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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 Friday, 3 February 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
Yankees,
with actual fielding		 162 1451.2 5938 5380 444 65 13 27 9 1177 247 8 157 1459 73.19% 6.81% 561 779 --- ---
Yankees,
assuming average fielding		 162 1451.2 5828 5280 436 64 13 26 9 1155 242 8 154 1432 70.41% 9.18% 589 779 -4 -4
Dodgers,
with actual fielding		 162 1451.1 5865 5336 407 75 15 32 0 1114 223 22 152 1465 74.46% 6.94% 526 833 --- ---
Dodgers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1451.1 5756 5237 399 74 15 31 0 1093 219 22 149 1438 70.41% 9.18% 567 833 -4 -4
Astros,
with actual fielding		 162 1445.1 5856 5295 458 60 13 30 0 1121 204 16 134 1524 73.18% 8.03% 512 728 --- ---
Astros,
assuming average fielding		 162 1445.1 5747 5197 449 59 13 29 0 1100 200 16 132 1496 70.41% 9.18% 540 728 -3 -3
Mariners,
with actual fielding		 162 1447.0 5986 5429 447 56 18 35 1 1277 240 19 186 1391 72.06% 7.68% 631 694 --- ---
Mariners,
assuming average fielding		 162 1447.0 5875 5328 439 55 18 34 1 1253 236 19 183 1365 70.41% 9.18% 646 694 -2 -2
Guardians,
with actual fielding		 162 1456.0 5989 5447 435 57 14 36 0 1252 246 10 172 1390 72.55% 7.55% 610 688 --- ---
Guardians,
assuming average fielding		 162 1456.0 5878 5346 427 56 14 35 0 1229 241 10 169 1364 70.41% 9.18% 629 688 -2 -2
Rays,
with actual fielding		 162 1435.2 5930 5424 384 66 15 34 7 1260 239 21 172 1384 72.22% 6.14% 613 633 --- ---
Rays,
assuming average fielding		 162 1435.2 5820 5323 377 65 15 33 7 1237 235 21 169 1358 70.41% 9.18% 621 633 -1 -1
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Cardinals,
with actual fielding		 162 1435.2 6014 5409 489 60 14 39 3 1335 249 21 146 1177 71.27% 10.02% 636 766 --- ---
Cardinals,
assuming average fielding		 162 1435.2 5902 5309 480 59 14 38 3 1310 244 21 143 1155 70.41% 9.18% 643 766 -1 -1
Twins,
with actual fielding		 162 1437.0 6042 5458 468 66 10 39 1 1320 270 20 184 1336 71.51% 7.19% 678 702 --- ---
Twins,
assuming average fielding		 162 1437.0 5930 5357 459 65 10 38 1 1295 265 20 181 1311 70.41% 9.18% 679 702 -1 -1
Brewers,
with actual fielding		 162 1446.0 6057 5406 521 67 13 44 6 1238 240 26 190 1530 720% 6.73% 663 718 --- ---
Brewers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1446.0 5945 5306 511 66 13 43 6 1215 236 26 186 1502 70.41% 9.18% 670 718 -1 -1
Angels,
with actual fielding		 162 1435.2 6038 5386 540 60 17 33 2 1241 264 15 168 1383 72.38% 6.9% 644 629 --- ---
Angels,
assuming average fielding		 162 1435.2 5926 5286 530 59 17 32 2 1218 259 15 165 1357 70.41% 9.18% 658 629 -1 -1
Diamondbacks,
with actual fielding		 162 1430.0 6065 5445 504 59 13 40 4 1345 290 22 191 1216 71.79% 8.11% 708 654 --- ---
Diamondbacks,
assuming average fielding		 162 1430.0 5952 5344 495 58 13 39 4 1320 285 22 187 1193 70.41% 9.18% 716 654 -1 -1
Braves,
with actual fielding		 162 1448.0 6031 5413 500 62 9 46 1 1224 218 16 148 1554 71.43% 5.94% 601 765 --- ---
Braves,
assuming average fielding		 162 1448.0 5919 5313 491 61 9 45 1 1201 214 16 145 1525 70.41% 9.18% 599 765 0 0
Cubs,
with actual fielding		 162 1443.2 6162 5506 540 73 5 35 3 1342 257 29 207 1383 71.31% 7.04% 738 662 --- ---
Cubs,
assuming average fielding		 162 1443.2 6048 5404 530 72 5 34 3 1317 252 28 203 1357 70.41% 9.18% 732 662 0 0
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Tigers,
with actual fielding		 162 1419.2 6047 5405 511 57 17 56 1 1337 237 26 167 1195 71.57% 7.93% 696 536 --- ---
Tigers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1419.2 5935 5305 502 56 17 55 1 1312 233 26 164 1173 70.41% 9.18% 693 536 0 0
Athletics,
with actual fielding		 162 1426.1 6121 5491 503 72 15 38 2 1394 313 28 195 1203 71.08% 7.66% 743 524 --- ---
Athletics,
