Jose Iglesias and Andrelton Simmons - Whose BABIP was more out of whack?

<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/iglesjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.flagrantfan.com" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/iglesjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.flagrantfan.com" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Jose Iglesias</a></strong>, if he plays full time, will be part of a debate between he and <strong style="color: black; line-height: 1.5;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/simmoan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.flagrantfan.com" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/simmoan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.flagrantfan.com" style="color: #743399; line-height: 1.5;" target="_blank">Andrelton Simmons</a></strong> on which is the better fielder. Simmons is fresh off one of the best fielding seasons for a shortstop...ever. Iglesias has that kind of reputation, but other than a few other-worldly highlights from 2013, has yet to put a full season together. But today, the focus is not on their fielding, but on which of the shortstops had a more unrealistic batting average based on balls in play (BABIP).</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">Iglesias ended the season with a batting average of .303 and a BABIP of .356. Andrelton Simmons ended the season with a BABIP of .247 and a batting average of .248. Since a large part of the two free-swinging batters on-base percentage is based on batting average (they do not walk much), this is an important question moving forward on their potential offensive worth.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">Simmons did hit 17 homers in 2013, which Iglesias will never do, so Simmons does have that advantage. But looking at just the on-base percentage equation, the two players could not have had a more different outcome.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">Here is a look at some BABIP figures for both as compared to each other and to the league average as a whole for 2013:</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">Where hit - MLB - Simmons - Iglesias</div><ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; list-style: square; margin: 0px 0px 24px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><li style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">Ground - .240 - .183 - .304</li><li style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">Flyball - .182 - .145 - .200</li><li style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">Line Dr - .674 - .642 - .708</li><li style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">Pulled  - .391 - .317 - .545</li><li style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">Up Mid. - .301 - .265 - .275</li><li style="line-height: 1.5; text-align: justify;">Opp Fld - .307 - .195 - .367</li></ul><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">While it is not a proper equation because of the percentage hit of each, you can see that Simmons is under on every category to the tune of a total of -348 points! Iglesias is over on every category except up the middle and is over by a total of 304 points. Those are some pretty glaring anomalies.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">Most of Jose Iglesias' success with batted balls happened in the first three months of the season with the Red Sox. Regression set in during the month of July. At the end of July (the 30th), he was traded to the Tigers. In August with that team, his BABIP was .364. In September, he had another correction down to .243.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">Of Iglesias' 290 balls in play for 2013, 18 of them were bunts. He beat out eleven of them. That 61.1% success rate would up his BABIP by four points. That's not a big push, but it does help. After looking at Iglesias' spray charts, a large percentage of his ground balls went to the left side of the infield and he beat out his share of those too. Those kinds of things help.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">But, his BABIP was still a bit of a fluke as there were plenty of bloops and dribblers in there as all the Twitter conversation in April and May would attest.</div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: justify;">Andrelton Simmons bunted thirteen times and beat them out for singles on four occasions, a .307 average. While still good, that will not make much of a dent on his BABIP. Like Iglesias, Simmons pulls a lot of his ground balls. But by attesting to his .183 average when hitting them, he does not beat a lot of them out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5;">Judging from Simmons' spray chart, he might be quite easy to defense as he does hit almost all of his ground balls to the left side:</span><iframe frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=spray&num=1&h=450&w=450&players=10847&position=SS&mt=battedball&ss=2013&se=2013&cht=battedball&pos=ALL&vs=ALL" style="border: 1px solid black;" width="450"></iframe> <span style="font-size: 9pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/spraycharts.aspx?playerid=10847&position=SS&type=battedball&ss1=2013&se1=2013&cht1=battedball&pos1=ALL&vs1=ALL">FanGraphs</a></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16.363636016845703px; line-height: 21.81818199157715px;">Let's face it, if Simmons and Iglesias can be huge positives on defense for their teams, then it matters much less how well they hit. But every run gained is a positive one for a team. Simmons, despite hitting a large amount of ground balls to the same place in the infield, was unlucky overall in 2013. He should get better results if he can at least attain a BABIP near league average (.300). Iglesias will have to prove that his batting success in 2013 was not the fluke that it appears to be.</span></div>

Jose Iglesias and Andrelton Simmons - Whose BABIP was more out of whack?

Jose Iglesias , if he plays full time, will be part of a debate between he and  Andrelton Simmons  on which is the better fielder. Simmons i...

