Offense/Defense number (Part 1)

Blu Mar Ten’s “Natural History” album came out this week, and I couldn’t be more excited. Its excellence in experimental drum’n’bass reinforces that they’re one of the best two-way bands out there, as their previous albums developed their other strength of evocative chillout music. Few bands are equally good in two genres, and it’s one reason Blu Mar Ten is one of my top 10 groups.

What do three British musicians have to do with baseball? Simply, we’re drawn in baseball, as with life at large, to people with multiple disparate talents. Bill James’ Power/Speed number is an excellent example of measuring these combinations, even though it tells us little about productivity. The Power/Speed number takes the harmonic mean of a player’s home runs and stolen bases [(2 x HR x SB)/(HR + SB), or the inverse of a normal mean multiplied by the numbers that went into the mean] to weigh the mean in favor of the lower number. That way, only players proficient in homers and steals will get high marks. Obviously, if a player has zero steals, the mean goes to zero, weeding out the Mark McGwires in favor of the Jose Cansecos.

In the spirit of the Power/Speed number, I present to you the Offense/Defense number. Using a player’s batting and fielding Win Shares, we can take the harmonic mean and get a rough idea of how much he was contributing each half of the inning. This week, I’ll break down infielders by position ranking. Doing this by position is important, as different spots on the field produce vastly different fielding Win Shares. For example, the best season at first base is 2,472nd in Offense/Defense number (O/D for short, though not Odie) since 1901. Random seasons just above it include Ira Flagstead’s 1924, Duffy Dyer’s 1972 and Ernie Young’s 1996. Of the top 50 O/Ds since 1901, half are by shortstops. The numbers are unbalanced until you rank by position, where they make sense in context.

Each position will be listed to 25 spots. Although players are listed by primary position, all fielding endeavors are counted in fielding Win Shares. On a large scale, this only affects Gene Tenace in the first base rankings, since he had significant time at catcher, but a couple of other seasons get boosts from playing more challenging positions in small doses.

BWS and FWS are batting and fielding Win Shares, respectively. I’ve also given total Win Shares to highlight the differences in sum contribution and the balanced effort we’re seeking.

Seasons run through 2008.

First base

















































































































































































































Name Year BWS FWS TWS O/D
Tino Martinez 1999 14.1 5.2 19.3 7.60
Gene Tenace 1974 17.3 4.7 22.0 7.39
Ed Konetchy 1915 22.8 4.4 27.2 7.38
Dan Brouthers 1892 29.5 4.1 33.6 7.20
John Olerud 1998 29.5 4.0 33.5 7.04
Honus Wagner 1898 17.3 4.4 21.7 7.02
Roger Connor 1890 21.1 4.2 25.3 7.01
Todd Helton 2004 27.4 4.0 31.4 6.98
Jeff King 1996 18.4 4.3 22.7 6.97
Jimmie Foxx 1937 19.3 4.2 23.5 6.90
Keith Hernandez 1985 23.1 4.0 27.1 6.82
Gene Tenace 1978 17.9 4.2 22.1 6.80
Ed Konetchy 1916 22.1 4.0 26.1 6.77
Hank Greenberg 1946 26.7 3.8 30.5 6.65
Bill White 1964 22.0 3.9 25.9 6.63
Joe Torre 1969 18.8 4.0 22.8 6.60
Jimmie Foxx 1929 30.0 3.7 33.7 6.59
Jimmie Foxx 1930 30.0 3.7 33.7 6.59
Vic Power 1959 15.2 4.2 19.4 6.58
Mark Grace 1992 20.8 3.9 24.7 6.57
Mark Grace 1990 18.2 4.0 22.2 6.56
Jimmie Foxx 1932 36.7 3.6 40.3 6.56
Harry Davis 1905 22.7 3.8 26.5 6.51
Rafael Palmeiro 1993 27.0 3.7 30.7 6.51
Steve Garvey 1976 22.0 3.8 25.8 6.48

A pretty colorful list to start off with, abounding in interesting seasons. Tino Martinez’s five fielding Win Shares atop the list is an absurd amount; I haven’t seen another first baseman contribute that much with the glove in any season. As mentioned, Tenace’s time at catcher boosts him some, as does Jeff King’s time at second, and Wagner’s and Foxx’s jaunts at third. (Before this, I didn’t know that Wagner played no games at shortstop in the 19th century. Wouldn’t have guessed.) That 1929-1930 produced the same component breakdown for Foxx is an eerie coincidence.

