Converting RZR, OOZ to Runs for Third Basemen

In previous posts, I took the Revised Zone Rating (RZR) and Out-of-Zone Plays (OOZ) metrics listed at FanGraphs and converted them to runs based on an algorithm developed by Colin Wyers a few years ago.  Links to these posts are provided below:

• Overview

• Conversion of RZR, OOZ to runs

• Shortstops 

• Second basemen

Now, I'm going to to do the run conversion for third basemen.  Table 1 below contains the following information for 18 MLB third basemen with 800 or more innings in 2012:

• Inn = Innings

• RZR = Revised Zone Rating

• OOZ = Out-of-Zone Plays

• PIZAA =  Plays in Zone Above Average

• OOZAA = Out-of-Zone Plays Above Average

• PMAA = Total Plays Above Average

• RSAA = Runs Saved Above Average

The MLB Runs Saved Above Average leader was Blue Jays third sacker Brett Lawrie with +41 followed by the Mets' David Wright (+16).  While Lawrie is a very good defender, he is probably not as good as this statistic indicates.  The +12 on in-zone-plays is reasonable, but I am guessing that the +39 on out-of-zone plays is due to Lawrie shifting over to the right side of the infield versus select left-handed batters.  While including plays made on shifts is appropriate at the team level, it does not make a lot of sense individually.  Baseball Info Solutions corrected this issue on the Defensive Runs Saved statistic, but probably left the shift plays in the OOZ. 

The worst defender according to this metric was Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera (-18 RSAA).  Cabrera rated equally as bad on in-zone plays as out-of-zone plays.  Other advanced statistics support his being a below average defender but not by so much -4 on Defensive Runs Saved, -2 on Baseball Prospectus' Fielding Runs Above Average and -10 on Ultimate Zone Rating. So, he's probably below average (which isn't surprising) but we can't say to what degree with confidence.  We may know more after next season. 

Table 1: Runs Saved by MLB Third Basemen According to RZR, OOZ, 2012

Player	Team	Inn	RZR	OOZ	PIZ AA	OOZ AA	PMAA	RSAA
Brett Lawrie	TOR	1,072	.765	72	12	39	51	41
David Wright	NYM	1,348	.750	53	9	11	20	16
Mike Moustakas	KCR	1,314	.760	44	15	3	18	14
Pablo Sandoval	SFG	842	.738	32	4	6	10	8
Chipper Jones	ATL	895	.717	37	-0	9	9	7
Alberto Callaspo	LAA	1,106	.751	31	8	-3	5	4
Chase Headley	SDP	1,397	.746	39	9	-4	5	4
David Freese	STL	1,153	.754	30	11	-6	5	4
Adrian Beltre	TEX	1,125	.728	34	2	-1	1	1
Aramis Ramirez	MIL	1,242	.750	32	8	-6	1	1
Pedro Alvarez	PIT	1,273	.691	48	-8	9	1	1
Ryan Zimmerman	WSN	1,280	.691	45	-9	5	-3	-2
Kyle Seager	SEA	1,208	.700	34	-5	-3	-8	-6
Kevin Youkilis	BOS/CHW	894	.698	18	-4	-10	-14	-11
Trevor Plouffe	MIN	804	.691	14	-6	-11	-17	-14
Hanley Ramirez	MIA/LAD	860	.679	16	-7	-11	-17	-14
Chris Johnson	HOU/AZ	1,069	.681	24	-10	-9	-19	-15
Miguel Cabrera	DET	1,322	.682	29	-11	-12	-22	-18

Data source: FanGraphs.com