Ryan Theriot an above average shortstop?

[Ski]

From this article: (I copied in the relevant text for those who don't have a subscription to BP)

 

My hook was that I broke things down into component parts. For example, on a ground ball, I thought it was foolish only to count completed plays. For example, a grounder to short, Theriot gets to it, fields it, and throws it to first, but Derek Lee drops the ball. Theriot did everything right... he should get credit, and Lee get the blame. So, I broke grounders down to range, hands, arm, and catch (over at first, mostly). The idea is that if a shortstop gets to the ball, then 70-something percent of the time (probably more, I'm just making numbers up), there will be an out recorded. If he fields it cleanly, that jumps to 90 percent, if he makes the throw, it's 99.5 percent...

 

I convert it all into runs. Among shortstops with 81 or more Equivalent Games (26 players), Ryan was fourth in runs saved per inning in MLB at shorstop behind Tulo, Scutaro, and Cesar Izturis; Paul Janish was also better, but didn't qualify. Ryan ranked seventh in ground-ball range (per GB hit in his area), 16th in clean fielding, and third in arm. He was fourth on the double-play pivot (per relevant 'could be' DP GB). ... So, his main skills are in the area of grounders, which of course is the bread and butter of any infielder. His weakness is that he will boot a few of them, but his range is good and his arm is good. He's what I call a gross motor skills shortstop. Good legs, good arms, questionable hands. As opposed to the fine motor skills (which you do with your hands, like picking a grounder).

 

My system is corrected for chances, so the Joel Piniero ground-ball machine theory goes out the window. Carpenter and Wainwright probably made the batters make less good contact, so maybe he was getting easier grounders to field, but his arm was still good, and Carpenter and Wainwright can't help him there. Schumaker rates out pretty poorly at second, although I don't see how that would make Ryan better. To give some perspective, Tulo saved twice as many runs as Ryan did last year (22 vs. 10). Ryan is pretty good, but not historically good.

[CubColtPacer]

That article is about Brendan Ryan. Theriot was only used as an example and it didn't say anything about Theriot's performance at SS. That's unless there was something that you didn't quote that was in the article.

[Guest]

Did anyone else feel this lost credibility with "third in arm"?

[Guest]

damn. should have opened the article.

[CubbieBum]

That article is about Brendan Ryan. Theriot was only used as an example and it didn't say anything about Theriot's performance at SS. That's unless there was something that you didn't quote that was in the article.

 

:rotfl:

[CubbieBum]

Did anyone else feel this lost credibility with "third in arm"?

 

It lost credibility with the I'm just making this up line.

[Four and Twenty]

That article is about Brendan Ryan. Theriot was only used as an example and it didn't say anything about Theriot's performance at SS. That's unless there was something that you didn't quote that was in the article.

It lost credibility with the I'm just making this up line.

 

Yes.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

not your best work, Ski

[Ski]

Damn. I guess this can be deleted, then. My bad.

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh no. This must stay forever.

[CubbieBum]

Oh no. This must stay forever.

 

Would you look at that ... we agree on something.

[Soul]

I keep wishing Theriot is an above average shortstop though.

 

I guess my powers of mental influence are lacking.

[Skyballer]

I was beginning to wonder why Theriot was suddenly being referred on the informal basis of just Ryan. This is quite hysterical.

 

I like Theriot, I think he is underrated by this board. I do not consider him to be much more that just average though however.