In previous posts, I looked at the Revised Zone Rating (RZR) and Out-of-Zone Plays (OOZ) metrics listed at FanGraphs. Links to these posts are provided below:
Now, I'm going to to do the above conversion for second basemen. Table 1 below contains the following information for 24 MLB second basemen 800 or more innings in 2013:
- 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
New Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler ranked 7th in MLB with +7 RSAA. Kinsler was especially good at turning balls hit into the second base zone into outs finishing 11 plays better than average. He was 2 plays above average outside the zone. He was better on out-of-zone plays than in-zone plays in 2012, but the final result was similar (+6 RSAA). Other advanced statistics support his being a strong fielder in 2013 as he was +11 on Defensive Runs Saved, +13 on Baseball Prospectus' Fielding Runs Above Average and +10 on Total Zone.
While Kinsler appears to be an above average defender, he may not be an upgrade over Omar Infante who checked in at +10. This is not a position where they necessarily had to have an upgrade though. They needed a suitable replacement for the departing free agent and Kinsler should be just fine.
Table 1: Runs Saved by MLB Second Basemen According to RZR, OOZ, 2013
Player | Team | Inn | RZR | OOZ | PIZ AA | OOZ AA | PMAA | RSAA |
Nick Franklin | SEA | 828 | .791 | 62 | -3 | 34 | 32 | 24 |
Dustin Pedroia | BOS | 1,398 | .823 | 63 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 18 |
Neil Walker | PIT | 1,144 | .781 | 67 | -6 | 29 | 22 | 17 |
Brian Dozier | MIN | 1,255 | .832 | 43 | 12 | 1 | 14 | 10 |
Omar Infante | DET | 1,025 | .846 | 33 | 14 | -1 | 13 | 10 |
Eric Sogard | OAK | 865 | .816 | 35 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 |
Ian Kinsler | TEX | 1,095 | .836 | 34 | 11 | -2 | 9 | 7 |
Ben Zobrist | TBR | 1,017 | .803 | 41 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
Jason Kipnis | CLE | 1,292 | .825 | 42 | 9 | -1 | 7 | 6 |
Robinson Cano | NYY | 1,350 | .802 | 50 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
Matt Carpenter | STL | 1,108 | .814 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
Mark Ellis | LAD | 950 | .839 | 27 | 10 | -5 | 5 | 4 |
Donovan Solano | MIA | 806 | .844 | 20 | 12 | -7 | 5 | 4 |
Brandon Phillips | CIN | 1,347 | .828 | 35 | 11 | -10 | 1 | 1 |
Howie Kendrick | LAA | 1,043 | .787 | 36 | -4 | 1 | -3 | -2 |
Chase Utley | PHI | 1,071 | .836 | 22 | 10 | -14 | -4 | -3 |
Darwin Barney | CHC | 1,237 | .810 | 32 | 3 | -9 | -6 | -5 |
Jedd Gyorko | SDP | 1,008 | .822 | 20 | 6 | -14 | -7 | -5 |
Gordon Beckham | CHW | 884 | .790 | 23 | -2 | -6 | -9 | -7 |
Marco Scutaro | SFG | 1,033 | .808 | 19 | 2 | -15 | -13 | -10 |
Daniel Murphy | NYM | 1,334 | .787 | 36 | -5 | -8 | -14 | -10 |
Jose Altuve | HOU | 1,261 | .741 | 49 | -23 | 7 | -16 | -12 |
Rickie Weeks | MIL | 815 | .756 | 19 | -11 | -8 | -20 | -15 |
Dan Uggla | ATL | 1,161 | .765 | 20 | -11 | -19 | -30 | -23 |
