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Fielding Effects


All raw data supplied courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
They do a wonderful job, and deserve your support.

Fielding Effects

Through games of Monday, 30 September 2024.
All results are from true, unadjusted data.

The Table shows two lines for each team. The first is their actual stats to date, from Games through Strikeouts; the stats FEbat and FErun—Fielding Efficiency on batters and Fielding Efficiency on runners—are explained on our page here about Team Fielding. The OR stat on this line is the TPP-projected Runs the team would be expected to have yielded to date (for an explanation of the TPP, see our page here about basic Baseball Analysis). The R stat is the TOP-projected team Runs scored to date. The Δ stats are immaterial for this line.

The second Table line for each team is their calculated stats if their defense were MLB-average. The FEbat and FErun values on this line are their MLB-average values (averaged over the three recent years 2017 - 2019). The OR stat on this line is the TPP-projected Runs the team would be expected to have yielded to date based on the average-fielding stat values. And on this line, the Δ stats show the differences in Wins that having an MLB-average defense would gain or lose (the ΔW stat is for the year to date, while the ΔWyr is for a full 162-game season.

Thus, this table shows us what a given team’s defense is doing to help or hurt it. As you see, the average difference is less than 3 wins a season, and that figure is heavily weighted by a very few very bad defenses. (Without the three exceptionally worst, the average difference is just 2 wins a year, and the widest swings from assuming an MLB-average defense are 6 lost by good-fielding teams and gained by poor-fielding teams, with 2/3 of the teams within a couple of wins of average-fielding results.

(Those interested in the tiresome details of the calculations can follow that link to a full explanation.)

We cannot easily disentangle pitching from fielding, because fielding affects pitching results. But, painting with a very broad brush, we can say that at the extremes the fielding-attributable difference in runs allowed is in the range of being equivalent to perhaps a quarter to a third of a run on the team ERA, with the more normal variations amounting to about an eighth of a run. Pretty clearly, on a team level, fielding runs a poor second to pitching in significance for runs allowed, and thus a very poor third to offense. (Recall that offense and defense are each 50% of the game, and defense is part pitching and part fielding.) Since the extremes of team ERA cover about 2.75 runs (in 2020, 3.02 to 5.75) while the extremes of fielding, even including all the outliers, equate to maybe 0.60 on an ERA, their ratio is—and again, this is very, very broad-brush thinking—around 9:2, making fielding perhaps at most around 20% of defense and thus pitching about 80%, meaning that offense is 50% of the game, pitching is 40%, and fielding is at most around 10%, and so of much less importance than either offense or pitching. (Quite as we said almost 40 years ago.)

