Batter's Box Interactive Magazine: Best and Worst by Position Jays All-Time

As we head towards a new season I thought it would be fun to see how good/bad it can get at each position and when we had that.

For OAA (Outs Above Average - 2016 and up) the Jays record is 13 by Kevin Kiermaier last year, also over 10 are Kevin Pillar 2016, Daulton Varsho last year (in just 64 games in CF) and 2022 Santiago Espinal at 2B. The worst was Vlad in 2019 at 3B -20, others at -10 or worse were Vlad 2023 at 1B and Devon Travis at 2B in 2018
For DRS (Defensive Runs Saved - 2002 and up) the Jays record is 26 by Aaron Hill in 2006 at 2B (I think we've forgotten how good he was). Others over 20 are Orlando Hudson (2B 2004), John McDonald (SS 2007), Aaron Hill again (2B 2007), Kevin Pillar (CF 2016), and Brett Lawrie (3B 2012). Worst is John Buck -19 as a C in 2010, others -10 and worse were (a long list) - David Eckstein (SS 2008), Vernon Wells (CF 2009), Adam Lind (LF 2009), Russ Adams (SS 2005), Aaron Hill (SS 2006), Vernon Wells (CF 2008), Vernon Wells (CF 2003), José Reyes (SS 2014), Eric Hinske (3B 2004), J.P. Arencibia (C 2011), Dioner Navarro (C 2014), and Bo Bichette (SS 2022). Note: the overall record for the Jays is 29 by Varsho last year but it was split between CF (18) and LF (11).
Just 2 Jays are over 20 for Defense overall at FG (2002 and up), both catchers - José Molina 2010 (26), and Russell Martin 2015 (21.7). Just 7 other seasons crack 15 with 5 of those being catchers (Kirk & Jansen both make that list in 2023 and 2019 respectively), the other 2 at 2B (Orlando Hudson 2004, Aaron Hill 2006). Best SS John McDonald 2007. Best OF Alex Rios (RF 2004), Vernon Wells (CF 2004), Reed Johnson (LF 2006) - also the only OF to crack 10 on this scale. Worst season for the OF, strangely enough, is Vernon Wells 2003 in CF at -16.8. The other 2 worse than -10 are Wells 2009 in CF and Jose Bautista 2011 in RF. Gotta say this makes me question the overall defensive scores from FG. Overall the worst Jay is Carlos Delgado at 1B in 2003 (no shock) at -18.2, 2nd is J.P. Arencibia at C in 2011 (no shocker) at -17.9, then Vlad in 2023 at 1B -17.2.
Total Zone covers 1977-2002. Leaders are Devon White (CF 1992 33), Jesse Barfield (RF 1987 23), and Lloyd Moseby (CF 1984 20). The bottom was José Cruz Jr. CF 2001 -23, the only -20 on the list. 9 others were -10 to -15: John Mayberry 1B 1978, George Bell LF 1988, Joe Carter RF 1994, Shawn Green RF 1995, Joe Carter LF 1996, Otis Nixon CF 1996, Tony Fernandez 3B 1999, Alex Gonzalez SS 2000, Carlos Delgado 1B 2001 which kind of helps explain the ugly play we old folks recall from the 90's.

Those defensive stats show how much variability there is in judging defense still. Vernon Wells having the best and worst scores ever for Jay in the OF in 2004 and 2003 respectively is nuts. No way he shifted that much in a single season, from worst ever here to best ever in one off-season. That's like Kirby Puckett on offense - went from 0 HR in 1984 to 31 in 1986 playing full time both years (never bought that he did that without PEDs, especially if you look at him both years). Other shifts one can understand. Tony Fernandez when young was a wizard at SS, but old version was ugly at 3B (but nearly hit 400 that year - was over last on June 28th, peaked on June 21st at 414/491/573 then hit just 244/368/329 the rest of the way).

Now, on to the overall numbers by position including offense so we get fWAR leaders/losers at each position. I bolded the 'best of the best' and 'worst of the worst' for ease in quickly seeing just how good/bad things can get. Stats are for the full season, not just time at the one position.

I find it amazing that Edwin Encarnacion had a first decimal identical season in wRC+. Funny that only 1 guy ever had a single SB while playing 2B all season (Ainge) while all other positions had at least 2. No shock a lot of the worst ever were in the 1970's when the Jays lost 100+ each season. Lots of high numbers for offense in the steroid era (1994-2004 roughly) despite the Jays never making the playoffs during that horrid stretch. Some names I hadn't remembered (Solarte I totally forgot about) and some I remembered fondly even though they often stunk (Iorg - I used to try to imitate the bizarre stance he had). I can just imagine how nuts this board would've been in '87 when McGriff and Fielder, two power hitting kids, were forced to share DH (with Fielder put in at 3B now and then which was quite entertaining) so Upshaw with a sub 400 Slg could play everyday at 1B. Kind of interesting that Grichuk holds the worst OBP for 2 different positions here.

