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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 Thursday, 8 June 2023.
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
Rays,
with actual fielding		 64 567.0 2369 2116 207 30 4 11 1 479 100 9 61 542 72.64% 7.96% 241 363 --- ---
Rays,
assuming average fielding		 64 567.0 2335 2085 204 30 4 11 1 472 99 9 60 534 70.41% 9.18% 251 363 -1 -2
Padres,
with actual fielding		 62 550.1 2295 2047 207 25 6 10 0 472 91 5 65 528 72.31% 8.58% 239 267 --- ---
Padres,
assuming average fielding		 62 550.1 2262 2017 204 25 6 10 0 465 90 5 64 520 70.41% 9.18% 248 267 -1 -2
Yankees,
with actual fielding		 62 554.2 2329 2067 209 34 2 16 1 468 108 4 68 556 72.62% 7.81% 253 277 --- ---
Yankees,
assuming average fielding		 62 554.2 2295 2037 206 34 2 16 1 461 106 4 67 548 70.41% 9.18% 259 277 -1 -2
Brewers,
with actual fielding		 62 548.0 2325 2081 194 27 2 19 2 504 89 3 82 491 72.4% 6.91% 275 250 --- ---
Brewers,
assuming average fielding		 62 548.0 2291 2051 191 27 2 19 2 497 88 3 81 484 70.41% 9.18% 282 250 0 -2
Rangers,
with actual fielding		 61 540.1 2217 2007 166 24 4 16 0 468 78 12 56 510 71.8% 10.6% 220 343 --- ---
Rangers,
assuming average fielding		 61 540.1 2185 1978 164 24 4 16 0 461 77 12 55 503 70.41% 9.18% 225 343 0 -1
Diamondbacks,
with actual fielding		 62 551.1 2340 2091 216 14 5 13 1 519 120 9 71 519 70.51% 8.85% 269 307 --- ---
Diamondbacks,
assuming average fielding		 62 551.1 2306 2061 213 14 5 13 1 511 118 9 70 511 70.41% 9.18% 267 307 0 0
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Guardians,
with actual fielding		 61 545.0 2297 2080 172 18 7 18 2 512 119 3 59 468 71.29% 6.8% 258 234 --- ---
Guardians,
assuming average fielding		 61 545.0 2264 2050 170 18 7 18 2 505 117 3 58 461 70.41% 9.18% 256 234 0 0
Tigers,
with actual fielding		 59 525.0 2217 2012 165 17 5 15 3 492 91 7 72 476 71.7% 5.49% 255 227 --- ---
Tigers,
assuming average fielding		 59 525.0 2185 1983 163 17 5 15 3 485 90 7 71 469 70.41% 9.18% 255 227 0 0
Twins,
with actual fielding		 62 556.0 2296 2075 182 17 9 12 1 467 96 8 61 590 71.9% 6.29% 228 273 --- ---
Twins,
assuming average fielding		 62 556.0 2263 2045 179 17 9 12 1 460 95 8 60 581 70.41% 9.18% 229 273 0 0
Blue Jays,
with actual fielding		 63 559.2 2358 2119 204 25 4 5 1 497 88 6 84 594 71.52% 7.28% 270 317 --- ---
Blue Jays,
assuming average fielding		 63 559.2 2324 2088 201 25 4 5 1 490 87 6 83 585 70.41% 9.18% 270 317 0 0
Cubs,
with actual fielding		 61 537.0 2260 2016 195 22 8 18 1 490 102 12 60 511 70.77% 8.77% 251 280 --- ---
Cubs,
assuming average fielding		 61 537.0 2227 1987 192 22 8 18 1 483 101 12 59 504 70.41% 9.18% 249 280 0 +1
White Sox,
with actual fielding		 62 548.1 2390 2097 243 35 1 14 0 504 97 15 86 577 71.15% 5.4% 310 256 --- ---
White Sox,
assuming average fielding		 62 548.1 2355 2067 239 34 1 14 0 497 96 15 85 569 70.41% 9.18% 304 256 0 +1
Astros,
with actual fielding		 62 550.2 2284 2062 181 26 4 9 2 490 101 6 66 589 70.14% 10.17% 240 279 --- ---
Astros,
assuming average fielding		 62 550.2 2251 2032 178 26 4 9 2 483 100 6 65 580 70.41% 9.18% 236 279 +1 +1
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Angels,
with actual fielding		 63 555.2 2393 2110 224 35 6 14 4 517 103 8 67 539 70.47% 7.93% 277 319 --- ---
Angels,
assuming average fielding		 63 555.2 2358 2079 221 34 6 14 4 509 102 8 66 531 70.41% 9.18% 270 319 0 +1
Dodgers,
with actual fielding		 62 546.0 2316 2098 174 27 2 13 2 517 105 9 79 517 71.13% 7.46% 281 345 --- ---
Dodgers,
assuming average fielding		 62 546.0 2282 2068 171 27 2 13 2 509 103 9 78 509 70.41% 9.18% 277 345 0 +1
