Best Fielding Team in Baseball

**tiger337** · 06-14-2009, 09:20 PM

According to the Ultimate Zone Rating statistic at Fan Graphs, the Tigers have had the best fielding team in the Majors so far this year. They are 32 runs saved above average. Last year, they were 39 below average. That's a 71 run difference which is remarkable. Just watching them play this year, I've got so much more confidence in them making plays. I imagine the pitchers feel the same way.

Major League Teams » 2009 » Fielders » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball

**Scottwood** · 06-14-2009, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

According to the Ultimate Zone Rating statistic at Fan Graphs, the Tigers have had the best fielding team in the Majors so far this year. They are 32 runs saved above average. Last year, they were 39 below average. That's a 71 run difference which is remarkable. Just watching them play this year, I've got so much more confidence in them making plays. I imagine the pitchers feel the same way.

Major League Teams » 2009 » Fielders » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball

What a stat.

**sportz4life** · 06-14-2009, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

According to the Ultimate Zone Rating statistic at Fan Graphs, the Tigers have had the best fielding team in the Majors so far this year. They are 32 runs saved above average. Last year, they were 39 below average. That's a 71 run difference which is remarkable. Just watching them play this year, I've got so much more confidence in them making plays. I imagine the pitchers feel the same way.

Major League Teams » 2009 » Fielders » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball

But the GM is a doofus..at least thats what 37 posters told me this weekend..so let me take inventory..

50MM+ dead money..yet #1 defense, #2 AL Pitching, 1st Place AL Central..who is responsible for the retooling of a roster that saw them finish last in the AL Central and in shambles in 2008..could only be one thing..for a simple investment of $5000 Mr. David Dombrowski has a secret weapon..you heard it here first..it was the TSE!!!!

**jake** · 06-14-2009, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

According to the Ultimate Zone Rating statistic at Fan Graphs, the Tigers have had the best fielding team in the Majors so far this year. They are 32 runs saved above average. Last year, they were 39 below average. That's a 71 run difference which is remarkable. Just watching them play this year, I've got so much more confidence in them making plays. I imagine the pitchers feel the same way.

Major League Teams » 2009 » Fielders » Fielding Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball

Pitching and Defense is 70% of the formula of playing winning baseball--probably higher.

**Eric Cioe** · 06-14-2009, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by tiger337

According to the Ultimate Zone Rating statistic at Fan Graphs, the Tigers have had the best fielding team in the Majors so far this year.

I was going to jump on you for your thread title given the "Tigers have best pitching" thread a while ago, but then I read the first clause.

EDIT - How much data does UZR take to stabilize? I know some of these fielding metrics take a long time to get the noise out.

**diaspora04** · 06-14-2009, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by sportz4life

..could only be one thing..for a simple investment of $5000 Mr. David Dombrowski has a secret weapon..you heard it here first..it was the TSE!!!!

No doubt, on the advice of 777.

**Edman85** · 06-14-2009, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by jake

Pitching and Defense is 70% of the formula of playing winning baseball--probably higher.

It's 50%, but I think you can make the case that improved pitching and defense can help your pitching and defense.

**jake** · 06-14-2009, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by Edman85

It's 50%, but I think you can make the case that improved pitching and defense can help your pitching and defense.

lol.

**tiger337** · 06-14-2009, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Eric Cioe

I was going to jump on you for your thread title given the "Tigers have best pitching" thread a while ago, but then I read the first clause.

EDIT - How much data does UZR take to stabilize? I know some of these fielding metrics take a long time to get the noise out.

Sample sizes are much larger at the team level than the individual level so I would trust partial season team statistics more than partial season individual statistics. Still, I'd want to see if they could keep it up for a full season.

And I knew someone would want to try to attack me for the thread title so I worded my post carefully!