Baseball Think tank
- Thread starter Horsehide Harry
- Start date
The same people that question defensive metrics are the same ones that questioned OBP 17 years ago.
The tools to measure defensive contribution have greatly advanced in recent time. It wasn't outlandish to question the science in its form prior to have the ability to chart movement.
The is a difference between being skeptic on it's exact value and outright denying it like some have.
I understand that it can be hard for some people to wrap their minds around an all around above average player providing more value than a traditional 30+ homer slugger who is a one dimensional player. For so long that has not been the case in popular opinion as well as the free agent/trade market. Thankfully that has changed.
I thought questioning them at all was only an act of dinosaurs - didn't you infer that two posts above?
I don't think anyone - Coppy included - questions that there's absolutely some benefit to be gained from them. It's just as you mention - weighting them accurately is the important part IMO.
Weighting them accurately is important. Anyone that thought (and there have been several, not naming names here) Kemp didn't lose the bulk if not all of his offensive value on defense are deniers imo. It should be obvious with the eye test he is bad. Our "archaic" stats like UZR and DRS told he he was among the worst OF defenders in the game. Now statcast has confirmed the same thing.
There is a reason players like Kemp are getting paid peanuts on the open market right now compared to what they got a decade ago. Most teams have wised up on their actual on the field value which isn't much.