aug. 12. He’s the first player in the 15 seasons for which we’ve tracked home run robberies to have three in a week’s span. His three home run robberies are the most of anyone in the majors this season.

    Engel has saved six runs this season after costing his team a run in center field in his rookie season, 2017. One change to his defensive game is that he’s playing deeper this year. Engel was usually the shallowest playing outfielder or close to it in the various AL ballparks last season, but he’s moved back eight to 12 feet in most parks. That may have given him a better chance at those would-be home runs.

    Engel is not typically a leaper – he has only four jumping catches all season (by contrast, Billy Hamilton has 16), but he is a sprinter. His 57 sprinting catches trail only Ender Inciarte’s 72 for most in MLB by a center fielder.

    Engel has also made improvements in his arm rating. Last season, he allowed 54 percent of runners to advance an extra-base on hits, and recorded only one unaided outfield assist (without a cutoff man). The advance rate against him is similar this season, but he has three unaided assists.

    The runner-up for the August award was Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, a defensive standard-setter, whose 89 DRS are the most in the majors from 2015 to 2017. For Engel to beat Kiermaier out, you know he really earned the award.

  • Stat of the Week: Shifting is at an all-time high

    Stat of the Week: Shifting is at an all-time high

    Something monumental happened in baseball this past weekend—and it wasn’t the Orioles being given a nationally televised game.

    By the end of play on Sunday, teams had shifted on balls in play 28,249 times, surpassing the previous record of 28,130 set in 2016. They are now on pace to shift just under 35,000 times this season, which would represent a 31 percent increase over last season’s total.

    Shifts had been increasing steadily since 2009, when Sports Info Solutions first started tracking them, until declining slightly in 2017. But they now appear to be on the rise again. It’s not just one or two teams carrying the pack, either—25 of the 30 teams have increased their shift usage this season.

    SeasonChangePlotVert

    The Phillies have made numerous headlines this year for their proclivity toward shifting under new manager Gabe Kapler. This shows itself in the data, with no other team on pace to increase their shift usage more than the Phillies. If they continue shifting at their current rate, they will shift nearly 800 more times on balls in play in 2018 than they did in 2017.

    Three AL Central teams follow right behind the Phillies in the Royals, Twins and Tigers, all on pace to increase their shift totals by more than 600. Whether those increases are related or not is hard to say, although all three teams still trail the White Sox, who shifted 1,490 times on balls in play last season and could potentially become the first team to reach the 2,000-shift mark this season.

    While teams are shifting more than ever, there are still improvements that can be made. SIS’s BIS-D software provides a recommendation for every player in MLB as to whether that player is a shift candidate or not, and about one-third of shifts this season have been against players for whom the software recommends playing a standard defense. There have also been about 18,000 balls in play where the defense did not shift when the system suggested one.

    How has the shift impacted the performance of those who get shifted? On the whole, the shift lowered shift candidates’ batting average on grounders and short line drives (BAGSL) by 23 points, while it had the opposite effect against all other batters, raising their BAGSL by 4 points.

    Weighted* Batting Average on Groundballs and Short Line Drives, 2017-18 

    BIS-D Recommendation No Shift Shift Difference
    Shift Candidate .271 .248 Helps by 23 points
    Non Shift Candidate .275 .279 Hurts by 4 points

    *The averages are weighted such that players with extreme shift tendencies (high or low) are not over-represented, thus separating the effect of the shift from batter quality. 

    With shifts comprising a larger percentage of balls in play than ever before, it’s never been more important to make sure that the correct batters are being shifted.

  • Stat of the Week: NL Total Runs/MVP Race is Tight

    The National League MVP race is shaping up to be incredibly tight with a little more than a month left in the regular season, and it parallels the race for the lead in the Total Runs stat.

    Total Runs combines Runs Created (offense), Baserunning Runs and Defensive Runs Saved, along with a positional adjustment (but not a park adjustment) to account for a player’s total value.

    The candidates in the top spots among the playoff contenders are Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter, Rockies shortstop Trevor Story and third baseman Nolan Arenado, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Cubs second baseman Javier Baez. Each has his strong points.

    Most Total Runs – NL Players
    Team
    Matt Carpenter Cardinals 115
    Trevor Story Rockies 115
    Freddie Freeman Braves 113
    Nolan Arenado Rockies 112
    Javier Baez Cubs 111
    Jacob deGrom Mets 110

    Carpenter went through a massive struggle early this season, with his batting average standing at .140 through games of May 15 (he had notable issues with defensive shifts). But since then, he’s arguably been as good as any player in baseball. He’s hitting .323/.430/.700 with 30 home runs in his last 82 games.

