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John Dewan's Stat of the Week

 

Who Are the Best and Worst Defensive Teams So Far?

May 14, 2013

More than a month into the season, the overall defensive picture is starting to take shape. Teams have only played a fifth of their total schedules, but the best and worst defensive teams have already separated by 59 Runs Saved, a total that separates them by approximately six wins.

Last season, the Braves and Blue Jays outpaced the other teams with 70 Runs Saved a piece. After a month, only the Braves have rejoined the top-five, and 11 of their 17 Runs Saved are from defensive phenom Andrelton Simmons, who leads baseball.

Here are the best defensive teams so far this season:

Best team defenses through May 13, 2013
Team Runs Saved
Arizona Diamondbacks 32
Texas Rangers 18
Atlanta Braves 17
Milwaukee Brewers 16
Cincinnati Reds 14
Pittsburgh Pirates 14

Lost in a controversial offseason in which they traded away Justin Upton, the Diamondbacks upgraded their defense and look like the best in baseball in that department. At 32 Runs Saved, they are already 8 Runs Saved past their total for all of 2012. Free agent acquisition Cody Ross and prospect A.J. Pollock lead their tremendous outfield that has saved 25 runs itself.

The Brewers and Pirates come in fourth and tied-fifth on the shoulders of a few defensive standouts. For Milwaukee, they are Norichika Aoki and Carlos Gomez. Our shallow/medium/deep Plus/Minus splits suggest that the Brewers’ outfielders have positioned themselves deeper than most teams, and it is really making a positive impact. For Pittsburgh, Starling Marte has saved an estimated seven runs in left field and looks like a breakout player both offensively and defensively.

Here are the worst defensive teams in the early-going:

Worst team defenses through May 13, 2013
Team Runs Saved
Los Angeles Angels -27
Oakland Athletics -26
St. Louis Cardinals -12
San Diego Padres -11
Chicago White Sox -11

Oakland saved an estimated 16 runs in 2012, but they are off to a terrible defensive start this season. Josh Reddick has just 2 Runs Saved after 22 in 2012, and defensive liabilities at shortstop, second base, and pitcher have pulled them to near the bottom of the league.

The division-rival Angels have been even worse defensively to start the season, but unlike in Oakland, they have not hit and pitched their way around it. With Texas looking strong in every facet, the Angels are going to need better from Mike Trout, Peter Bourjos, and Josh Hamilton, who have combined to cost the Angels an estimated eight runs this season.

Like the Angels, the Cardinals have seen early-season defensive struggles in their outfield. Matt Holliday hits well enough that you can forgive him for costing St. Louis an early three runs. The White Sox, in contrast, have seen little offensive production from Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko, who have combined to cost them six runs at first base.


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 TitlePublished Date
Edit Who Are the Best and Worst Defensive Teams So Far? May 14 2013
Edit Timing Pitchers and Catchers To Prevent Stolen Bases Apr 24 2013
Edit Shifting Into High Gear Apr 18 2013
Edit Who Will Be The Best Defenders in 2013? Apr 02 2013
Edit Who Are This Year's Potential Breakout Players? Mar 27 2013
Edit Best Defensive Players of the Decade (Part IV) Mar 22 2013
Edit Best Defensive Players of the Decade (Part III) Mar 13 2013
Edit Best Defensive Players of the Decade (Part II) Feb 27 2013
Edit Best Defensive Players of the Decade (Part I) Feb 19 2013
Edit Best Defensive Teams of the Decade Feb 07 2013
Edit The Super Bowl Prediction System – 49ers by a landslide Jan 25 2013
Edit Cannon Arms in 2012 Jan 17 2013
Edit Should Mike Piazza be in the Hall of Fame? Jan 10 2013
Edit The Best and Worst Defensive Teams in 2012 Dec 21 2012
Edit Bill James Handbook 2013 Leaderboards (Part II) Dec 14 2012
Edit Bill James Handbook 2013 Leaderboards Dec 07 2012
Edit The Best and Worst Hitters Parks Nov 28 2012
Edit Happy Thanksgiving Nov 20 2012
Edit The Best Double Play Combos Nov 12 2012
Edit The 2012 Fielding Bible Awards Oct 25 2012
Edit The Flat Bat Award 2012 Oct 23 2012
Edit Who are the Fielding Bible Award / Gold Glove Contenders? (Part II) Oct 04 2012
Edit Who are the Fielding Bible Award / Gold Glove Contenders? (Part I) Sep 26 2012
Edit The White Sox, Tigers and Defense Sep 20 2012
Edit The Decade's Best Baserunners Sep 07 2012
Edit The Best Bullpens in Baseball Aug 31 2012
Edit How Are the Projected Defensive Runs Saved Leaders Doing? Aug 23 2012
Edit China Leads, but USA Will Come Back Aug 07 2012
Edit Is Hanley Ramirez an Upgrade for the Dodgers? Jul 27 2012
Edit London Olympics—USA Predicted to Win Back Medals Title From China Jul 25 2012
Edit Brett Lawrie—Best Defensive Third Baseman in Baseball? Jul 16 2012
Edit Youkilis Goes to Chicago Jun 27 2012
Edit Who Are the Top Baserunners in Baseball? Jun 15 2012
Edit The Most Efficient Teams in Baseball Jun 08 2012
Edit Kings of the Comebackers May 23 2012
Edit Shifty Business May 11 2012
Edit Who Are the Best Defensive Teams So Far? May 02 2012
Edit Is the Miguel Cabrera Third Base Experiment Working? Apr 24 2012
Edit How Meaningful are the First Ten Games? Apr 17 2012
Edit Who Are This Year's Potential Breakout Players? Apr 03 2012
Edit To Shift or Not To Shift Mar 29 2012
Edit The Best Players of 2011 Based on Total Runs Mar 23 2012
Edit The Impact of Good Plays and Misplays Mar 13 2012
Edit Who Will Be the Best Defenders in 2012? Feb 29 2012
Edit How Well Do Defensive Statistics Correlate? Feb 25 2012
Edit The Fielding Bible—Volume III Preview Feb 10 2012
Edit The Super Bowl Prediction System Jan 24 2012
Edit Playing the Outfield in Camden Yards Jan 12 2012
Edit Cannon Arms in 2011 Jan 06 2012
Edit Diamondbacks Sign Kubel - I Don't Get It Dec 21 2011
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