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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, 25 July 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		 104 920.0 3705 3390 246 36 10 22 1 737 132 15 105 879 74.08% 8.43% 346 384 --- ---
Mariners,
assuming average fielding		 104 920.0 3647 3337 242 35 10 22 1 725 130 15 103 865 70.41% 9.18% 373 384 -4 -6
Rangers,
with actual fielding		 103 907.2 3821 3405 351 40 5 18 2 779 137 11 121 878 72.91% 6.97% 416 422 --- ---
Rangers,
assuming average fielding		 103 907.2 3761 3352 346 39 5 18 2 767 135 11 119 864 70.41% 9.18% 433 422 -2 -3
Yankees,
with actual fielding		 104 926.1 3892 3461 336 64 4 25 2 784 170 15 123 906 73.14% 6.96% 430 501 --- ---
Yankees,
assuming average fielding		 104 926.1 3831 3407 331 63 4 25 2 772 167 15 121 892 70.41% 9.18% 449 501 -2 -3
Dodgers,
with actual fielding		 104 932.1 3880 3468 330 37 14 26 5 794 155 13 120 896 72.95% 7.8% 417 525 --- ---
Dodgers,
assuming average fielding		 104 932.1 3819 3414 325 36 14 26 5 782 153 13 118 882 70.41% 9.18% 433 525 -2 -3
Angels,
with actual fielding		 103 912.1 3897 3424 381 56 6 29 1 824 169 14 123 793 72.43% 8.79% 462 397 --- ---
Angels,
assuming average fielding		 103 912.1 3836 3370 375 55 6 29 1 811 166 14 121 781 70.41% 9.18% 477 397 -1 -3
Brewers,
with actual fielding		 102 905.1 3815 3411 314 45 17 24 4 814 119 12 122 815 72.49% 7.72% 425 480 --- ---
Brewers,
assuming average fielding		 102 905.1 3755 3358 309 44 17 24 4 801 117 12 120 802 70.41% 9.18% 436 480 -1 -2
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Orioles,
with actual fielding		 102 914.1 3822 3444 306 39 9 23 1 789 167 17 104 877 72.55% 5.12% 402 506 --- ---
Orioles,
assuming average fielding		 102 914.1 3762 3390 301 38 9 23 1 777 164 17 102 863 70.41% 9.18% 414 506 -2 -2
Astros,
with actual fielding		 102 903.1 3832 3386 365 46 4 27 4 805 141 12 119 878 71.65% 8.18% 440 471 --- ---
Astros,
assuming average fielding		 102 903.1 3772 3333 359 45 4 27 4 792 139 12 117 864 70.41% 9.18% 447 471 -1 -1
Guardians,
with actual fielding		 102 904.0 3752 3366 313 39 9 23 2 783 185 18 116 904 71.95% 9.63% 410 422 --- ---
Guardians,
assuming average fielding		 102 904.0 3693 3313 308 38 9 23 2 771 182 18 114 890 70.41% 9.18% 417 422 0 -1
Braves,
with actual fielding		 101 897.2 3706 3347 283 45 10 20 1 787 138 14 92 908 70.76% 9.52% 374 425 --- ---
Braves,
assuming average fielding		 101 897.2 3648 3295 279 44 10 20 1 775 136 14 91 894 70.41% 9.18% 372 425 +1 0
Reds,
with actual fielding		 102 898.2 3819 3414 320 57 6 21 1 809 175 10 108 859 71.67% 7.09% 428 426 --- ---
Reds,
assuming average fielding		 102 898.2 3759 3361 315 56 6 21 1 796 172 10 106 846 70.41% 9.18% 427 426 0 0
Twins,
with actual fielding		 101 897.1 3740 3397 255 42 10 33 3 799 152 19 118 916 71.7% 5.52% 413 478 --- ---
Twins,
assuming average fielding		 101 897.1 3681 3344 251 41 10 32 3 786 150 19 116 902 70.41% 9.18% 412 478 0 0
Mets,
with actual fielding		 102 915.1 3919 3419 395 64 11 25 5 804 160 9 112 893 71.76% 7.81% 453 487 --- ---
Mets,
assuming average fielding		 102 915.1 3858 3365 389 63 11 25 5 791 157 9 110 879 70.41% 9.18% 456 487 0 0
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		 103 921.1 3899 3530 292 44 11 21 1 863 148 15 135 886 71.35% 5.96% 459 417 --- ---
Rays,
assuming average fielding		 103 921.1 3838 3475 287 43 11 21 1 849 146 15 133 872 70.41% 9.18% 455 417 0 0
Cubs,
with actual fielding		 104 919.0 3887 3491 320 36 12 24 4 826 144 10 108 899 71.51% 6.01% 426 422 --- ---
Cubs,
assuming average fielding		 104 919.0 3826 3436 315 35 12 24 4 813 142 10 106 885 70.41% 9.18% 422 422 0 +1
Royals,