    Carpenter does it on the defensive end as well. Though he’s cost the Cardinals three runs at second base, he’s saved them a combined 10 at the corner infield spots. His seven Defensive Runs Saved at third base are the most he’s had in his career. Carpenter’s value is accentuated by his having 38 more total runs than the Cardinal with the second-most, Marcell Ozuna.

    Story has had an offensive bounceback, reestablishing himself as one of the top-hitting shortstops in baseball. Since June 26, he’s hitting .335/.373/.601. He’s created 83 runs, which surpasses his 2017 Runs Created total by 15 runs. He’s also saved four runs at shortstop, continuing his solid defensive reputation.

    Arenado’s Defensive Runs Saved total is surprisingly low (he’s saved three runs after averaging 21 the last five seasons). But his contributions with the bat remain as stellar as they’ve ever been. If Arenado has a strong defensive finish to the season, he could finish in the top three in Total Runs for the third straight season.

    Freeman is bidding to win his first batting title. He’s been a great hitter and has also been terrific in the field with seven Defensive Runs Saved, which ranks tied for third among first basemen. Though Freeman’s slugging percentage is down from 2017, it still looks impressive relative to offensive numbers throughout baseball. Freeman is one of two Braves with at least 100 Total Runs. Ozzie Albies is the other.

    Baez is highly touted by Cubs fans and he’s in the thick of the race. Many feel he’s been worth more than the six runs he’s saved the team at second base and shortstop. Since June 26, he’s hitting .333/.354/.644 with 38 RBI in 44 games. Similar to Carpenter, Baez has a sizable edge on his next-closest teammate, Willson Contreras, who has 84 Total Runs.

    Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is one run behind Baez in the Total Runs race. He’s not a serious MVP contender, but is noted here for the amazing season he’s having in spite of a low wins total. He and Max Scherzer are nearly even in the race for most Total Runs among pitchers, just ahead of Red Sox ace Chris Sale.

    The gap between the top performers is small enough that it looks like whoever closes the season the best will come out on top in the Total Runs race and perhaps win the MVP as well.

  • Stat of the Week: The Diamondbacks’ Amazing Defense

    BY MARK SIMON

    Though we shone a spotlight on the Milwaukee Brewers’ defense last week, we neglected to mention a team that was just a notch behind them.

    That team has since surpassed the Brewers statistically and currently has no equals on the defensive front—the Arizona Diamondbacks.

    The Diamondbacks have 108 Defensive Runs Saved this season. If that total holds, it will be the most since Sports Info Solutions began compiling the stat in 2003. The mark of 107 was set by the Cubs when they won the World Series in 2016.

    What makes them great?

    The Diamondbacks do so well defensively because they are good just about everywhere and great in more areas than any other team.

    Arizona’s fielders have saved at least three runs at every defensive position except one, third base, where they’ve cost themselves one run. The Diamondbacks have saved at least 10 runs at five positions: pitcher, catcher, shortstop, center field and right field. They are MLB’s leader in Defensive Runs Saved at pitcher, catcher and right field.

    What’s impressive is the group effort that is responsible for the lead at those three spots. The Diamondbacks have three starting pitchers who rate near the top in pitcher defense: Patrick Corbin (5 DRS), Zack Greinke (4) and Zack Godley (4). Corbin’s numbers come from his ability handling the area around the mound (especially on the third base side). Greinke and Godley have also played a role in limiting the running game, with five stolen bases allowed in only 13 attempts against them.

    Their three catchers—Jeff Mathis, John Ryan Murphy and Alex Avila—split playing time almost evenly. Mathis, one of the top pitch blockers and pitch framers in the game, is tied for the lead among all catchers with nine Defensive Runs Saved, with Murphy and Avila saving four each and also contributing largely in pitch framing.

    In right field, the combination of Jon Jay and Chris Owings has paired to save 11 runs (both got time there waiting for Steven Souza Jr. to return from injury). Owings has proven to be quite versatile, saving five runs in both center and right field.

    The team’s individual leader in Defensive Runs Saved is shortstop Nick Ahmed with 14. Ahmed has flirted with the lead among shortstops in that stat, and is currently tied with Addison Russell for the NL’s top spot, two runs behind overall leader Andrelton Simmons.

