For those Braves fans who watch Yunel Escobar day in and day out, you almost take for granted how good and how smooth he is at shortstop. Balls hit up the middle off Braves pitchers have turned into easy outs thanks to the plus defense of Yuney. Little did we know that he might be the best defensive shortstop in baseball this year. Here is a breakdown of defensive runs saved by stat guru John Dewan (hat tip: Bill Chuck):
Two and a half months into the season, it is a good time to look and see who have been our best defensive players of the year. Let’s take a look at our overall leaders, in terms of Defensive Runs Saved.
2010 Runs Saved Leaders Player Team Pos. Innings Runs Saved Ben Zobrist Rays 2B/RF 547 15 Yunel Escobar Braves SS 448 15 Austin Jackson Tigers CF 498 13 Alexei Ramirez White Sox SS 530 12 Michael Bourn Astros CF 527 11 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals 3B 445 11 Chase Utley Phillies 2B 515 11 Robinson Cano Yankees 2B 550 10 Ben Zobrist is no surprise here, as he finished near the top of the league last year with 31 runs saved. What’s impressive about Zobrist is that he has accumulated his runs saved at numerous positions, having spent time at first base, second base, and all three outfield spots.
Yunel Escobar has always been one of the best defenders at shortstop, with runs saved totals the last two years of 12 and 13. Always strong on plays to his left, Escobar is now making some of those plays to his right. He has already eclipsed his previous career high in Defensive Runs Saved.
Jimmy Rollins is the three-time defending National League Gold Glove winner at shortstop, but he's been on the shelf for all but a dozen games this year, and unless the voters use their lazy button at the end of the year and give him the 2010 Gold Glove despite his missed time, then we should have an open race at shortstop. Troy Tulowitzki will likely give Yunel his biggest challenge, and big names like Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez will always be mentioned among the contenders.
Escobar is earning his spot as one of the top defenders at shortstop in the league. If he can continue to put up numbers like this and make plays in the field, then perhaps he will get recognition for that at the end of the year in the form of a Gold Glove.
1 recs | 39 comments
good to see more official compliments
Feels like Yunel might be the best, raw baseball player (maybe pre-HeyBot days) the bravos have ever brought up. Sure he pisses us off and hasnt “reached his potential” (which he has he just hasnt stayed) but this kid’s got talent. Good to hear it for real.
Recd
traphicg - June 16, 2010
He's still relatively young
So the future is bright.
DawgB - June 16, 2010
this
Still is learning the game and pleny of time to grow
Braves24 - June 16, 2010
I don't know what your definition of "relatively young" is
but I was somewhat surprised to see that Yunel is 27 this year (turns 28 in Nov). That would suggest he’s pretty close to peaking in terms of abilities. His might be a case to take arbitration year-by-year rather than lock up for too long of a term. Prado is about the same age as well.
fphjr01 - June 16, 2010
I thought he was around 25, so Iam surprised ,too. He should be hitting his peak asa big-legauer soon. Still, there is a learning curve and room for improvement.
DawgB - June 16, 2010
Prado
Is 26 ;)
MBL1 - June 16, 2010 via mobile
GO ESCO!!!
MBL1 - June 16, 2010 via mobile
Gold Gloves are such a farce
They always seem to go to All Stars or big names.
Zeus12888 - June 16, 2010
Omar Vizquel
is a big name?
apoxonbothyourhouses - June 16, 2010
Never realized he was that strong with the glove. I thought he was good, but that’s Andruw in his prime-level good. Only thing missing from his game right now is power.
Broccoman - June 16, 2010
Good for him!
TCfromDubVee - June 16, 2010
UZR just doesn't like him as much
DRS thinks he’s an elite SS for the third straight year, while UZR thinks he’s slightly above average. Somehow, Yunel seems to encompass the fundamental differences between the metrics, and I have no idea what they are.
Bronn - June 16, 2010
I, for one, think that sometimes too much faith is placed in statistics. It is getting to the point where someone can make a statistic to support just about any theory about any player. That’s why we still have scouts.
