Monday, October 26, 2009
Worst Fielders of 2009
Posted by Sean SmithThat is, relative to position, and with the warning that these are imprecise ratings, not the final word, and that multi-year data, if available, must be used to determine who really is a good or bad fielder, preferably supplemented with scouting information. These ratings measure range and reliability only, and do not include an outfielder's throwing or an infielder's proficiency at the double play.
Anyway, warnings aside, here are the ten players with the worst 2009 Totalzone ratings:
1. Michael Cuddyer, RF, -26
2. Bobby Abreu, RF, -25
3. Vernon Wells, CF, -19
4. Gary Matthews Jr., CF, -17
5. Alberto Callaspo, 2B, -16
6. Orlando Cabrera, SS, -16
7. Lastings Milledge, LF, -16
8. David Wright, 3B, -15
9. Carlos Lee, LF, -14
10. Miguel Tejada, SS, -14
Cuddyer and Abreu aren't quite this bad on UZR, but close at -17 and -14. Wells is equally bad in both measures. Matthews hits and fields like a guy who might not last through spring training 2010, contract be damned. The only one that surprises here is Milledge, slightly above average for Pittsburgh in LF, according to UZR. I'll have to investigate what my park factor is doing here: -15 of that is his defense at home.
Sean Smith is a lifelong Angels fan despite never visiting the west coast until April 2006. His work can also be found at baseballprojection.com and Anaheim Angels All the Way and he can be contacted by email.
Whoa. What was going on w/ O-Cabs this past season?