Defensive efficiency

[NoDak]

OK, I have a question for everyone.

 

If I understand defensive efficiency correctly it is, basically, the percentage of balls put in play that are turned into outs.

 

If that is the case, how does this mesh with the work of Vorros McCracken saying that a pitcher has no control over how many balls in play get turned into outs making SO, BB, HR a very good way to eval a pitcher. If I understand his study correctly it basically says balls in play turn into hits at a roughly random rate. Some pitchers are "really good" one year and "really bad" the next.

 

I know that this is not necessarily true for batters and that some seem to have an ability to get hits at a greater (or lesser) than random rate, so is this the case for defense as well?

 

Or do I fundamentally misunderstand all of this!

[Tim]

OK, I have a question for everyone.

 

If I understand defensive efficiency correctly it is, basically, the percentage of balls put in play that are turned into outs.

 

If that is the case, how does this mesh with the work of Vorros McCracken saying that a pitcher has no control over how many balls in play get turned into outs making SO, BB, HR a very good way to eval a pitcher. If I understand his study correctly it basically says balls in play turn into hits at a roughly random rate. Some pitchers are "really good" one year and "really bad" the next.

 

I know that this is not necessarily true for batters and that some seem to have an ability to get hits at a greater (or lesser) than random rate, so is this the case for defense as well?

 

Or do I fundamentally misunderstand all of this!

Voros work says that pitchers can't control whether or not a ball lands as a hit once it is put into play. However, the defense can influence that rate (as can the park).