S-Rod traded to Pirates

[Enscheff]

But doesn't arm play into range? Make a play deep in the hole and a strong arm can make the difference.

Again, hard to say. It obviously does, but by how much?

An average throw from SS in the hole is about 130'. Someone who throws the ball 85 gets it there in 1.04 seconds. Someone who throws it 90 gets it there in 0.98 seconds.

How big of a difference is that 0.058 seconds? A guy running 20 MPH covers 1.7' in that amount of time. So that is definitely a big deal.

Is giving up 1.7' to every runner worth getting to more grounders? If so, how many more grounders caught equals the outs lost due to giving up those 1.7'?

What about transition time from glove to throwing hand?

All this data is available with statcast. Someone just has to calculate it all.

 

[Enscheff]

You go crunch those numbers.

I will take grounders.

lol how many grounders do you field in a week tough guy? Who is hitting them at you?

 

[weso1]

Again, hard to say. It obviously does, but by how much?

An average throw from SS in the hole is about 130'. Someone who throws the ball 85 gets it there in 1.04 seconds. Someone who throws it 90 gets it there in 0.98 seconds.

How big of a difference is that 0.058 seconds? A guy running 20 MPH covers 1.7' in that amount of time. So that is definitely a big deal.

Is giving up 1.7' to every runner worth getting to more grounders? If so, how many more grounders caught equals the outs lost due to giving up those 1.7'?

What about transition time from glove to throwing hand?

All this data is available with statcast. Someone just has to calculate it all.

Speed in the infield seems like a relatively poor way to judge infielders. How often do infielders get close to their top speed? Arm strength seems much more important than speed. I think you make a good point in regards to transition time.

 

[NinersSBChamps]

Again, hard to say. It obviously does, but by how much?

An average throw from SS in the hole is about 130'. Someone who throws the ball 85 gets it there in 1.04 seconds. Someone who throws it 90 gets it there in 0.98 seconds.

How big of a difference is that 0.058 seconds? A guy running 20 MPH covers 1.7' in that amount of time. So that is definitely a big deal.

Is giving up 1.7' to every runner worth getting to more grounders? If so, how many more grounders caught equals the outs lost due to giving up those 1.7'?

What about transition time from glove to throwing hand?

All this data is available with statcast. Someone just has to calculate it all.

And baseball is just littered with guys who run 20 MPH.

 

[Enscheff]

Speed in the infield seems like a relatively poor way to judge infielders. How often do infielders get close to their top speed? Arm strength seems much more important than speed. I think you make a good point in regards to transition time.

By speed I meant the base runner covers 1.7' in that extra time. The weaker arm at SS essentially makes the base 1.7' closer for a fast runner.

If Swanson has better range and get to more balls, how does that balance against giving all runners a 1.7' advantage to first due to his weaker arm?

Hard to say without someone crunching those statcast data.

 

[Enscheff]

And baseball is just littered with guys who run 20 MPH.

So they are running slower than that and the weaker arm costs less distance for the defender.

Still waiting for your manly response to the grounders you take, snowflake.

 

[NinersSBChamps]

lol how many grounders do you field in a week tough guy? Who is hitting them at you?

Not many and generally none at all.

Just proving the point that baseball is played on the diamond on not on a computer.

 

[Enscheff]

Not many and generally none at all.

Just proving the point that baseball is played on the diamond on not on a computer.

Thank you for the wisdom.

Do you know where player contracts are calculated? Here's a hint...not on the diamond.

 

[NinersSBChamps]

So they are running slower than that and the weaker arm costs less distance for the defender.

Still waiting for your manly response to the grounders you take, snowflake.

Maybe next time pick a benchmark that actually has some substance behind it. As opposed to throwing out a very high number that few in the game can actually reach.

 

[Enscheff]

Maybe next time pick a benchmark that actually has some substance behind it. As opposed to throwing out a very high number that few in the game can actually reach.

