[knockahoma]

Boy, RTOT and RTOT/YR are fast becoming some of my favorite stats. The certainly reflect a lot of reputation from the time. In 1974, for example, the team RTOT scores looked like this in the final standings.

BAL 43.6 (above the average player runs saved number)
NY 21.7
BOS 46.1
CLE 37
MIL 18
DET -26

Baltimore's strong defense saved more runs than any other team in the AL, save Boston. Baltimore's defensive stars, according to this stat, were Belanger, +17.8, Paul Blair, +14.6, Brooks Robinson, +13.0, Grich 8.2. Earl Williams was an unspectacular -4.2

Boston's defensive stars were Dwight Evans +27, Burleson +12 (he took over for Mario Guerrero that season at -2.6. Juan Beniquez CF +11.6 and Rick Miller, +15.8.

What's been really interesting, and I think complimentary of baseball people's perceptions in that era, is that players being moved because of defensive liability correlates very well so far with this stat.

For example: Bobby Grich was tried at SS in 77. He scored about a flat 0 in the category. He was moved away from shortstop. Boston's Rico Petrocelli used to be a good scoring SS in RTOT. In 1970 he seemed to lose range and scored a +2.0. He was moved to 3B the next year.

Earl Weaver believed that his gold glove 2B Davey Johnson had lost range and decided to trade him to Atlanta, in part, for that reason. Johnson scored a +13 in 1972. But he fell to a -8 in 1973 in Atlanta, and soon after became primarily a 1b for Atlanta and Philly.

Toby Harrah was a monster hitting shortstop in 74 with 21 homers. But the rep was that Texas gave up too much on defense. Harrah played SS for texas through the mid 70s with scores of -8 and -10. Finally, Texas moved him to 3B and got Bert Campaneris at SS.

The AL West in 74 ended like this:

Oakland 38.8

Texas -28.8 (5gb)

Min -20

chic -39.3

kc -25

cal -25


So far, this stat makes old school baseball people look good in many instances.