In
The Fielding Bible I introduced a new way
to quantify defensive contributions called the
Plus/Minus System. The book covered every 2005 defensive
player other than pitchers and catchers using Plus/Minus
and a variety of other defensive metrics.
The Bill James Handbook 2007 published the
Plus/Minus leaderboards for the 2006 season (adding
pitchers for the first time) and the 2008 version will
publish the Plus/Minus leaderboards for the 2007 season.
But how about a preview now?
The recent
All-Star Game tried to bring together 2007’s best
players. Let's take a look at the best players from a
defensive standpoint thus far this year. Here are the
2007 Plus/Minus defensive leaderboards (through games of
Monday, July 16).
First Basemen
|
Name
|
Team |
PM
|
|
Albert Pujols |
StL |
+25 |
|
Casey Kotchman |
LAA |
+13 |
|
Ryan Klesko |
SF |
+10 |
|
Kevin Youkilis |
Bos |
+8 |
|
Ryan Shealy |
KC |
+8 |
Second Basemen
|
Name
|
Team
|
PM |
|
Chase Utley |
Phi |
+16 |
|
Aaron Hill |
Tor |
+13 |
|
Mark Ellis |
Oak |
+12 |
|
Howie Kendrick |
LAA |
+10 |
|
Brandon Phillips |
Cin |
+8 |
|
Kaz Matsui |
Col |
+8 |
Third Basemen
|
Name
|
Team |
PM |
|
Pedro Feliz |
SF |
+21 |
|
David Wright |
NYM |
+15 |
|
Scott Rolen |
StL |
+13 |
|
Aramis Ramirez |
ChC |
+13 |
|
Adrian Beltre |
Sea |
+12 |
Shortstops
|
Name
|
Team |
PM |
|
Troy Tulowitzki |
Col |
+22 |
|
Adam Everett |
Hou |
+17 |
|
Jack Wilson |
Pit |
+12 |
|
Omar Vizquel |
SF |
+12 |
|
Jason Bartlett |
Min |
+12 |
Left
Fielders
|
Name
|
Team |
PM |
|
Shannon Stewart |
Oak |
+11 |
|
Matt Holliday |
Col |
+10 |
|
Geoff Jenkins |
Mil |
+9 |
|
Adam Lind |
Tor |
+8 |
|
Emil Brown |
KC |
+8 |
Center Fielders
|
Name
|
Team |
PM |
|
Andruw Jones |
AtL |
+22 |
|
Carlos Beltran |
NYM |
+16 |
|
Curtis Granderson |
Det |
+14 |
|
Coco Crisp |
Bos |
+13 |
|
Alfredo Amezaga |
Fla |
+8 |
|
Ryan Church |
Was |
+8 |
Right
Fielders
|
Name
|
Team |
PM |
|
Andre Ethier |
LAD |
+16 |
|
Carlos Quentin |
Ari |
+10 |
|
Austin Kearns |
Was |
+9 |
|
Alex Rios |
Tor |
+8 |
|
Magglio Ordonez |
Det |
+7 |
|
Corey Hart |
Mil |
+7 |
Pitchers
|
Name
|
Team |
PM |
|
Greg Maddux |
SD |
+5 |
|
Jon Garland |
ChW |
+5 |
|
Kameron Loe |
Tex |
+5 |
|
Five Tied With |
|
+4 |
The worst defensive player thus far this
year: Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez at -23.
Derek Jeter is a close second at -21.
By the way,
I've been asked the same question many times: When will
the next edition of
The Fielding Bible come out? Answer: Not this
year, but likely next year. The reason: We're working on
a new book that will take time away from doing a
Fielding Bible this year. The new book is
called The Bill James Gold Mine. Keep an eye out
for it next spring.
Short
description of the Plus/Minus System:
The Fielding Bible contains a detailed
explanation of the Plus/Minus System, but here is a
summary.
The
plus/minus figure of +25 for Albert Pujols means that he
made 25 more plays than could be expected from an
average first baseman. This +25 is determined by looking
at each play hit in his direction and comparing what
Pujols does with that play compared to all other first
basemen.
Every time a
fielder catches a ball and gets the out, he receives a
fraction between 1 and 0. If it was a difficult play, he
gets a larger fraction. An easy play, a smaller
fraction. That fraction is determined by what percentage
of times that same play is made by all players at that
position, in the same location of the field, and on a
ball hit just as hard. The higher the percentage (easier
play), the lower the fractional award for the defensive
play. The lower the percentage (harder play), the higher
the factional award.
Every time a
fielder fails to make the play, he gets a negative
version of that same fraction.
We add up all
these fractions and round the number to an integer to
create their Plus/Minus at that position (some guys play
multiple positions in one season). A final Plus/Minus
number around zero indicates an average performance.
