MLB Team Defensive Runs Saved Leaders
Hi everyone- This is Mark Simon from Sports Info Solutions (the company that invented Defensive Runs Saved, which exists back to 2003). I regularly share the Runs Saved leaderboards here. I know some people say "Why does he post every week?" so I'm going to try to make my posts a little more informative this year.
This week, I'm going to explain each team in the Top 10's Runs Saved by skill and Runs Saved by Positioning. For those unaware, DRS for a team is the sum of each team's DRS for player skill at each position plus their infield and outfield Runs Saved from positioning.
Skill is based on the actions of the player making the play, getting to the ball, actually catching/fielding it, and (if an infielder) making the throw
A team gains/loses positioning value based on how much positioning improves the out probability of a play. Fictional example: a grounder 5 feet into the 5-6 hole is a 60% out probability for all shortstops. But if the shortstop is positioned within 2 feet of the ball, the out probability jumps to 85%. The team gets credit for improving positioning from 60 to 85%.
- Red Sox 37 Runs Saved - 32 from skill, 5 from positioning ...
The Red Sox are the runaway leaders in Runs Saved from skill. They get more Runs Saved at first base, third base, and right field than any other team, and they're close to the lead in left field too. They seem to have fixed their infield issues from last year.
- Dodgers. 27 Runs Saved, 17 from skill, 10 from positioning ...
The Dodgers are 2nd in Runs Saved from skill, largely due to Andy Pages. Their 10 Runs Saved in center field are 2nd in MLB, as are their 6 Runs Saved at third base.
- Cardinals 22 Runs Saved, 13 from skill, 9 from positioning.
The Cardinals are doing particularly well at 2nd base and right field. And they are tied for the MLB lead in Runs Saved from outfield positioning.
- Diamondbacks 18 Runs Saved, 17 from skill.
Alek Thomas (since DFA'd) was an important part of their early good start on defense. But what is largely boosting their value is that they have 0 Runs Saved or better at each defensive position. Small sums add up.
- Mets 16 Runs Saved, 2 from skill.
Here's where you see the value of positioning. The Mets are not a product of their skill (though Luis Torrens is an excellent catcher). Their success is from defensive positioning. They've maximized the value they've gotten positioning their infielders and the Dodgers and Cardinals are the only teams with more outfield Runs Saved then them.
- Rays 15 Runs Saved, -2 from skill
Here's where you really see the value of positioning. Though the Rays have some good fielders (shortstop, left field in particular) the skill of their first and third basemen is crushing them (-12 Runs Saved). However, they rank 1st in Runs Saved from what we call "partial shifts" (positioning in which 1 fielder is close to 2B and others are moved considerably).
- Yankees 14 Runs Saved, 15 from skill
Jose Caballero and Cody Bellinger are off to great starts - the Yankees lead in Runs Saved from shortstop and from left field. They're also good at pitcher and catcher. But positioning wise they've been lacking (-1 Runs Saved), which is keeping them from being near the Red Sox.
- Pirates 14 Runs Saved -1 from skill
The Pirates don't have Ke'Bryan Hayes to drive their Runs Saved total anymore. But they've made up for a lack of skill with positioning. Only the Tigers have more Positioning Runs Saved than them.
- Giants 13 Runs Saved, 7 from positioning
The Giants are among the best teams in MLB at turning batted balls into outs- Matt Chapman and Luis Arraez have been very good. This is a case of a near even split of skill and positioning, and two good players pushing the numbers up. Will be interesting to see how they do at catcher with no Bailey.
- Brewers 13 Runs Saved, 10 from skill
Brice Turang has been good in the past at pushing the Brewers skill numbers up, but not yet this year. The Brewers have been good in left field and third base and haven't been really bad anywhere.
- Cubs 13 Runs Saved, 10 from skill
The Cubs have excellent defenders at almost every position, but it's still early and some of them haven't been their standout selves yet. The exception is Pete Crow-Armstrong, who basically accounts for all the Cubs skill numbers.
Kudos to those who read this far. You can find Defensive Runs Saved info at FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, and Fielding Bible
Any questions, ask and I'll try to answer them here.