2016 by the numbers: A look at the new set’s defense

Salvador_Pérez

Best C fielding rating and best throw rating

The APBA disk is out!  With it comes the numbers, grades and info we have all been waiting for.  Each year for the last ten years, I have done a series of articles which breaks down the season data.  It will be a general breakdown of hitting numbers, pitching grades, defensive ratings, you name it.  It’s a lot of fun and I hope you get some useful info from it.

This first article of 2016 will focus on the tamest of the topics:  DEFENSE.  To be sure, defense is important and I’ll focus a little on those who got the high ratings.  Also, I will break down the distribution of each rating to give you an idea how APBA doles them out.

Defensively for APBA, the key word for 2016 is moderation.  The especially high fielding ratings that we always look for weren’t always given out.  But then again, the lowest rating was doled out sparingly as well.

Let’s start with catcher. Four catchers did receive the highest defensive rating given out by APBA.  I can’t say I argue with any of the choices.

Catcher

Rating at C

Salvador Perez

9

Russell Martin

9

Yadier Molina

9

Buster Posey

9

 

While only four catchers were given the C-9 rating, only six were rated C-6 and none were rated C-5.  Is the new 30-man card roster a factor in this?  In other words, no middle infielder was rated at catcher just to give a team a backup catcher?

Here is the full distribution for catchers in the 2016 set.

Catcher ratings Distribution
C-5 0
C-6 6
C-7 32
C-8 28
C-9 4

 

While the distribution of ratings for firstbasemen might seem to lean towards the low side, we need to take in consideration the DH factor.  Some of those 1B-2s are American League designated hitters that APBA needed to give a position.  Others are secondary positions on players’ cards as well.

Firstbaseman ratings Distribution
1B-2 58
1B-3 52
1B-4 14
1B-5 12

 

While there weren’t many fielding stars according to APBA, second base was the exception.  Five players were rated 2B-9.

Secondbaseman Rating at 2B

Ian Kinsler

9

Brian Dozier

9

D.J. Lemahieu

9

Josh Harrison

9

Joe Panik

9

…there were also five players rated 2B-5 as well.

Secondbasemen ratings Distribution
2B-5 5
2B-6 19
2B-7 66
2B-8 19
2B-9 5

 

No, there were not any SS-10 in the 2016 set.

Shortstop ratings Distribution
SS-6 5
SS-7 36
SS-8 42
SS-9 13
SS-10 0

 

I mention this every year this time but it’s amazing that there are so many more 3B-3 thirdbasemen than any other.  It is pretty normal that there are twice as many 3B-3 than the rest combined.  I get that many are secondary positions held by utility players but this pattern really holds up every year.

And while there were ten 3B-5 thirdbasemen, nobody received the coveted 3B-6 rating.  Manny Machado received it a couple years ago and before that, you would have to go back to Scotty Rolen’s golden days (somebody correct me if I’m wrong!).

Thirdbasemen ratings Distribution
3B-3 75
3B-4 40
3B-5 10
3B-6 0

 

Outfield doesn’t suffer from the DH factor like first base does. Not quite a bell curve but pretty close.

Outfield ratings Distribution
OF-1 89
OF-2 103
OF-3 45

 

And just for kicks, here is the fielding distribution for pitchers.  Almost 50-50.

Pitcher ratings Distribution
P-1 236
P-2 234

 

These are the best Master Game arms for all players.  Tulo and Puig get top honors with a MG arm of 38.

Best Arms Arm Rating

Troy Tulowitzki

38

Yasiel Puig

38

Erick Aybar

37

Daniel Descalso

37

Danny Espinosa

37

Miguel Sano

37

Robinson Cano

37

Aaron Hicks

37

Kevin Kiermaier

37

Carlos Gomez

37

Yoenis Cespedes

37

Gregory Polanco

37

 

Here are the best catcher’s MG throw ratings in the 2017 set.  I have to admit Gattis’ +5 rating threw me for a bit.

Best Catchers’ arms Cat. Thr. Rating

Salvador Perez

+6

Roberto Perez

+6

James McCann

+6

Carlos Ruiz

+6

Sandy Leon

+5

Evan Gattis

+5

 

For good measure, I’m ending this article with J-ratings.  I don’t know if I have ever looked at this before.  Definitely a sloped curve here with J-4 having a good portion of the set.

J ratings Distribution
J-0 35
J-1 83
J-2 97
J-3 238
J-4 447

 

For my next article, I will be banging out some pitching grades.  Who were the best starters?  Who were the best relievers?  How were the grades and ratings distributed?

I’m just getting started and it is going to get even more fun!  Stay tuned!

photo credit

Thomas Nelshoppen

I am an IT consultant by day and an APBA media mogul by night. My passions are baseball (specifically Illini baseball), photography and of course, APBA. I have been fortunate to be part of the basic game Illowa APBA League since 1980 as well as the BBW Boys of Summer APBA League since 2014. I am slogging through a 1966 NL replay and hope to finish before I die.

3 Comments:

  1. I suspect you now know there was a disk error in that all pitchers were rated J-4. The Gattis issue came up in relation to Chico Ruiz getting a +6 in our league also. However, it is worth noting that Houston’s top six starters add 13 MF points so Gattis generally is a “+7” whereas Ruiz remains a +6 as Philly had 4 points in total from its pitchers. Might be worthwhile looking at the combination of MF and Th figures for the teams in case it indicates APBA is going in a different direction with CS%.

  2. A fine piece of work. Thank you.

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