The Tigers closed out April as one of the top defensive teams in the American League. Given that the Tigers were one of the worst defensive teams last year, and they only really switched two positions, this is unexpected. Especially considering that one of the upgrades was moving a corner outfielder to center (Monroe), and a catcher to third (Inge). Now as of late, said corner outfielder is back in right and there is a gazelle patrolling centerfield.
Nonetheless, I was surprised to see the Tigers right behind the White Sox in defense efficiency rating which is simply a measure of the percentage of balls-in-play that are converted to outs. The Tigers are at .7215 against a league average of .6952. This clearly warrants further investigation.
If you look at conventional fielding stats, the Tigers don’t fare nearly as well. They’re 10th in fielding percentage, 8th in errors, and 10th in double plays. While those are improvements on last year, they still are in the bottom half of the league.
So how are the Tigers doing it, if they’re doing it?
The ever valuable Hardball Times statistics shed a little light on the subject. While the Tiger pitchers are allowing fewer infield flys than the league average (infield pop-ups are the most fieldable of all balls in play), they are league average when it comes to ground ball/flyball ratio and they are the best at preventing line drives. Line drives of course being the least fieldable type of ball in play. Now whethter or not the lack of line drives has anything to do with the pitching staff or if it is a matter of luck remains to be seen.
Typically the performance of a pitcher is dependent on the defense behind them. However in this case, the performance of the defense may depend on the pitchers’ ability to serve up easy to field balls.
I’m leaning towards luck on the “fieldability” of hit balls.
Jesus, I should be in the booth doing color with ridiculous, made-up words like that!
Big win tonight vs. Boston! I didn’t know Pena was from MA. Quotes like this make me want to stick with the kid:
“I know Mom and Dad are watching. I can’t wait to call them,” he said. “I know my mom has a big smile and my dad has a big smile. It gives them a lot of joy. It’s awesome.”
Just a kid. I hope he starts to put it together.
Free Chris Shelton
I like the twist there at the end of the piece, Billfer – “the performance of the defense maydepend on the pitcher’s ability to serve up easy to field balls.”
Methinks the line drives will catch up with the staff.
Jason – I appreciate the consistency in your devotion to Shelton. It’s one thing to say it after the Tigers score 7 runs in a series. It’s another to bring it after the guy he’d be replacing has consecutive multi-hit games and 2 dingers.
I have always pulled for Carlos Pena. I have begged for others to have more patience with the lad. But something just aint clicking for Carlos, and Shelton is ripping the IL right now.
Alas, in both cases, ’tis just one month.