Comments on: Alex Gordon Versus Billy Butler = WAR http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/09/09/alex-gordon-versus-billy-butler-war/ A Kansas City Royals Blog Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:55:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Wally Fish http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/09/09/alex-gordon-versus-billy-butler-war/#comment-243 Wally Fish Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:10:33 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=1519#comment-243 michael, You are right about using the BP term, I have adjusted it to the more generic term "defensive ability" which serves the purposes of the above just as well. For those of you curious about the positional adjustments that michael references in his comment, you can head here: http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/how_to_calculate_war/ michael,
You are right about using the BP term, I have adjusted it to the more generic term “defensive ability” which serves the purposes of the above just as well.

For those of you curious about the positional adjustments that michael references in his comment, you can head here:
http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/how_to_calculate_war/

]]> By: michaeljong http://kingsofkauffman.com/2009/09/09/alex-gordon-versus-billy-butler-war/#comment-241 michaeljong Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:03:29 +0000 http://kingsofkauffman.com/?p=1519#comment-241 Wally, One thing I will warn you about is to be careful about the use of the term Fielding Runs Above Average. In general, the saber crowd considers that the Baseball Prospectus stat, which no one outside BP really knows about. The preferred advanced defense stats are UZR, +/-, Total Zone Rating (shown in Baseball-Reference), and other such stats. The WAR stat that is commonly referenced comes either from FanGraphs (using UZR) or Rally's site (using Total Zone). And there's definitely a difference. Also, don't forget that WAR takes into account positional adjustments. Gordon plays third base, which is much harder to play than first base, which is what Butler plays. Butler gets docked a little more than a win every 162 games at first base, while Gordon gets bumped up around 1/5 of a win every 162 games by playing third. That's a difference of about 1 WAR, so it's pretty hefty. It STILL doesn't take away from Butler's excellent year, but it puts it into perspective; a first baseman of Butler's caliber defensively needs to hit as well as he has this season to be around league average (2 WAR in 600 PA). Wally,

One thing I will warn you about is to be careful about the use of the term Fielding Runs Above Average. In general, the saber crowd considers that the Baseball Prospectus stat, which no one outside BP really knows about. The preferred advanced defense stats are UZR, +/-, Total Zone Rating (shown in Baseball-Reference), and other such stats. The WAR stat that is commonly referenced comes either from FanGraphs (using UZR) or Rally’s site (using Total Zone). And there’s definitely a difference.

Also, don’t forget that WAR takes into account positional adjustments. Gordon plays third base, which is much harder to play than first base, which is what Butler plays. Butler gets docked a little more than a win every 162 games at first base, while Gordon gets bumped up around 1/5 of a win every 162 games by playing third. That’s a difference of about 1 WAR, so it’s pretty hefty.

It STILL doesn’t take away from Butler’s excellent year, but it puts it into perspective; a first baseman of Butler’s caliber defensively needs to hit as well as he has this season to be around league average (2 WAR in 600 PA).

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