Why don't you calculate the difference in ground covered in 0.058 seconds by a guy running 20 mph vs one running at whatever speed you deem an appropriate benchmark.

Let us know how much that changes the overall point being made.

I'll wait...though I doubt you can do the simple arithmetic haha.

 

[NinersSBChamps]

Speed in the infield seems like a relatively poor way to judge infielders. How often do infielders get close to their top speed? Arm strength seems much more important than speed. I think you make a good point in regards to transition time.

Speed is quite possibly the worst way to judge infielders.
If he said something like acceleration that would hold much more weight. Like you said infielders very rarely if ever reach a top speed. Top speeds are acquired in a straight line. Lateral quickness would be a better indicator than speed.

 

[Enscheff]

Speed is quite possibly the worst way to judge infielders.

If he said something like acceleration that would hold much more weight. Like you said infielders very rarely if ever reach a top speed. Top speeds are acquired in a straight line. Lateral quickness would be a better indicator than speed.

Yeah I was talking about base runner speed.

 

[thewupk]

20 MPH is virtually impossible from home to first on a swing. Generally you are going to be living in the 14-15 MPH range with only the speed demons surpassing that and players like McCann falling below it.

The basic idea still stands. Arm can make up a bit in range but still the most important aspect of any fielder is actually getting to balls and fielding them. Arm, error rate, ability to turn two, etc are all factors but getting to balls will always reign supreme.

 

[Enscheff]

20 MPH is virtually impossible from home to first on a swing. Generally you are going to be living in the 14-15 MPH range with only the speed demons surpassing that and players like McCann falling below it.

The basic idea still stands. Arm can make up a bit in range but still the most important aspect of any fielder is actually getting to balls and fielding them. Arm, error rate, ability to turn two, etc are all factors but getting to balls will always reign supreme.

This is my gut feeling too. Being short in range is a hit 100% of the time, no matter who is running. Being short on arm strength results in a hit less than 100% of the time.

How many hits does a weaker arm give up? That's what I want statcast to tell us.

 

[thewupk]

This is my gut feeling too. Being short in range is a hit 100% of the time, no matter who is running. Being short on arm strength results in a hit less than 100% of the time.

How many hits does a weaker arm give up? That's what I want statcast to tell us.

Agreed. IMO the ability to get the ball out of the glove and actually throwing it is more important than raw throwing speed.

 

[nsacpi]

Again, hard to say. It obviously does, but by how much?

An average throw from SS in the hole is about 130'. Someone who throws the ball 85 gets it there in 1.04 seconds. Someone who throws it 90 gets it there in 0.98 seconds.

How big of a difference is that 0.058 seconds? A guy running 20 MPH covers 1.7' in that amount of time. So that is definitely a big deal.

Is giving up 1.7' to every runner worth getting to more grounders? If so, how many more grounders caught equals the outs lost due to giving up those 1.7'?

What about transition time from glove to throwing hand?

All this data is available with statcast. Someone just has to calculate it all.

Someone with a stronger arm can play deeper. Andrelton used this to great advantage.

 

[thethe]

Reaction time is also impacted by a pitcher being able to consistently hit their spots.

 

[nsacpi]

Reaction time is also impacted by a pitcher being able to consistently hit their spots.

Irrelevant to the discussion of Swanson versus Camargo defensively unless you think pitchers hit their spots better when one of them is out there.

 

[thethe]

Irrelevant to the discussion of Swanson versus Camargo defensively unless you think pitchers hit their spots better when one of them is out there.

Agreed it's irrelevant to that discussion. I was just saying in general.

 

[DirkPiggler]

Dansby doesn't have especially good hands for a middle infielder. I think Camargo has him beat in that department. But I agree about Dansby having better range.

You may be right, but I don't think we can say that just based on this year. Like his hitting, I think the bobbles and drops this year were more of a between the ears problem than one of physical skill.