How much of our success is attributed to improved Defense?

[moorecg]

I was thinking this last night...and have thought more about it today. I know some saber stat guy will come in all worked up over OBP and OPS and walks and the like, and that's all fine and good, but really, how much of this year's success can be attributed to our overall outstanding defensive play?

 

Maybe its recency, but I remember the Cubs taking away more hits, and saving more runs this year than in any time in the past...it has a direct correlation to our staff ERA, it saves pitches, it saves the bullpen, it saves games....Any thoughts on how much its played into our success this year as opposed to just hitting better?

[UMFan83]

I'm pretty sure we had one of the best rated defenses overall last year as well.

[bukie]

Without checking (right now, I can only seem to access this site from work), I think the Cubs were #1 in defensive efficiency last year. This year, I believe the Cardinals are #1, and the Cubs are either #2 or #3.

[moorecg]

Without checking (right now, I can only seem to access this site from work), I think the Cubs were #1 in defensive efficiency last year. This year, I believe the Cardinals are #1, and the Cubs are either #2 or #3.

 

Is defensive efficiency calculated by fielding percentages? Just trying to figure out if maybe that has something to do with it...

[SouthSideRyan]

Without checking (right now, I can only seem to access this site from work), I think the Cubs were #1 in defensive efficiency last year. This year, I believe the Cardinals are #1, and the Cubs are either #2 or #3.

 

Is defensive efficiency calculated by fielding percentages? Just trying to figure out if maybe that has something to do with it...

 

Don't quote me on this, but I believe defensive efficiency is the % of balls in play that are converted into outs.

[bukie]

Without checking (right now, I can only seem to access this site from work), I think the Cubs were #1 in defensive efficiency last year. This year, I believe the Cardinals are #1, and the Cubs are either #2 or #3.

 

Is defensive efficiency calculated by fielding percentages? Just trying to figure out if maybe that has something to do with it...

 

Fielding percentage is only a part of it. Another part of it is the percentage of balls that fielders get to that are hit towards them, or in their area, as well as balls they get to that are technically out of their zone (referred to as OOZ in metrics). Using fielding percentage as a comparative tool is a restrictive statistic because it assumes everyone has the same range.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The Cubs are first in the NL with a .714 Defensive Efficiency, last year they were first in the NL with a .712

[nolanwood]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=309630

[nilodnayr]

Without checking (right now, I can only seem to access this site from work), I think the Cubs were #1 in defensive efficiency last year. This year, I believe the Cardinals are #1, and the Cubs are either #2 or #3.

 

Is defensive efficiency calculated by fielding percentages? Just trying to figure out if maybe that has something to do with it...

 

Don't quote me on this, but I believe defensive efficiency is the % of balls in play that are converted into outs.

 

Yup...1-BABIP

[bukie]

The Cubs are first in the NL with a .714 Defensive Efficiency, last year they were first in the NL with a .712

 

And now I can see that. I'm not sure why I thought the Cards were in first. Right now they're actually 8th in the NL.