As I mentioned in another thread I was looking at the Current Equivalent Averages page at Baseball Prospectus and I was stunned to find that Frank Menechino is leading the Blue Jays in "Runs Above Replacement Player". I decided to look closer at the stats provided to see what else I could learn about the Jays woeful 2004 offense.
I decided to examine two statistics. The first RAP stands for "Runs Above Position" that shows how many runs a player has produced over the average hitter at his position. The second RARP or "Runs Above Replacement Position" shows how many runs a player has produced over a replacement level player at his position.
Baseball Prospectus compares players at the position they've played the most at this year to determine RAP and RARP. I decided to sort the Jays by position to see how they've performed. Since some players such as Dave Berg have played at many positions this year please take these figures with a grain of salt. Without comment, here are your 2004 Toronto Blue Jays:
To better see where the Jays are weak with the stick, here are the totals for each position:
If the Jays had average hitters at each position, they would have scored an extra 84 runs this season and won an extra 8 or 9 games.
There's a few things that jumped out at me here. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so I'd like to hear what you spotted:
What are these stats telling you?
I decided to examine two statistics. The first RAP stands for "Runs Above Position" that shows how many runs a player has produced over the average hitter at his position. The second RARP or "Runs Above Replacement Position" shows how many runs a player has produced over a replacement level player at his position.
Baseball Prospectus compares players at the position they've played the most at this year to determine RAP and RARP. I decided to sort the Jays by position to see how they've performed. Since some players such as Dave Berg have played at many positions this year please take these figures with a grain of salt. Without comment, here are your 2004 Toronto Blue Jays:
Player POSN PA RAP RARP
Zaun C 288 7.5 15.5
Estale' C 17 0.1 0.5
Cash C 172 -10.1 -4.7
TOTAL 477 -2.5 11.3
Delgado 1B 347 -4.4 8.8
Menech' 2B 201 13.1 18.7
Hudson 2B 349 1.1 11.9
TOTAL 550 14.2 30.6
Hinske 3B 455 -15.1 1.1
Gomez SS 313 -5.9 4.0
Woody SS 167 -7.7 -2.0
TOTAL 480 -13.6 2.0
Rios RF 273 -6.6 3.4
Reed RF 449 -15.3 1.3
Howie RF 128 -8.1 -3.0
TOTAL 850 -30.0 1.7
Wells CF 403 4.6 18.0
Cat LF 246 -3.2 5.8
Gross LF 14 -0.2 0.3
Herman' LF 7 -1.5 -1.1
Berg LF 144 -10.1 -4.3
TOTAL 411 -15.0 0.7
Myers DH 20 -1.0 -0.3
Phelps DH 320 -15.3 -2.3
Pond DH 55 -6.0 -3.7
TOTAL 395 -22.3 -6.3
To better see where the Jays are weak with the stick, here are the totals for each position:
POSN PA RAP RARP
2B 550 14.2 30.6
CF 403 4.6 18.0
C 477 -2.5 11.3
1B 347 -4.4 8.8
SS 480 -13.6 2.0
RF 850 -30.0 1.7
3B 455 -15.1 1.1
LF 411 -15.0 0.7
DH 395 -22.3 -6.3
TOTAL 4368 -84.1 67.9
If the Jays had average hitters at each position, they would have scored an extra 84 runs this season and won an extra 8 or 9 games.
There's a few things that jumped out at me here. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so I'd like to hear what you spotted:
- The Jays are getting killed at the corners and DH: Five of the bottom six of the Jays positions are what we'd normally consider power positions. Keep in mind that RAP and RARP rank players relative to other players at the same position, but we can still see that DH, the corner outfield spots, and third base are weak offensive points for the Jays.
- What ever happened to Eric Hinske? Eric has shown big platoon splits in the past, but is hitting lefties and righties equally badly this season. Is there a way to get Hinske back on track or to get more production at the third base position? Would playing Menechino at third against tough lefties be a good idea?
- Do the Jays really need a shortstop? Getting a "name player" at short has been one of the wishes of Bauxites for the past couple of months. However, batting wise, short isn't their weakest position, and the Jays do have a couple of good middle infielders in the minors. Would the money be better spent on a big bat or two?
What are these stats telling you?