DawgB - June 16, 2010
Stats lend a really very useful eye into aspects of baseball that the human eye alone cannot necessarily gather from watching baseball games. But stats must be viewed alongside individual scouting reports and watched games. Statistics are most useful as long as they co-exist with the scouts.
acie4mvp - June 16, 2010
As an employee for Baseball Info Solutions, who puts out this data, I know how much time and effort is put into coming up with these statistics. Countless hours are put in by “stringers” (guys who watch and chart the games), and each game is done by two people to ensure accuracy. Are they perfect? Absolutely not. But I certainly believe them.
eaheckman10 - June 16, 2010
I agree that stats are useful, but we are getting saturated with too many, IMHO. After all, my human eyes are watch the games, not my computer.
DawgB - June 16, 2010
I’m sure you’ve heard that if you watched every single game of a season, without any statistics, you would not be able to tell the difference between a .275 hitter and a .315 hitter. I think that stats need to be used as an aid, and although there are a lot of them, they can only continue to get better as they advance.
And I’m not saying that when you go to a game with the old man or some friends that you should be thinking about or using stats. You’re at the game to enjoy it. Stats are really only important for front offices and fantasy baseball.
acie4mvp - June 16, 2010
Are there too many stats? Sure, though it depends on your preference. Are a lot of stats out there garbage? Yes. You have to look through the trash to find the good stats.
eaheckman10 - June 16, 2010
That’s what I was referring to. Plus with all the acronyms, it’s sometimes worse than being in the army.
DawgB - June 16, 2010
I call bulldung...
The stats can only be compiled after being viewed by the human eye, and counted by human minds. So unless you’ve got robots and computers watching these games, there isn’t a stat around that wasn’t first created by the input of the human eye.
Mr. Sanchez - June 16, 2010
well technically...
pitch f/x is completely computer recorded data.
but that wasn’t his point. His point was just by watching a bunch of games and not tracking anything (using statistics), you can’t make very precise judgements about players.
telemakhos - June 16, 2010
One could say the same thing about...
never watching and relying solely on the mathematics. But then, there’d be no math if no one watched and recorded.
Mr. Sanchez - June 16, 2010
So the computers watch each pitch?...
did they program themselves as well? Point remains that none of it is possible without the “human eye alone”.
Mr. Sanchez - June 16, 2010
the software does calibrate itself according to markers on the baselines and at home plate.
but again, not the point. Your last comment said it exactly. The same thing can be said about just looking at stats and not watching. The point is that they’re both important and neither one can just be thrown out the window.
telemakhos - June 16, 2010
That pretty clearly isn’t what I meant at all
acie4mvp - June 16, 2010
UZR/150 actually has him rated as 7.6, which is much higher than all of his other seasons, when he rated as just slightly above average. His 7.6 rating puts him at 4th among all ML shortstops.
acie4mvp - June 16, 2010
Hey this is cool. I wrote this :)
eaheckman10 - June 16, 2010
Well done. You should email me when you put up something this that is Braves-related.
gondeee - June 16, 2010
Sure no problem.
We usually put one out every week. If there’s something Braves-related, I’ll give you a heads up
eaheckman10 - June 16, 2010
A Gold Glove would go nicely with the frosted tips.
adc62 - June 16, 2010
Glad to read this here
I’ve always thought he was a major plus at SS.
You certainly couldn’t prove any of this in reading the comments here where he’s regularly a whipping boy for any number of people.
Sam Jethroe - June 16, 2010
Yunel = good baseball player. I wonder how fast he can throw….
He does ground into a lot of DPs though.
Sparhawk - June 16, 2010
See
now this is the love side of my “Love/Hate” relationship with Esco.
Now just because of this post he is going do do something to piss me off tonight.
drumzalicious - June 16, 2010
Fucknuts isn't hitting well enough to win a gold glove
it’s sad, but probably true.
Scott Coleman - June 16, 2010
He hits better than Casey Kotchman...
and if he hits like he’s capable of the next few months, he hits more than enough for a GG. As said, it’s Casey Kotchman that sadly doesn’t hit well enough for a gold glove.
Mr. Sanchez - June 16, 2010
Seems like he’s had a decent amount of errors
5InningsofChuckJames - June 16, 2010 via mobile
errors FTW!
Scott Coleman - June 16, 2010
errors are very very overated on defense. especially for a SS
Braves Biceps - June 16, 2010
If he played for the Yankees or Thillies...
he would probably already have one.
Chief Noc-A-Homa - June 16, 2010
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