Using the same time frame, here are the worst fielding metrics along with the following year:
Adam Dunn 2009-10: -37.1, -3.1
Mark Reynolds 2011-2012: -28.2, -8.3
Matt Kemp 2010-2011: -25.7, -4.6
Carlos Quentin 2010-2011: -24.3, 0.6
Jermaine Dye 2009: retired after 2009, 2008 was -19
Brad Hawpe 2009-10: -20, -3.3
Hawpe is really interesting as his 2010 year had limited innings in the field, however check out his UZR/150s for 2007-2010: -23.8, -44.7, -23.9, -12.2
Ibanez 2011-12: -18.9, 1.8
Granderson 2012: -18.2, no following year. 2011 was -5.3
Seems like most to all on the extreme side do not follow up with a similar season.
Here is the best single season performances with following year in the same time span:
2009-10 Franklin Gutierrez: 30.9, 6.6
2009-10 Nyjer Morgan: 27.6, 1.1
2010-11 Brett Gardner: 24.9, 25.8
2009-10 Ben Zobrist: 22.4, 11.2
2010-2012 Michael Bourn: 19.4, -6.4, 22.4 (widened to 3 years since he had multiple "best" seasons)
2010-2011 Andres Torres: 22, 9.4
What is your take on the extreme cases? Only one that we see on both sides did not follow up with less than a 10 run difference in the other direction, and in many cases experienced a more than 20 run difference.
Now looking at the offense side of things, here are the names of those who posted the best offensive seasons: Pujols, Hamilton, Bautista, Mauer, Votto, Cabrera, Braun, Fielder, etc. The worst? Pretty much what we expect with the exception of Alex Rios.
So while that chart shows more consistency generally on the offense side, in extreme cases it seems like offense is more reliable.
What are your thoughts on that view?