    Ahmed stands out because of outstanding arm strength and accuracy. His 98.4 percent good throw rating is the best among shortstops this season.

    Veteran outfielder Jarrod Dyson ranks second on the team with 10 Defensive Runs Saved, eight of which came in center field, where he filled in for A.J. Pollock during Pollock’s stint on the disabled list. Dyson’s laurels include a pair of home run-robbing catches.

    The shift

    Under second-year manager Torey Lovullo, the Diamondbacks have more than doubled their shift usage this season. They now rank 11th in MLB in shift usage. The payoff has been great. The Diamondbacks lead the majors with 28 Shift Runs Saved.

    They’ve held opposing batters to a .182 batting average on groundballs and short line drives when using a full shift (three players on the pull side) and a .199 batting average on those batted balls when using a partial shift (two defenders deviating significantly from normal positioning). Those are 36 points and 79 points below MLB average respectively, with the latter representing an MLB best.

    In other words, the Diamondbacks have done a good job at moving Ahmed and second baseman Ketel Marte around in partial-shift scenarios to cut off hitting lanes, playing them close to second base, but not on the pull side.

    Between good work in shifts, good work in the outfield, good work on the mound and good work behind the plate, the Diamondbacks seem to have solidified a position as a complete defensive team, in addition to being the best.

  • Stat of the Week: Who’s moving up and down the Starting Pitcher rankings?

    By Mark Simon

    From May 2013 through the end of the 2016 season, Clayton Kershaw almost always reigned supreme in The Bill James World’s Best Starting Pitcher Rankings, a measure based on the Game Score metric and a pitcher’s sustained excellence over a lengthy body of work.

    But Kershaw’s recent injury history has caused him to drop in the rankings to No. 5 now, with the possibility that he slips even further if he remains on the sidelines.

    The race for the No. 1 spot has become a tight battle between former teammates Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who currently occupy the top two positions. Scherzer has been outstanding the last six seasons, but he may never have been better than in the first 13 starts of 2018, in which he’s averaged 13.7 strikeouts per 9 and allowed six home runs in 87 2/3 innings pitched.

    Verlander has a 1.24 ERA in 87 1/3 innings pitched this season, following up on a five-start run with the Astros in which he posted a 1.06 ERA en route to winning the World Series last season.

    Verlander and Scherzer have been so good that they’ve dropped Indians ace Corey Kluber, who ended the 2017 season ranked No. 1, to No. 3 in the rankings, even though Kluber has a 1.96 ERA and is averaging seven innings per start this season.

    On the Rise

    Among those who have moved up the rankings is Gerrit Cole of the Astros, who climbed into the top 10 after a strong start to the season. He started 2018 ranked No. 38. The Astros have two pitchers (Verlander and Cole) in the top 10, as do the Nationals (Scherzer and Strasburg).

    James Paxton of the Mariners was No. 45 at the start of May, then had a 16-strikeout game and no-hitter in back-to-back starts. That, along with his continued strong performance, has vaulted him to No. 23.

    Aaron Nola of the Phillies allowed a combined three hits in 13 2/3 innings pitched in two outings at the end of May, is now No. 25 after ranking No. 62 prior to Opening Day.

    On the decline

    As some climb the ladder, others slip. The No. 8, 9 and 10 pitchers entering the season fell out of the top 10, though Carlos Carrasco (preseason No. 8) hangs in at No. 11 and Jake Arrieta dropped from No. 9 to No. 14. Madison Bumgarner was No. 10 entering the season, but now ranks No. 58 after an injury sidelined him the first two months.

    Among those to drop the most based on performance was Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija, who averaged a 40 Game Score in seven starts (a 50 Game Score is average) after a successful season debut. He’s fallen from No. 25 entering the season to No. 52.

    Red Sox pitcher Drew Pomeranz has plunged 25 spots from No. 35 to No. 60 (he has an 8.82 ERA in his last four starts). And formerly dominant Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman is now on the disabled list with a shoulder injury after recording a 7.71 ERA in seven starts. He fell from No. 30 at season’s start to his current No. 65.

    World’s No. 1 Starting Pitcher Rankings

    1. Max Scherzer
    2. Justin Verlander
    3. Corey Kluber
    4. Chris Sale
    5. Clayton Kershaw
    6. Stephen Strasburg
    7. Jacob deGrom
    8. Zack Greinke
    9. Luis Severino
    10. Gerrit Cole

    The most updated rankings and an explanation of the methodology can be found at Bill James Online.