— Place your cursor over any column heading to see what it signifies. —

Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Mariners,
with actual fielding		 162 1433.0 5801 5340 369 52 12 27 1 1174 235 19 183 1416 73.78% 7.09% 568 669 --- ---
Mariners,
assuming average fielding		 162 1433.0 5691 5239 362 51 12 26 1 1152 231 19 180 1389 70.41% 9.18% 603 669 -4 -4
Guardians,
with actual fielding		 161 1428.0 5923 5316 492 60 13 40 2 1224 286 27 179 1410 72.35% 8.71% 637 659 --- ---
Guardians,
assuming average fielding		 161 1428.0 5811 5215 483 59 13 39 2 1201 281 26 176 1383 70.41% 9.18% 655 659 -2 -3
Dodgers,
with actual fielding		 162 1445.2 6047 5420 501 55 21 43 7 1273 255 20 198 1390 72.41% 7.78% 677 841 --- ---
Dodgers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1445.2 5933 5317 492 54 21 42 7 1249 250 20 194 1364 70.41% 9.18% 692 841 -2 -2
Tigers,
with actual fielding		 162 1447.0 5969 5431 416 57 12 51 2 1265 217 31 159 1354 72.22% 6.97% 615 649 --- ---
Tigers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1447.0 5856 5328 408 56 12 50 2 1241 213 30 156 1328 70.41% 9.18% 628 649 -2 -2
Blue Jays,
with actual fielding		 162 1427.1 6047 5412 503 71 17 40 4 1316 249 17 208 1314 71.93% 8.01% 713 668 --- ---
Blue Jays,
assuming average fielding		 162 1427.1 5933 5310 493 70 17 39 4 1291 244 17 204 1289 70.41% 9.18% 720 668 -1 -1
Rays,
with actual fielding		 162 1440.2 6022 5455 445 65 16 36 5 1286 217 18 196 1406 72.09% 6.26% 665 626 --- ---
Rays,
assuming average fielding		 162 1440.2 5908 5352 437 64 16 35 5 1262 213 18 192 1379 70.41% 9.18% 673 626 -1 -1
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Yankees,
with actual fielding		 162 1452.2 6131 5462 533 88 7 37 4 1272 276 21 181 1457 71.79% 7.04% 686 808 --- ---
Yankees,
assuming average fielding		 162 1452.2 6015 5359 523 86 7 36 4 1248 271 21 178 1429 70.41% 9.18% 692 808 -1 -1
Mets,
with actual fielding		 162 1442.1 6098 5358 586 94 17 37 6 1232 235 17 165 1455 71.86% 8.06% 663 749 --- ---
Mets,
assuming average fielding		 162 1442.1 5983 5257 575 92 17 36 6 1209 231 17 162 1427 70.41% 9.18% 674 749 -1 -1
Brewers,
with actual fielding		 162 1446.0 6076 5444 494 64 25 43 6 1289 203 16 196 1373 72.28% 7.47% 678 752 --- ---
Brewers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1446.0 5961 5341 485 63 25 42 6 1265 199 16 192 1347 70.41% 9.18% 688 752 -1 -1
Angels,
with actual fielding		 162 1431.0 6146 5404 601 81 14 43 3 1328 271 20 202 1252 71.9% 8.81% 749 613 --- ---
Angels,
assuming average fielding		 162 1431.0 6030 5302 590 79 14 42 3 1303 266 20 198 1228 70.41% 9.18% 759 613 -1 -1
Orioles,
with actual fielding		 162 1442.0 6071 5482 481 53 12 42 1 1303 262 24 175 1380 71.67% 5.98% 673 787 --- ---
Orioles,
assuming average fielding		 162 1442.0 5956 5378 472 52 12 41 1 1278 257 24 172 1354 70.41% 9.18% 674 787 -1 -1
Cubs,
with actual fielding		 162 1432.1 6032 5439 485 48 21 35 4 1302 221 17 181 1348 71.73% 6.87% 667 706 --- ---
Cubs,
assuming average fielding		 162 1432.1 5918 5336 476 47 21 34 4 1277 217 17 178 1322 70.41% 9.18% 668 706 0 0
Reds,
with actual fielding		 162 1428.0 6064 5438 487 93 11 34 1 1302 275 16 196 1370 71.76% 6.86% 703 662 --- ---
Reds,
assuming average fielding		 162 1428.0 5949 5335 478 91 11 33 1 1277 270 16 192 1344 70.41% 9.18% 703 662 0 0
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Astros,
with actual fielding		 161 1432.0 6018 5363 544 61 8 38 4 1238 222 16 183 1479 71.84% 7.74% 664 745 --- ---
Astros,
assuming average fielding		 161 1432.0 5904 5262 534 60 8 37 4 1215 218 16 180 1451 70.41% 9.18% 669 745 -1 0
Rangers,
with actual fielding		 162 1427.2 6108 5444 530 74 13 44 3 1323 235 20 198 1371 71.39% 6.27% 725 660 --- ---
Rangers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1427.2 5992 5341 520 73 13 43 3 1298 231 20 194 1345 70.41% 9.18% 721 660 0 0
