Friday, July 13, 2007
NUMBERS CAN AND DO LIE
Finally! The mainstream media is discussing the shortcoming of Fielding Percentage, albeit from the lips of Theo Epstein.
The Sox are far more concerned with the percentage of plays that should be made than they are with errors, and the two are not necessarily the same.
For example: Say 100 balls are hit to shortstop and all 100 should produce outs. One shortstop makes five errors, while the other makes 10. But the first shortstop - for other reasons, like range - failed to make an additional 10 plays that are scored hits. The first shortstop has the better fielding percentage, but the second has produced more outs. And the Red Sox, as Epstein explains it, are interested in outs.
Hopefully, other MSM outlets like NESN will start discussing Defensive Efficiency and at the very least, have it as a supplement to Fielding Percentage as they have done with Batting Average and OPB. Fielding Percentage is a good measurement but not the end all, it is made out to be when discussing glove work.
Finally! The mainstream media is discussing the shortcoming of Fielding Percentage, albeit from the lips of Theo Epstein.
The Sox are far more concerned with the percentage of plays that should be made than they are with errors, and the two are not necessarily the same.
For example: Say 100 balls are hit to shortstop and all 100 should produce outs. One shortstop makes five errors, while the other makes 10. But the first shortstop - for other reasons, like range - failed to make an additional 10 plays that are scored hits. The first shortstop has the better fielding percentage, but the second has produced more outs. And the Red Sox, as Epstein explains it, are interested in outs.
Hopefully, other MSM outlets like NESN will start discussing Defensive Efficiency and at the very least, have it as a supplement to Fielding Percentage as they have done with Batting Average and OPB. Fielding Percentage is a good measurement but not the end all, it is made out to be when discussing glove work.
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Thank you - Red Sox!
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