Running the bases between the quotes

by PhDBrian on Nov 17, 2009 6:01 PM EST

This is copy and posted from FanGraphs (Erik Manning). It shows which players were the best at running the bases without counting steals. In other words, who were the best at taking extra bases and avoiding outs on the base paths in baseball last year. Note Two Nats Regulars on the tops in baseball list. These are significant numbers because by Guzman being worth 6 runs you can add .6 to his WAR which makes him worth 1.5 WAR last season (Dunn was worth 1.2 WAR not factoring in baserunning). War does not count this type of baserunning just steals and caught steals. I tried to figure out how Erik Manning got these numbers, so I could list all the NATS, but I am unsure. I know that among the worst last season were Dukes and Gonzales (worst in the game not just NATS) and I am sure they were in the minus 4 or worse catagory, but I am unsure by how much. If I figure it out I will post it.

"Feel free to add these numbers in to a player’s total WAR to get a better picture of what these individuals were worth on the diamond.

	         Runs
Michael Bourn	   8
Chone Figgins	   7
Emilio Bonifacio   6
Cristian Guzman	   6
Dexter Fowler	   6
Chase Utley	   5
Ryan Zimmerman	   5
Rajai Davis	   5
Colby Rasmus	   5
Ichiro Suzuki	   5
Brandon Phillips   5

Baserunning matters, but it doesn’t matter a whole lot — at least not for the vast majority of players. Only 18 players contributed 4 or more runs, and only 13 players hurt their teams by 4 or more runs"

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This is interesting stuff.

I, too, would like to know how it’s calculated. Baserunning doesn’t seem like it could be that hard (at least it wasn’t when I played Little League!) but it obviously is if so many pros are bad at it.

by John Quinn on Nov 17, 2009 10:04 PM EST reply actions

Well they are being compared to the average MLB player

Half are bad at that standard. overall however, it matters for very few players stats and only just a little when it does. However, our guys seem to be on both ends of the list so it is significant to us more than most teams. Guzman is a shock! as it raises him from .9 WAR to 1.5 WAR. That is a big jump.

"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James

by PhDBrian on Nov 30, 2009 1:40 AM EST reply actions