What are the preferred defensive stats to keep my eye on?

MrDov · 12-18-2012, 04:57 AM

I'm in my second year or trying to rebuild my Padres. I prioritize defense and pitching over offense because of salary restrictions. However I'm slowly realizing I'm not correctly evaluating defense. Honestly the extent of my defensive evaluating is looking at the fielding and positional ratings on the scouting page. I'm just curious what fielding stats you all look at, what numbers you like to see in those stats, etc.

PSUColonel · 12-18-2012, 07:09 AM

Zone Rating

TGH-Adfabre · 12-18-2012, 10:14 AM

Are scouts on or off?
If they are off (or 100% accurate) then ratings are the best way to judge a player. The stats are developed using ratings.
Someone else will have to comment about using scouts with defense.

RamMan12 · 12-18-2012, 10:42 AM

Zone Rating is the best, followed by fielding percentage. Range Factor may help as well.

jb28 · 12-18-2012, 11:03 AM

My number one is individual defensive efficiency.

The problem with zone rating is it's a total stat and not an average. Zone rating measures the cumulative effect of a players defensive play which is of course affected by time spent out in the field. To compare players using zone rating you have to factor in innings played.

That's why I prefer defensive efficiency. It is, like zone rating, a zone rating comparing defenders to other players in the league but it's not a total. It's designed to be used as a comparison. A player with a defensive efficiency of 2.000 is twice as likely as an average player at his position to make a play for an out on a ball played into his zone. A player with a defensive efficiency of 1.000 is at the league average at his position in efficiency. A player with a defensive efficiency of 0.500 is half as likely as the average player at his position to make a play for an out. Players above 1.000 are above average and those below 1.000 are below average. Simple to understand.

The next stat I look at is range factor. This measures the number of outs a player is involved in (assists and put outs) per 9 innings played. This gives you an idea of how often a player is involved in a defensive play for an out. You want to put good defenders in positions where they can make plays. Watch out for players with a high range factor and low defensive efficiency; they can really hurt your team.

I also look at is the assist to put out ratio. This tells you what kinds of plays the player is making and can give you a bit of and insight into the skill set needed at each position and by each player.

Those are the most important ones I look at but I'll also look at the others. For catchers I also like to look at how well they throw out runners, and I also take notice of fielding percentage and total errors, and the team stats.

The Wolf · 12-18-2012, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSUColonel

Zone Rating

Same here.

12-18-2012, 04:57 AM	#1
MrDov Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 275	What are the preferred defensive stats to keep my eye on? I'm in my second year or trying to rebuild my Padres. I prioritize defense and pitching over offense because of salary restrictions. However I'm slowly realizing I'm not correctly evaluating defense. Honestly the extent of my defensive evaluating is looking at the fielding and positional ratings on the scouting page. I'm just curious what fielding stats you all look at, what numbers you like to see in those stats, etc.

12-18-2012, 10:14 AM	#3
TGH-Adfabre Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2,599	Are scouts on or off? If they are off (or 100% accurate) then ratings are the best way to judge a player. The stats are developed using ratings. Someone else will have to comment about using scouts with defense. __________________ You mock me, therefore I am My wife

12-18-2012, 07:09 AM	#2
PSUColonel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,988 Blog Entries: 37	Zone Rating

12-18-2012, 10:42 AM	#4
RamMan12 Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 482	Zone Rating is the best, followed by fielding percentage. Range Factor may help as well.

12-18-2012, 11:03 AM	#5
jb28 Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 21 Blog Entries: 7	My number one is individual defensive efficiency. The problem with zone rating is it's a total stat and not an average. Zone rating measures the cumulative effect of a players defensive play which is of course affected by time spent out in the field. To compare players using zone rating you have to factor in innings played. That's why I prefer defensive efficiency. It is, like zone rating, a zone rating comparing defenders to other players in the league but it's not a total. It's designed to be used as a comparison. A player with a defensive efficiency of 2.000 is twice as likely as an average player at his position to make a play for an out on a ball played into his zone. A player with a defensive efficiency of 1.000 is at the league average at his position in efficiency. A player with a defensive efficiency of 0.500 is half as likely as the average player at his position to make a play for an out. Players above 1.000 are above average and those below 1.000 are below average. Simple to understand. The next stat I look at is range factor. This measures the number of outs a player is involved in (assists and put outs) per 9 innings played. This gives you an idea of how often a player is involved in a defensive play for an out. You want to put good defenders in positions where they can make plays. Watch out for players with a high range factor and low defensive efficiency; they can really hurt your team. I also look at is the assist to put out ratio. This tells you what kinds of plays the player is making and can give you a bit of and insight into the skill set needed at each position and by each player. Those are the most important ones I look at but I'll also look at the others. For catchers I also like to look at how well they throw out runners, and I also take notice of fielding percentage and total errors, and the team stats.