Are Freel and Aurilia better ...

[flyer85]

defenders than most think, especially in terms of rangeat 2b?

Food for thought, follow the link.

http://www.baseballmusings.com/archives/012851.php

I'm impressed again that Rich Aurilia does well. He ranked high on the shortstop list last year.

[TRF]

RA isn't. He's a statue. Freel could be. He's got dynamite range, but needs consistent PT at one position.

[westofyou]

Here's your 2nd baseman from last year, then Pokey's 1999 for comparison

RANGE                          RANGE      A       PO        E       PCT       G     
1    Aaron Holbert              4.75        8       11        1     .950        4   
2    Ryan Freel                 4.54      127       91        6     .973       48   
3    Rich Aurilia               4.46      176      127        6     .981       68   
4    William Bergolla           4.44       29       11        0    1.000        9   
5    D'Angelo Jimenez           4.41       63       56        2     .983       27   
6    Felipe Lopez               3.71       11       15        0    1.000        7   
7    Rainer Olmedo              2.52       40       38        2     .975       31   
8    Luis Lopez                 2.00        5        3        0    1.000        4   

RANGE                          RANGE      A       PO        E       PCT       G     
1    Pokey Reese                4.98      409      323        7     .991      147   
2    Chris Stynes               2.51       60       48        5     .956       43

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by TRF

RA isn't. He's a statue. Freel could be. He's got dynamite range, but needs consistent PT at one position.

the numbers would differ on RA. If you look at the list it tends to pass the smell test because for the most part the guys at the top and bottom are the ones you would expect. This isn't just a subjective analysis.

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Here's your 2nd baseman from last year, then Pokey's 1999 for comparison

the analysis this guy claims to be doing is much more detailed than just the range factor.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Ricardo Cabesa

the analysis this guy claims to be doing is much more detailed than just the range factor.

I know that, but RF bunches then together as well. As noted in the comments section

It's pretty impressive that no matter what metric you use---whether it be win shares, ZR, B-Pro's stats or this ---Orlando Hudson always winds up on top. There aren't too many players that they ALL agree on like that.

[RedsManRick]

Range is just (assists + putouts)/9 innings, right? So the fact that we had an extreme flyball staff lastyear negatively impacts the range factors of our infielders. I don't remember what our 1999 staff was like, but to me this suggests that Aurillia's range isn't as bad as it may look in person.

You can have great "range" through great positioning, not just through lateral acceleration. The best players have both.

[flyer85]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

You can have great "range" through great positioning, not just through lateral acceleration. The best players have both.

Cal Ripken was considered an excellent defensive player at SS and he was certainly not fast by any means. A lot can be done with good positioning, balance, some initial quickness and excellent hands
.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Ricardo Cabesa

Cal Ripken was considered an excellent defensive player at SS and he was certainly not fast by any means. A lot can be done with good positioning, balance, some initial quickness and excellent hands
.

His size (larger stride) and arm allowed him to play deeper in the hole than most SS before him.

[lollipopcurve]

If anyone thinks RA has a lot more range than Rey Olmedo, they're crazy. Either the sample size for Rey Rey is way too small, or the metric is seriously flawed.

[Gainesville Red]

I agree, no statistic could ever convince me that RA has good range. He moves in the field like his feet are cemented.

[creek14]

Originally Posted by Gainesville Red

He moves in the field like his feet are cemented.

Yeah, I tried to get him over to the Ohio River after I did that, but he just put up too much of a fight.