[knockahoma]

I've been perusing baseball-reference.com, lately.

They have a categoy called RTOT/YR. Somebody else's post turned me onto it (Pstrickert, I think?)

This is the number of runs saved by a player's defense above, or below, an average player. So, you get numbers like "-7.6 runs saved below average player", or "+27.5 runs saved above average player."

Currently, OOTP calculates a player's defense by range factor and field percentage (unless I'm badly mistaken).

Rather than use range factor, I wonder if RTOT/YR would be the better choice? It takes statistical snap shots from several more angles. For example, RTOT/YR includes:

* RTZ. Field plays made, not including double plays, or outfield kills.

RTZrd Plays made above, or below, the average player on the road.

RTZhm. Plays made above, or below, the average player at home.

RDP number of double plays turned and opportunities given

RCatch. No explanation on that one that I saw.

RTOT/YR bases its calculations on 1200 innings played in a year, or approximately 135 games.

So, one can infer range out of this, and ability to turn double plays, etc. Now, you can get some goofy numbers for a player who just stepped in for a few games, but you get unrealistic numbers from just range factor in that situation, too.

As I was perusing the 74 season, I saw Mark Belanger with great runs saved above the average player numbers (from +17 to +34). Good hitting shortstops with reputations for average or poor play (Toby Harrah) might get a -8, or -10 score. And so on. What's interesting is that these numbers correlated extremely well with the Strat-o-matic ratings I remember for various players (Strat has always put a great deal of research into its defense ratings, using numbers and scouts, etc.).

Rather than OOTP creating its own defensive database of all players, could we get immediate and satisfactory results by switching from range factor (or maybe including that) to RTOT/YR, with its various sub-categories already included?

I don't know if Lahman includes this stat, but it would be a simple thing to get the numbers. They're already at baseball-reference.com.

Then, get OOTP to evaluate and rate players on RTOT/YR (in addition to range factor, maybe?) and field percentage. Not only would we get better defensive ratings, but OOTP can then better evaluate the defensive contribution of a player when making trades.

All without having to create a specialized defensive database. Unless...OOTP already uses this information. If so, it's back to the editing page.