Greenberg’s final Tigers season is a major surprise, but this list is primarily who you’d expect through the years.

Honorable mentions (players who would make the list if not for the 19th century): Martinez for 2001; George Stovall for 1908; Pete O’Brien for 1987.

Second base


















































































































































































































Name Year BWS FWS TWS O/D
Frankie Frisch 1927 23.0 11.1 34.1 14.97
Ryne Sandberg 1984 28.9 9.5 38.4 14.30
Eddie Collins 1910 29.8 9.3 39.1 14.18
Nap Lajoie 1908 22.1 10.4 32.5 14.14
Jackie Robinson 1951 29.3 9.0 38.3 13.77
Eddie Collins 1920 29.8 8.7 38.5 13.47
Bobby Grich 1973 17.3 10.9 28.2 13.37
Sn. Stirnweiss 1944 26.4 8.9 35.3 13.31
Nap Lajoie 1907 22.4 9.1 31.5 12.94
Bobby Doerr 1946 16.9 10.4 27.3 12.88
Joe Morgan 1975 36.2 7.8 44.0 12.83
Eddie Collins 1909 34.7 7.8 42.5 12.74
Ryne Sandberg 1991 28.4 8.2 36.6 12.73
Craig Biggio 1999 21.9 8.8 30.7 12.56
Eddie Collins 1915 32.0 7.8 39.8 12.54
Bobby Avila 1954 26.2 8.2 34.4 12.49
Ryne Sandberg 1991 24.9 8.3 33.2 12.45
Fernando Vina 1998 21.0 8.8 29.8 12.40
Bobby Grich 1975 20.0 8.9 28.9 12.32
Nap Lajoie 1906 25.0 8.1 33.1 12.24
Roberto Alomar 1999 27.0 7.9 34.9 12.22
Nellie Fox 1957 23.8 8.2 32.0 12.20
Bobby Grich 1974 24.4 8.1 32.5 12.16
Craig Biggio 1997 30.8 7.5 38.3 12.06
Jerry Priddy 1950 13.3 11.0 24.3 12.04

As second base increased in defensive importance over third base, the opportunities for fielding Win Shares came with it. All this goes to show how amazing Lajoie and Collins were; from 1906-1910 they made the top five seasons to date, and they’re still on the list. And in between Collins and wartime, only Frankie Frisch’s mark at the top has survived.

More than half the seasons on here come from Collins, Lajoie, Grich and Sandberg. Being too young to see Grich play, I never have fully understood his Hall of Fame candidacy, but I see it a lot more when three consecutive seasons put him on this list. Unlike the first base list, where slight variations in fielding mean a bit too much, this is some heady company. That Grich is on this list thrice while Morgan and Alomar make it once apiece may be good evidence of outstanding performance.

Stirnweiss’s season is a reminder that in wartime, finding anybody with multiple skills of any stripe was of increased value. Every position but catcher and first base has at least one wartime season.

And Fernando Vina in 1998? Really? That’s the fun of making lists like this. 1998 produced a lot of excellence in these lists: Ivan Rodriguez at catcher, Olerud at first base, Vina here and Andruw Jones in center field. 1999 had more, with I-Rod and Jones repeating, Biggio and Alomar here, and Robin Ventura at third base. This isn’t the famous part of those years, but it’s certainly historically significant. It’s at least something else to remember the era by if the juiced bits weren’t your cup of tea.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Shortstop


















































































































































































