assuming average fielding		 162 1426.1 6007 5389 494 71 15 37 2 1368 307 27 191 1181 70.41% 9.18% 735 524 0 0
Padres,
with actual fielding		 162 1443.1 6047 5433 468 88 8 48 2 1263 234 17 173 1451 71.8% 6.11% 647 687 --- ---
Padres,
assuming average fielding		 162 1443.1 5935 5332 459 86 8 47 2 1240 230 17 170 1424 70.41% 9.18% 652 687 0 0
Marlins,
with actual fielding		 162 1437.1 6056 5423 511 76 14 32 0 1311 314 28 173 1437 70.51% 8.79% 680 594 --- ---
Marlins,
assuming average fielding		 162 1437.1 5944 5322 502 75 14 31 0 1287 308 27 170 1410 70.41% 9.18% 667 594 +1 +1
Rangers,
with actual fielding		 162 1435.0 6167 5452 581 71 16 44 3 1345 279 18 169 1314 70.81% 7.7% 724 673 --- ---
Rangers,
assuming average fielding		 162 1435.0 6053 5351 570 70 16 43 3 1320 274 18 166 1290 70.41% 9.18% 710 673 +1 +1
Orioles,
with actual fielding		 162 1433.1 6058 5490 443 64 8 47 6 1406 289 14 171 1214 70.31% 9.28% 698 673 --- ---
Orioles,
assuming average fielding		 162 1433.1 5946 5388 435 63 8 46 6 1380 284 14 168 1191 70.41% 9.18% 680 673 +2 +2
White Sox,
with actual fielding		 162 1447.2 6145 5498 533 51 14 47 2 1331 265 18 166 1450 70.45% 6.79% 691 671 --- ---
White Sox,
assuming average fielding		 162 1447.2 6031 5396 523 50 14 46 2 1306 260 18 163 1423 70.41% 9.18% 668 671 +2 +2
Team G IP BFP AB BB HBP SH SF CI H 2B 3B HR SO FEbat FErun OR R       ΔW ΔWyr
Reds,
with actual fielding		 162 1423.1 6220 5439 612 110 11 47 1 1366 284 23 213 1414 70.21% 6.82% 801 607 --- ---
Reds,
assuming average fielding		 162 1423.1 6105 5338 601 108 11 46 1 1341 279 23 209 1388 70.41% 9.18% 779 607 +2 +2
Mets,
with actual fielding		 162 1438.2 5950 5408 428 71 12 27 4 1274 232 12 169 1565 70.24% 8.65% 607 752 --- ---
Mets,
assuming average fielding		 162 1438.2 5840 5308 420 70 12 26 4 1250 228 12 166 1536 70.41% 9.18% 593 752 +2 +2
Blue Jays,
with actual fielding		 162 1441.1 6053 5493 424 76 14 42 4 1356 260 19 180 1390 70.44% 7.81% 676 767 --- ---
Blue Jays,
assuming average fielding		 162 1441.1 5941 5391 416 75 14 41 4 1331 255 19 177 1364 70.41% 9.18% 659 767 +2 +2
Nationals,
with actual fielding		 162 1411.2 6220 5522 558 75 13 51 1 1469 245 26 244 1220 70.28% 7.24% 863 625 --- ---
Nationals,
assuming average fielding		 162 1411.2 6105 5419 548 74 13 50 1 1386 231 26 239 1197 70.41% 9.18% 827 625 +2 +2
Phillies,
with actual fielding		 162 1428.1 6006 5430 463 68 10 35 0 1330 286 28 150 1423 69.76% 8.14% 646 745 --- ---
Phillies,
assuming average fielding		 162 1428.1 5895 5329 454 67 10 34 0 1305 281 27 147 1397 70.41% 9.18% 620 745 +3 +3
Red Sox,
with actual fielding		 162 1431.0 6167 5517 526 72 7 45 0 1411 292 27 185 1346 69.64% 7.24% 760 720 --- ---
Red Sox,
assuming average fielding		 162 1431.0 6053 5415 516 71 7 44 0 1385 287 26 182 1321 70.41% 9.18% 724 720 +4 +4
Rockies,
with actual fielding		 162 1425.1 6240 5569 539 59 12 59 2 1516 327 46 184 1187 68.8% 7.9% 837 689 --- ---
Rockies,
assuming average fielding		 162 1425.1 6124 5466 529 58 12 58 2 1488 321 45 181 1165 70.41% 9.18% 780 689 +5 +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		 162 1416.0 6249 5505 589 71 19 65 0 1493 273 26 173 1191 68.76% 8.16% 816 645 --- ---
Royals,
assuming average fielding		 162 1416.0 6133 5403 578 70 19 64 0 1465 268 26 170 1169 70.41% 9.18% 756 645 +5 +5
Pirates,
with actual fielding		 162 1421.0 6263 5539 586 87 13 34 4 1432 324 14 164 1250 69.61% 7.61% 790 578 --- ---
Pirates,
assuming average fielding		 162 1421.0 6147 5436 575 85 13 33 4 1405 318 14 161 1227 70.41% 9.18% 732 578 +6 +6
Giants,
with actual fielding		 162 1433.0 6070 5517 441 52 18 37 5 1397 301 28 132 1370 68.92% 7.36% 664 694 --- ---
Giants,
assuming average fielding		 162 1433.0 5957 5415 433 51 18 36 5 1371 295 27 130 1345 70.41% 9.18% 616 694 +6 +6



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