One oddity - the best Jays team by W-L record was 1985's 99 win team, but not one player on that team made these lists. Other playoff years saw... 1989 had the worst CF Avg, best C SB; 1991 lowest DH HR, OPS and Slg; 1992 best Total Zone score (Devo in CF); 1993 Olerud at 1B best avg/OBP/WAR/wRC+, Alomar best avg/OBP/SB/OPS/wRC+ at 2B, Molitor the best WAR/SB at DH; 2015 best WAR/Slg 3B, best WAR/HR by a C; 2016 the worst WAR at 1B, best OPS/wRC+ at 3B, HR at DH; 2020 didn't count (60 games too few to use), 2022 best wRC+ at SS; 2023 worst Avg/OBP for a LF. So the only playoff year to not have anything 'wow' good or bad happen was 1985. When I do pitchers it'll be interesting to see if that changes (don't think it will thanks to Halladay)

		Best			Worst			Best			Worst			Best			Worst
Position	Players	Who	Year	WAR	Who	Year	WAR	Who	Year	OPS	Who	Year	OPS	Who	Year	wRC+	Who	Year	wRC+
C	48	Russell Martin	2015	4.5	J.P. Arencibia	2011	-1.1	Greg Myers	2003	.876	Ken Huckaby	2002	.577	Greg Myers	2003	127.2	Ken Huckaby	2002	46.8
1B	42	John Olerud	1993	8.1	Justin Smoak	2016	-0.4	Carlos Delgado	2000	1.134	Doug Ault	1977	.692	John Olerud	1993	179.3	Doug Ault	1977	83.0
2B	35	Marcus Semien	2021	6.3	Carlos Garcia	1997	-2.2	Roberto Alomar	1993	.900	Garth Iorg	1987	.546	Roberto Alomar	1993	142.3	Carlos Garcia	1997	42.4
3B	44	Josh Donaldson	2015	8.7	Garth Iorg	1984	-1.2	Josh Donaldson	2016	.953	Garth Iorg	1984	.548	Josh Donaldson	2016	156.6	Garth Iorg	1984	44.9
SS	37	Bo Bichette	2021	5.1	Alfredo Griffin	1984	-1.9	Bo Bichette	2021	.828	Alfredo Griffin	1981	.531	Bo Bichette	2022	129.7	Alfredo Griffin	1981	43.6
LF	35	George Bell	1987	5.3	Joe Carter	1996	-0.6	George Bell	1987	.957	Dave Collins	1983	.671	George Bell	1987	143.4	Rajai Davis	2012	83.5
CF	40	Lloyd Moseby	1984	6.9	Vernon Wells	2009	-0.1	Vernon Wells	2003	.909	Rick Bosetti	1978	.645	Lloyd Moseby	1983	135.3	Rick Bosetti	1979	69.3
RF	41	José Bautista	2011	8.1	Bob Bailor	1979	-1.3	José Bautista	2011	1.056	Bob Bailor	1979	.585	José Bautista	2011	180.5	Bob Bailor	1979	56.8
DH	25	Paul Molitor	1993	4.8	Adam Lind	2010	-0.6	Edwin Encarnación	2012	.941	Rance Mulliniks	1991	.697	Edwin Encarnación	'12&'15	150.2	Rico Carty	1979	88.0

	Worst Other
Position	Who	Year	HR	Who	Year	Avg	Who	Year	OBP	Who	Year	Slg	Who	Year	SB
C	3 players		0	J.P. Arencibia	2013	.194	J.P. Arencibia	2013	.227	Alan Ashby	1977	.280	25 players		0
1B	John Olerud	1995	8	Justin Smoak	2019	.208	Adam Lind	2011	.295	Willie Upshaw	1986	.368	13 players		0
2B	3 players		2	Aaron Hill	2010	.205	Carlos Garcia	1997	.253	Garth Iorg	1987	.284	Danny Ainge	1979	1
3B	Garth Iorg	'82&'84	1	Yangervis Solarte	2018	.226	Garth Iorg	1984	.244	Garth Iorg	1984	.304	8 players		0
SS	3 players		0	Alfredo Griffin	1981	.209	Alfredo Griffin	1981	.243	Luis Gomez	1978	.254	2 players		1
LF	Dave Collins	1983	1	Daulton Varsho	2023	.220	Daulton Varsho	2023	.285	Dave Collins	1983	.328	2 players		0
CF	Otis Nixon	1996	1	Lloyd Moseby	1989	.221	Randal Grichuk	2021	.281	Otis Nixon	1996	.327	2 players		0
RF	3 players		1	José Bautista	2017	.203	Randal Grichuk	2019	.280	Bob Bailor	1979	.287	2 players		1
DH	Rance Mulliniks	1991	2	Adam Lind	2010	.237	Adam Lind	2010	.287	Rance Mulliniks	1991	.333	10 players		0

Best and Worst by Position Jays All-Time

Friday, February 23 2024 @ 10:22 PM EST