Mets,
with actual fielding		 62 537.0 2310 2042 218 32 4 14 0 508 96 4 83 523 70.77% 8.36% 287 284 --- ---
Mets,
assuming average fielding		 62 537.0 2276 2012 215 32 4 14 0 501 95 4 82 515 70.41% 9.18% 285 284 0 +1
Braves,
with actual fielding		 61 540.0 2276 2028 202 27 6 12 1 482 95 6 58 572 70.06% 9.84% 246 326 --- ---
Braves,
assuming average fielding		 61 540.0 2243 1999 199 27 6 12 1 475 94 6 57 564 70.41% 9.18% 236 326 +1 +2
Nationals,
with actual fielding		 61 535.2 2359 2076 234 19 5 25 0 556 100 7 83 448 69.97% 8.96% 324 263 --- ---
Nationals,
assuming average fielding		 61 535.2 2325 2046 231 19 5 25 0 524 94 7 82 441 70.41% 9.18% 312 263 +1 +2
Marlins,
with actual fielding		 63 561.1 2384 2119 216 26 6 16 1 515 115 9 65 593 69.66% 7.92% 273 265 --- ---
Marlins,
assuming average fielding		 63 561.1 2349 2088 213 26 6 16 1 508 113 9 64 584 70.41% 9.18% 261 265 +1 +3
Mariners,
with actual fielding		 61 545.2 2282 2090 157 16 8 11 0 510 105 5 54 549 69.72% 4.51% 234 249 --- ---
Mariners,
assuming average fielding		 61 545.2 2249 2060 155 16 8 11 0 503 103 5 53 541 70.41% 9.18% 225 249 +1 +3
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Giants,
with actual fielding		 61 540.2 2287 2066 169 26 9 12 5 516 96 12 67 536 69.74% 8.46% 264 297 --- ---
Giants,
assuming average fielding		 61 540.2 2254 2036 167 26 9 12 5 509 95 12 66 528 70.41% 9.18% 252 297 +1 +3
Rockies,
with actual fielding		 63 546.2 2416 2117 239 24 12 22 2 579 129 19 79 462 68.94% 9.66% 336 278 --- ---
Rockies,
assuming average fielding		 63 546.2 2381 2086 236 24 12 22 2 571 127 19 78 455 70.41% 9.18% 317 278 +2 +4
Athletics,
with actual fielding		 64 559.0 2575 2196 297 43 6 31 2 610 129 11 102 476 69.31% 6.2% 407 244 --- ---
Athletics,
assuming average fielding		 64 559.0 2538 2164 293 42 6 31 2 601 127 11 101 469 70.41% 9.18% 382 244 +1 +4
Phillies,
with actual fielding		 61 530.1 2267 2026 189 22 5 25 0 502 105 9 63 541 69.77% 6.47% 267 284 --- ---
Phillies,
assuming average fielding		 61 530.1 2234 1997 186 22 5 25 0 495 103 9 62 533 70.41% 9.18% 253 284 +2 +4
Pirates,
with actual fielding		 61 539.1 2336 2078 217 18 6 14 3 521 119 7 62 519 69.74% 7.21% 280 280 --- ---
Pirates,
assuming average fielding		 61 539.1 2302 2048 214 18 6 14 3 513 117 7 61 511 70.41% 9.18% 264 280 +1 +4
Orioles,
with actual fielding		 61 549.1 2342 2102 199 21 4 16 0 537 102 10 72 566 68.67% 8.45% 280 284 --- ---
Orioles,
assuming average fielding		 61 549.1 2308 2071 196 21 4 16 0 529 101 10 71 558 70.41% 9.18% 263 284 +2 +5
Red Sox,
with actual fielding		 62 545.0 2356 2117 187 28 5 17 2 535 127 5 77 535 70.01% 6.59% 296 306 --- ---
Red Sox,
assuming average fielding		 62 545.0 2322 2086 184 28 5 17 2 527 125 5 76 527 70.41% 9.18% 279 306 +2 +5
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Royals,
with actual fielding		 62 540.1 2359 2084 228 23 3 18 3 535 101 12 68 527 69.07% 7.5% 294 237 --- ---
Royals,
assuming average fielding		 62 540.1 2325 2054 225 23 3 18 3 527 100 12 67 519 70.41% 9.18% 276 237 +2 +5
Reds,
with actual fielding		 62 548.1 2407 2132 226 27 7 13 2 561 121 13 79 552 68.31% 6.91% 317 290 --- ---
Reds,
assuming average fielding		 62 548.1 2372 2101 223 27 7 13 2 553 119 13 78 544 70.41% 9.18% 294 290 +3 +6
Cardinals,
with actual fielding		 63 553.0 2426 2159 215 25 3 22 2 582 139 6 63 535 67.28% 7.88% 314 301 --- ---
Cardinals,
assuming average fielding		 63 553.0 2391 2128 212 25 3 22 2 574 137 6 62 527 70.41% 9.18% 280 301 +4 +8



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