with actual fielding		 103 902.0 3808 3419 308 41 16 23 1 830 176 14 96 828 71.03% 7.98% 409 433 --- ---
Royals,
assuming average fielding		 103 902.0 3748 3365 303 40 16 23 1 817 173 14 94 815 70.41% 9.18% 404 433 +1 +1
Phillies,
with actual fielding		 102 912.2 3773 3429 276 42 5 20 1 790 168 9 95 924 71.46% 8.14% 383 504 --- ---
Phillies,
assuming average fielding		 102 912.2 3714 3375 272 41 5 20 1 778 165 9 94 910 70.41% 9.18% 380 504 0 +1
Padres,
with actual fielding		 105 928.2 3885 3505 294 38 14 29 5 851 175 12 114 915 70.74% 8.76% 426 455 --- ---
Padres,
assuming average fielding		 105 928.2 3824 3450 289 37 14 29 5 838 172 12 112 901 70.41% 9.18% 419 455 0 +1
Cardinals,
with actual fielding		 102 910.0 3807 3448 284 25 12 36 2 862 170 13 111 823 70.69% 8.46% 435 429 --- ---
Cardinals,
assuming average fielding		 102 910.0 3747 3394 280 25 12 35 2 849 167 13 109 810 70.41% 9.18% 429 429 +1 +1
Blue Jays,
with actual fielding		 102 898.0 3850 3445 317 45 13 27 3 865 163 7 138 836 71.05% 7.32% 476 392 --- ---
Blue Jays,
assuming average fielding		 102 898.0 3790 3391 312 44 13 27 3 851 160 7 136 823 70.41% 9.18% 468 392 +1 +1
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Diamondbacks,
with actual fielding		 103 915.0 3909 3531 303 35 6 31 3 923 197 32 113 749 70.07% 8.12% 477 475 --- ---
Diamondbacks,
assuming average fielding		 103 915.0 3848 3476 298 34 6 31 3 909 194 31 111 737 70.41% 9.18% 464 475 +2 +2
Red Sox,
with actual fielding		 101 908.1 3811 3460 267 42 12 28 2 836 148 9 111 874 71.17% 6.35% 418 493 --- ---
Red Sox,
assuming average fielding		 101 908.1 3751 3406 263 41 12 28 2 823 146 9 109 860 70.41% 9.18% 410 493 +1 +2
White Sox,
with actual fielding		 105 919.2 4009 3534 392 34 14 33 2 876 173 15 128 875 70.99% 5.38% 508 332 --- ---
White Sox,
assuming average fielding		 105 919.2 3946 3479 386 33 14 32 2 862 170 15 126 861 70.41% 9.18% 492 332 +1 +2
Tigers,
with actual fielding		 104 919.2 3846 3490 277 37 7 34 1 845 149 23 104 887 70.83% 7.25% 421 417 --- ---
Tigers,
assuming average fielding		 104 919.2 3786 3435 273 36 7 33 1 832 147 23 102 873 70.41% 9.18% 412 417 +1 +2
Pirates,
with actual fielding		 102 914.1 3872 3476 310 47 6 29 4 853 182 15 99 866 70.38% 7.27% 438 412 --- ---
Pirates,
assuming average fielding		 102 914.1 3811 3422 305 46 6 29 4 840 179 15 97 852 70.41% 9.18% 426 412 +1 +2
Marlins,
with actual fielding		 103 915.1 3977 3525 355 56 13 28 0 894 180 21 109 848 69.91% 6.22% 494 359 --- ---
Marlins,
assuming average fielding		 103 915.1 3915 3470 349 55 13 28 0 880 177 21 107 835 70.41% 9.18% 470 359 +2 +3
Athletics,
with actual fielding		 105 925.1 3982 3520 345 64 13 39 1 909 219 13 109 792 70.05% 9.42% 489 433 --- ---
Athletics,
assuming average fielding		 105 925.1 3920 3465 340 63 13 38 1 895 216 13 107 780 70.41% 9.18% 472 433 +1 +3
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Nationals,
with actual fielding		 103 912.1 3864 3500 295 26 11 30 2 891 175 21 102 843 69.61% 7.92% 448 394 --- ---
Nationals,
assuming average fielding		 103 912.1 3804 3445 290 26 11 30 2 833 164 21 100 830 70.41% 9.18% 427 394 +3 +4
Giants,
with actual fielding		 104 914.2 3923 3511 325 52 7 26 2 911 183 23 103 877 68.49% 9.02% 475 442 --- ---
Giants,
assuming average fielding		 104 914.2 3862 3456 320 51 7 26 2 897 180 23 101 863 70.41% 9.18% 444 442 +3 +5
Rockies,
with actual fielding		 103 914.0 4049 3604 360 38 10 36 1 1034 186 22 129 696 67.96% 8.48% 574 435 --- ---
Rockies,
assuming average fielding		 103 914.0 3986 3548 354 37 10 35 1 1018 183 22 127 685 70.41% 9.18% 529 435 +3 +6



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This page was last modified on Friday, 26 July 2024, at 7:42 am Pacific Time.