Name Year BWS FWS TWS O/D
Honus Wagner 1906 34.2 11.3 45.5 16.99
Honus Wagner 1908 49.2 9.7 58.9 16.21
Hughie Jennings 1896 23.5 12.0 35.5 15.89
Honus Wagner 1912 23.6 11.8 35.4 15.73
Joe Cronin 1931 22.6 12.0 34.6 15.68
Phil Rizzuto 1950 23.8 11.3 35.1 15.32
Joe Tinker 1908 19.1 12.7 31.8 15.26
Honus Wagner 1905 36.8 9.6 46.4 15.23
Joe Cronin 1930 22.2 11.1 33.3 14.80
Honus Wagner 1909 33.1 9.4 42.5 14.64
Cal Ripken 1983 25.0 10.3 35.3 14.59
Arky Vaughan 1934 25.9 10.1 36.0 14.53
Johnny Pesky 1946 24.0 10.3 34.3 14.41
Lou Boudreau 1940 18.8 11.6 30.4 14.35
Joe Cronin 1933 23.3 10.3 33.6 14.29
Cal Ripken 1984 27.0 9.7 36.7 14.27
Ozzie Smith 1987 22.7 10.2 32.9 14.08
Ron Hansen 1964 19.3 10.7 30.0 13.77
Terry Turner 1906 15.0 12.7 27.7 13.75
Rico Petrocelli 1969 27.9 9.1 37.0 13.72
Luke Appling 1943 31.8 8.8 39.9 13.72
Art Fletcher 1917 14.7 12.7 27.4 13.63
Bill Dahlen 1892 22.8 9.6 32.4 13.51
Pee Wee Reese 1942 15.6 11.7 27.3 13.37
Bill Dahlen 1896 20.7 9.8 30.5 13.30

I think we can agree that Honus Wagner was good. Along with his first base performance, his record six spots on the lists aren’t going to be topped for a while, although Joe Mauer has a relatively decent chance. Cronin makes this list from three Senators years, a section I know little about save for the 1933 pennant. Washington’s success with prime-of-career middle infielders becoming managers is highly unusual. Perhaps the Nationals can do that with Ryan Zimmerman. . . . I’d like it.

This is the only list not to feature any seasons from the last 20 years, which seems odd. Of the famous AL shortstops of a decade ago, only Omar Vizquel generated at least eight fielding Win Shares, which he did twice but without sufficient hitting to matter. While everyone was looking at them, Orlando Cabrera’s 2001 season broke the fielding Win Shares record, his 13.5 surpassing Rabbit Maranville’s 13.3 from 1914. But as with Vizquel in 1991, his fielding outproduced his hitting, keeping him off this list. Although this is a defense-driven list, it’s much less driven by defense than at other positions, as there have been several great defensive shortstops over the years.

Honorable mentions: Vern Stephens for 1944; Reese for 1949; Ray Chapman for 1917.

Third base

















































































































































































































Name Year BWS FWS TWS O/D
Mike Schmidt 1974 30.1 8.6 38.7 13.38
Jimmy Collins 1898 24.4 9.2 33.6 13.36
Art Devlin 1906 27.8 8.7 36.5 13.25
Stan Hack 1945 25.2 8.4 33.6 12.60
Graig Nettles 1971 16.9 9.8 26.7 12.41
Jimmy Collins 1904 18.5 9.3 27.8 12.38
Fred Lindstrom 1928 23.2 8.3 31.5 12.23
Pie Traynor 1925 16.4 9.5 25.9 12.03
Bobby Wallace 1898 15.2 9.9 25.1 11.99
Tommy Leach 1908 23.0 8.1 31.1 11.98
Pie Traynor 1927 16.5 9.4 25.9 11.98
Robin Ventura 1999 21.9 8.2 30.1 11.93
Darrell Evans 1974 19.9 8.5 28.4 11.91
John McGraw 1899 26.1 7.7 33.8 11.89
Mike Schmidt 1976 28.0 7.5 35.5 11.83
Ken Boyer 1960 23.5 7.8 31.3 11.71
Ron Santo 1967 30.2 7.2 37.4 11.63
Tommy Leach 1904 15.4 9.3 24.7 11.60
Frank Baker 1912 31.5 7.1 38.6 11.59
Billy Shindle 1889 18.1 8.5 26.6 11.57
Frank Baker 1911 27.7 7.3 35.0 11.55
Bill Bradley 1904 19.7 8.0 27.7 11.38
Wade Boggs 1984 20.1 7.9 28.0 11.34
Jimmy Collins 1899 11.8 10.9 22.7 11.33
Mike Schmidt 1983 28.0 7.1 35.1 11.33

That Schmidt hit the top spot in his second full year is all kinds of remarkable. With fewer bunts, third base was a tougher place to earn Win Shares as the years rolled on. Not only did Mr. Schmidt outhit his contemporaries, he outfielded them and several deadballers. Wartime aside, there’s a gap from the ’20s to the ’60s on here, but Schmidt added to the emerging talent at third—Boyer, Santo, Nettles—with an exclamation point that nobody’s approached since, even as Schmidt established himself as the best third baseman of history. George Brett would rival him with the bat, but in most every year Schmidt was a win better on defense. In terms of what we’re investigating, Schmidt is up there with Wagner in terms of accomplishing some stunning results . . .

