Well, it doesn't help in terms of individual defensive assessment - but bbref does provide the BABIP numbers for pitching staff, both home and away. The 2009 numbers so far?
Home: .287 --- Road: .282
While there is a major home advantage in opponent OPS -- and the bulk of that IS slugging and HR-related, (.361 slugging in Safeco and .410 away -- with a 29/39 home/road split in nearly identical PAs), the evidence in 2009 says ...
The defense at home is EXCEPTIONAL at preventing XBHs -- turning both HRs and 2Bs into singles. But, the defense at Safeco (this year) is NOT producing a lower BABIP. Of course, 2/3 of the Ms OF this season were brand new to the team, so experience in the Safe was minimal.
The only certainties are: The 2009 defense is drastically better than the 2008. The primary difference in defense is in CF/LF. The defense (in terms of making outs), is not significantly better at home than on the road.
The lack of HRs -- and the reduced XBHs both support (to a degree) the concept that balls are getting "held up". But, the evidence does not suggest that this is producing additional outs, (and thereby skewing RF results - or even ZR results). Of course, if the "held up" ball theory is true -- then a potentially viable strategy is to play deep - and instead of attempting to steal outs on short balls, you steal bases from the opposition.
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