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The Flagrant Fan's Gold Glove Award winners

<div style="text-align: justify;">The Gold Glove Award has been the most ridiculed award of them all. While I love <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/jeterde01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Derek Jeter</a></strong>, the fact that he won any Gold Gloves is farcical. Perhaps this year will be better as a new rule in place gives 25% of the scoring based on statistics and the other 75% on coaches and managers who have better things in life to do than to study these things closely. There is a problem here, though, since many feel skittish on the fielding stats we currently have. At least it is a step in the right direction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have picked my own Gold Glove Award winners based on careful analysis. I am sure that I will get a few people mad at me. But hey, nobody ever said this was easy. Here we go:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Catching</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NL:</b> This is tougher than anyone thinks. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martiru01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Russell Martin</a></strong> has had an unbelievable year. He has thrown out 40% of runners attempting to steal. His framing skills are off the charts. He caught 120 games. The only nagging point is that there were 50 wild pitches thrown with him back there. That's a lot! The other choice is <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/molinya01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Yadier Molina</a></strong> who caught 131 games. He threw out 43% of base runners attempting to steal, had three passed balls compared to Martin's four. But he threw out 20 base steal attempts and Martin 36. Martin had 41 more total assists. Fangraphs gives Martin the edge. Baseball-reference.com gives it to Molina. With fear and trepidation, I am going with Russell Martin. But Molina will get the award.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>AL:</b> The two choices are <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wietema01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Matt Wieters</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/perezsa02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Salvador Perez</a></strong>. Perez had a better percentage throwing out base steal attempts and had one less passed ball and a few more assists. Perez had less passed balls and Wieters less errors. I am going with Salvador Perez. Wieters will get the award.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>First base</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NL</b>: This one is really close between <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rizzoan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Anthony Rizzo</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brandon Belt</a></strong>. I think Belt had a slow start in all phases of his season and that gives Rizzo the edge. I think Belt will win a bunch of them from here on out though. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzaad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adrian Gonzalez</a></strong> will win the award.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>AL</b>: I was totally shocked when I went through all the numbers and this came out to a win for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/napolmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mike Napoli</a></strong>. Mike Napoli!? Yup. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/loneyja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">James Loney</a></strong> will probably win the award.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Second base</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NL</b>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/phillbr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brandon Phillips</a></strong> will win the award and I would not have any problem with him winning it. Nobody in the National League had more assists at second than Phillips and his range is still there. But <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/barneda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Darwin Barney</a></strong> might have out-played him in the field this season with the Cubs. Barney's UZR is higher and he made five less errors. I am going with Barney.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>AL</b>: This one is easy: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pedrodu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Dustin Pedroia</a></strong>. If the Rays would let <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zobribe01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ben Zobrist</a></strong> play there every day, he might have competition. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/doziebr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brian Dozier</a></strong> also had a great season in the field and had more assists than any second baseman in baseball. But Pedroia is the easy call.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Shortstop</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NL</b>: This one is easy. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/simmoan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Andrelton Simmons</a></strong> has the fifth best fielding season ever according to Baseball-reference.com. There is nobody in baseball that is close.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>AL</b>: This is a two-horse race with the unlikely names of <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/escobal02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Alcides Escobar</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/escobyu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Yunel Escobar</a></strong>. I give the edge to Alcides Escobar. Don't be surprised if <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hardyjj01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">J.J. Hardy</a></strong> gets the award again though.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Third base</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NL</b>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenano01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Nolan Arenado</a></strong> is the clear winner for me over <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/frazito01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Todd Frazier</a></strong>. Arenado should get the nod from the coaches too. But I don't know if that is a guarantee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>AL</b>: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Manny Machado</a></strong> had a season for the ages at third base. Baseball-reference.com gives <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=robinbr01,robins002bro&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brooks Robinson</a></strong> the best season ever at 33 total zone runs. Machado had 31.5 this season. Amazing. Nobody else is in the picture.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Left Field</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NL</b>: There is only one choice here: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martest01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Starling Marte</a></strong>. There is no one else. If he fails to win it, then farce would come to mind.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>AL</b>: If <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda07.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">David Murphy</a></strong> had stayed in one place more, he would have given <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gordoal01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Alex Gordon</a></strong> a run for his money. But Gordon is the choice and he will win the award.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Center field</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>NL:</b> If <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/polloaj01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">A.J. Pollock</a></strong> had played more, he would have been the choice. But since he did not play enough in my book, my pick is <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=gomezca01,gomez-006car,gomez-007car&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Carlos Gomez</a></strong>. Gomez should get the trophy, even if he doesn't get any votes from the Atlanta Braves. Heh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>AL:</b> This is a three-horse race with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/ellsbja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Jacoby Ellsbury</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rasmuco01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Colby Rasmus</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/spande01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank"><u><strike>Denard Span</strike></u></a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/martile01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Leonys Martin</a></strong>. Martin is out because of less innings than the others. But look out for him in the future. My pick goes to Ellsbury and he will get the trophy too.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Right field</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">NL: The choices here are pretty clear in both leagues. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/parrage01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Gerardo Parra</a></strong> was the class of the National League with no real challenger.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">AL: The clear choice is <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/victosh01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Shane Victorino</a></strong>. He had the best year of any right-fielder in either league.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Pitcher</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh forget it. Who cares.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's it. Those are the Flagrant Fan's Gold Glove Award winners for 2013. </div>

The Flagrant Fan's Gold Glove Award winners

The Gold Glove Award has been the most ridiculed award of them all. While I love Derek Jeter , the fact that he won any Gold Gloves is farc...