Red Sox,
with actual fielding		 162 1452.2 6154 5548 461 76 14 53 2 1363 246 14 189 1353 71.18% 6.5% 713 760 --- ---
Red Sox,
assuming average fielding		 162 1452.2 6038 5443 452 75 14 52 2 1337 241 14 185 1327 70.41% 9.18% 700 760 +1 +1
Royals,
with actual fielding		 162 1428.0 6007 5403 472 70 22 37 3 1303 275 26 146 1339 70.91% 7.96% 635 683 --- ---
Royals,
assuming average fielding		 162 1428.0 5893 5301 463 69 22 36 3 1278 270 26 143 1314 70.41% 9.18% 626 683 +1 +1
Padres,
with actual fielding		 162 1439.1 6029 5435 462 67 17 39 9 1296 254 19 169 1453 70.87% 7.56% 648 736 --- ---
Padres,
assuming average fielding		 162 1439.1 5915 5332 453 66 17 38 9 1271 249 19 166 1426 70.41% 9.18% 640 736 +1 +1
Cardinals,
with actual fielding		 162 1444.0 6044 5476 454 42 17 53 2 1363 281 27 174 1308 70.74% 8.39% 692 691 --- ---
Cardinals,
assuming average fielding		 162 1444.0 5930 5372 445 41 17 52 2 1337 276 26 171 1283 70.41% 9.18% 684 691 +1 +1
Twins,
with actual fielding		 162 1440.1 6078 5509 433 69 13 50 4 1333 244 27 190 1500 70.56% 4.91% 697 717 --- ---
Twins,
assuming average fielding		 162 1440.1 5963 5405 425 68 13 49 4 1308 239 26 186 1472 70.41% 9.18% 675 717 +2 +2
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Athletics,
with actual fielding		 162 1436.2 6161 5470 530 92 17 51 1 1385 314 18 169 1263 70.38% 8.08% 735 659 --- ---
Athletics,
assuming average fielding		 162 1436.2 6044 5366 520 90 17 50 1 1359 308 18 166 1239 70.41% 9.18% 719 659 +2 +2
Braves,
with actual fielding		 162 1443.1 5978 5413 449 68 13 34 1 1277 238 23 150 1553 700% 8.49% 614 716 --- ---
Braves,
assuming average fielding		 162 1443.1 5865 5311 441 67 13 33 1 1253 233 23 147 1524 70.41% 9.18% 595 716 +3 +3
White Sox,
with actual fielding		 162 1420.0 6241 5480 643 54 16 45 3 1397 275 22 201 1366 69.9% 6.49% 815 515 --- ---
White Sox,
assuming average fielding		 162 1420.0 6123 5376 631 53 16 44 3 1371 270 22 197 1340 70.41% 9.18% 775 515 +3 +3
Phillies,
with actual fielding		 162 1442.2 6050 5507 444 60 9 29 1 1339 262 22 181 1433 70.54% 7.87% 678 779 --- ---
Phillies,
assuming average fielding		 162 1442.2 5936 5403 436 59 9 28 1 1314 257 22 178 1406 70.41% 9.18% 657 779 +3 +3
Pirates,
with actual fielding		 162 1438.2 6159 5484 515 85 17 51 7 1369 282 29 166 1356 70.15% 7.31% 734 658 --- ---
Pirates,
assuming average fielding		 162 1438.2 6042 5380 505 83 17 50 7 1343 277 28 163 1330 70.41% 9.18% 708 658 +3 +3
Giants,
with actual fielding		 162 1433.2 6095 5440 526 70 16 39 4 1339 262 29 153 1436 69.64% 8.12% 692 680 --- ---
Giants,
assuming average fielding		 162 1433.2 5980 5337 516 69 16 38 4 1314 257 28 150 1409 70.41% 9.18% 661 680 +3 +3
Diamondbacks,
with actual fielding		 162 1443.1 6195 5596 481 54 12 48 4 1468 331 44 181 1313 69.08% 7.1% 770 838 --- ---
Diamondbacks,
assuming average fielding		 162 1443.1 6078 5490 472 53 12 47 4 1440 325 43 178 1288 70.41% 9.18% 727 838 +4 +4
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Marlins,
with actual fielding		 162 1437.1 6269 5558 556 88 18 48 1 1431 296 33 195 1317 69.94% 6.68% 817 633 --- ---
Marlins,
assuming average fielding		 162 1437.1 6150 5453 545 86 18 47 1 1404 290 32 191 1292 70.41% 9.18% 776 633 +4 +4
Nationals,
with actual fielding		 162 1434.0 6114 5537 473 43 14 44 3 1429 262 27 168 1314 69.34% 7.89% 728 633 --- ---
Nationals,
assuming average fielding		 162 1434.0 5998 5432 464 42 14 43 3 1318 242 26 165 1289 70.41% 9.18% 686 633 +4 +4
Rockies,
with actual fielding		 162 1426.2 6322 5623 563 66 18 50 2 1604 290 38 221 1118 68.22% 8.67% 912 661 --- ---
Rockies,
assuming average fielding		 162 1426.2 6202 5517 552 65 18 49 2 1574 285 37 217 1097 70.41% 9.18% 849 661 +5 +5



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This page was last modified on Saturday, 5 October 2024, at 4:38 pm Pacific Time.