. . . which may have obscured Darrell Evans a bit. Evans had a fine season himself in ’74 and again with an honorable mention the next year, but who was going to notice when there was Schmidt’s accomplishments to gawk at? Evans was prodigious in his own right, but he would be second stringed instrument (didn’t want to discriminate against fiddles) to Schmidt in all of them. Although there are many reasons Evans is underrated, Schmidt may be the biggest one of all.

For infield positions, Shindle’s 1889 season is the only one that early, and it was also accomplished as a second-year player. As odd as it can be to parse out seasons that early, Shindle’s clearly belongs on the list, as it doesn’t suffer from the usual maladies of the era. The American Association of that year was high-scoring, but not abnormally so, at least not worse than when they moved the mound back 10 feet a few years later. And while the league did have a 27-111 team in it (Louisville), the rest of the teams were spread out about right. It wasn’t balanced by any means, but neither was the National League at the turn of the century, and the pennant winners didn’t benefit abnormally from Louisville’s presence. For purposes of Win Shares, Shindle particularly didn’t benefit, as his Baltimore team went 70-65. It just happened to be a fairly shallow team, with only seven players accumulating at least 10 Win Shares. Shindle led his position in putouts, assists and errors, which I’m guessing is a rather rare feat. At any length, he performed similarly in the Players’ League the next year, then saw his offense decline as overall offense was inclining and was never remotely as useful again. (I’ve never heard anybody use it this way, but if decline goes one way, shouldn’t incline go the other way?)

Honorable mentions: Ken Caminiti for 1996; Larry Gardner for 1912; Evans for 1975; Santo for 1964; Ossie Vitt for 1915 (no, really).

Next week

Outfielders and catchers

References & Resources
Baseball Reference covered in Bill James and marinated for 5 hours.


13 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Geoff Young
14 years ago

Fun stuff, Brandon. Might be neat to see career values, too, although that could be tricky due to players spending significant time at multiple positions.

Rob G.
14 years ago

fun read, you do have Sandberg’s ‘91 season listed twice, I assume one is a typo.

Brandon Isleib
14 years ago

Rob G:

The second 1991 is supposed to be 1992.  I’m not sure whether back-to-back seasons on this list or the same season twice is more impressive.  wink  Thank you for pointing it out.

Rob G.
14 years ago

over/under on how many OF spots Mantle and Mays take in the top 25?

I’ll set the line at 7.

Brandon Isleib
14 years ago

Having already done the OF/C lists, I can give hints if you want…

Mays does combo with someone for 7, but it’s not Mantle.

2 CFs combine for 9 of the seasons.  These may or may not be the same as Mays or his combo partner.

Rob G.
14 years ago

if I remember my Win Shares correctly, it was exceptionally kind to CFers, BUT…

I’ll go Clemente, past that I’m probably just random guessing…

Brandon Isleib
14 years ago

Clemente’s an honorable mention in RF.  A different Pirate RF trumps him.

And yes, CF fielding Win Shares are perhaps ridiculously high.  Given the harsh adjustments harmonic means make, if you think of good hitters with otherworldly defense instead of great hitters with great defense, you get closer to who’s on the list.  I expected more of who you’re mentioning and got a rather different list.  Not people out of the realm of possibility, just not the first obvious people.

WISCGRAD
14 years ago

I would guess the other Pirate might be Dave Parker.

Brandon Isleib
14 years ago

Parker nearly got the top spot, but it’s his only time in the top 25.

Man, the Pirates have had good OFs in their history…

WISCGRAD
14 years ago

If it’s RF the only other guy I can think of would be Paul Waner, given the time period, I really have no idea if he was great at defense or not, but Big Poison did force Cuyler to shift to CF, so he must have been pretty good.

Brandon Isleib
14 years ago

Yeah, it’s Waner.  I would guess in the Forbes Field era they HAD to play good outfielders to survive, but I could be wrong.

WISCGRAD
14 years ago

Is part two up yet?

Brandon Isleib
14 years ago

WISCGRAD, it’s scheduled for next week.  Normally I write every other week, but this year’s archives have been plagued with bar exam, job searches, etc.

Glad to know it’s anticipated, though…not used to that. 😀