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Simmons and Machado having historic fielding seasons

<div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/simmoan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Andrelton Simmons</a></strong> of the Atlanta Braves and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/machama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Manny Machado</a></strong> of the Baltimore Orioles are both in their second seasons and first full seasons. Simmons is 23 and Machado is 21. And both are already the best fielders at their positions in baseball. In fact, the seasons they are having in the field are downright historic.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We all know that fielding statistics are not yet perfect. As such, it is really impossible to definitively state where the fielding seasons Machado and Simmons are having fit into the all time lexicon at their positions. But these statistics are all we have at the moment and if what we have is anywhere close to being accurate, then these two young players are sizzling at what they do.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And their seasons pass the eye test too. Watching them play is a treat day in and day out and they make the difficult seem routine and the impossible happen on a weekly basis. But flashy is one thing. To remain consistently awesome in the field is another and both have done that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In recent years, the defensive runs saved has become just as big of the winning equation as pitching and hitting. Winning games is about scoring more runs than your opponent. In order to do so, the team has to hit to score runs and it has to pitch to prevent them plus field the ball well to prevent runs on balls in play. As such it is the runs prevented that is the focus on looking at Simmons and Machado.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And that is where the history comes in. Again, knowing the statistic is not perfect, Baseball-reference.com lists the greatest seasons in a statistic they call Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Average. I know that is a mouthful. But bear with me. Andrelton Simmons is currently listed at 25 Total Zone Runs according to that statistic. Without playing another game, Simmons' season already ranks tied for twelfth all-time according to Baseball-reference.com.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Those ahead of him include four seasons for <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/belanma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Mark Belanger</a></strong>, two by Ron Hanson, and one each by <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchre01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Rey Sanchez</a>, Rey Ordonez,</strong> <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/smithoz01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ozzie Smith</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guilloz01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Ozzie Guillen</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/everead01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adam Everett</a></strong>. Everett's 2006 season at 40 runs saved above average is the all-time leader.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Simmons has played 114 of the Braves 119 games. The same site projects Simmons to finish at 30 Total Zone Runs for the season. That seems modest and would mean Simmons' season would rank fifth all time. Fifth! But if you divide Simmons 25 Total Zone Runs by his 114 games and then multiplied that by the perhaps 40 games he has left, he could conceivably reach 33 Total Zone Runs and that would rank his season third all time and tied with <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ordonre01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Rey Ordonez</a></strong>'s season in 1999.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">That is pretty amazing. Simmons also has a chance to reach 500 assists this season. Now if only his bat would come alive, it would match the great defensive season Simmons is having. Just for comparison, Fangraphs.com has him at 20.6 runs above average. No other shortstop in the game has more than 9.2. Amazing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then there is Machado. If Machado's season were to end right now, his 24 Total Zone Runs Above Average would place his season as tied for the fifteenth best season ever. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/player_search.cgi?results=robinbr01,robins002bro&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Brooks Robinson</a></strong>'s 33 is the top number ever. Names in front of Machado read like the Who's Who among the great third basemen of history: <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nettlgr01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Graig Nettles</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bellbu01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Buddy Bell</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltrad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Adrian Beltre</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/venturo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Robin Ventura</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/boyercl02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Clete Boyer</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rodriau01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Aurelio Rodriguez</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rolensc01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Scott Rolen</a></strong>. That is some heady company.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">B-R projects that Machado will finish at 28 Total Zone Runs which would tie him at eighth all time. Again, that seems conservative. Again, if you do the math of 24 divided by his 118 games played and then multiply that result times the 43 games he has left (he plays every day), then Brooks Robinson at the top two spots is within reach. Remarkable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fangraphs also has Machado on top for third basemen this season at a more conservative 21.3. The spread between he and the second and third place peers is not as dramatic as Simmons'. <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenano01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Nolan Arenado</a></strong> is listed at 16.3 and <strong><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/longoev01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.blogger.com" target="_blank">Evan Longoria</a></strong> at 13.8.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fielding statistics are not as highly regarded for accurately as what we have for batters and pitchers. But based on what we see and what we do have for statistics, Manny Machado and Adrelton Simmons are having historic fielding seasons and a big reason for their respective team success. </div>

Simmons and Machado having historic fielding seasons

Andrelton Simmons of the Atlanta Braves and Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles are both in their second seasons and first full seaso...

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