• The Greatest Fielding 2B Of All-Time Is…

    Posted by on December 3rd, 2012 · Comments (7)

    First, start with this list -

    Rk Player Rfield From To Age G
    1 Joe Gordon 150 1938 1950 23-35 1566
    2 Bill Mazeroski 146 1956 1972 19-35 2163
    3 Chase Utley 145 2003 2012 24-33 1192
    4 Hughie Critz 130 1924 1935 23-34 1478
    5 Johnny Evers 127 1902 1929 20-47 1784
    6 Frank White 121 1973 1990 22-39 2324
    7 Nellie Fox 119 1947 1965 19-37 2367
    8 Mark Ellis 118 2002 2012 25-35 1236
    9 Willie Randolph 114 1975 1992 20-37 2202
    10 Orlando Hudson 98 2002 2012 24-34 1345
    11 Nap Lajoie 87 1901 1916 26-41 1988
    12 Bobby Grich 81 1970 1986 21-37 2008
    13 Red Schoendienst 78 1945 1963 22-40 2216
    14 Lou Whitaker 75 1977 1995 20-38 2390
    15 Mark Lemke 74 1988 1998 22-32 1069
    16 Bobby Knoop 66 1964 1972 25-33 1153
    17 Claude Ritchey 66 1901 1909 27-35 1149
    18 Dick Green 65 1963 1974 22-33 1288
    19 Dustin Pedroia 60 2006 2012 22-28 856
    20 Ryne Sandberg 60 1981 1997 21-37 2164
    21 Julio Cruz 58 1977 1986 22-31 1156
    22 Billy Herman 55 1931 1947 21-37 1922
    23 Max Bishop 50 1924 1935 24-35 1340
    24 Aaron Hill 48 2005 2012 23-30 1064
    25 Brandon Phillips 48 2002 2012 21-31 1188
    26 Jackie Hayes 45 1927 1940 20-33 1093
    27 Rennie Stennett 44 1971 1981 20-30 1237
    28 Bobby Doerr 43 1937 1951 19-33 1865
    29 Ted Sizemore 41 1969 1980 24-35 1411
    30 Ian Kinsler 40 2006 2012 24-30 930
    31 Ski Melillo 40 1926 1937 26-37 1378
    32 Rich Dauer 39 1976 1985 23-32 1140
    33 Jim Gantner 38 1976 1992 23-39 1801
    34 Dave Cash 37 1969 1980 21-32 1422
    35 Darwin Barney 36 2010 2012 24-26 329
    36 Robby Thompson 36 1986 1996 24-34 1304
    37 Morrie Rath 36 1909 1920 22-33 565
    38 Miller Huggins 36 1904 1916 26-38 1586
    39 Eddie Collins 35 1906 1930 19-43 2825
    40 Del Pratt 35 1912 1924 24-36 1836
    Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
    Generated 12/3/2012.

    .
    And, then, sort it by Fielding Runs/Game and you get this leader board:

    Rk Player Rfield From To Age G Rfield/G
    1 Chase Utley 145 2003 2012 24-33 1192 0.1216
    2 Darwin Barney 36 2010 2012 24-26 329 0.1094
    3 Joe Gordon 150 1938 1950 23-35 1566 0.0958
    4 Mark Ellis 118 2002 2012 25-35 1236 0.0955
    5 Hughie Critz 130 1924 1935 23-34 1478 0.0880
    6 Orlando Hudson 98 2002 2012 24-34 1345 0.0729
    7 Johnny Evers 127 1902 1929 20-47 1784 0.0712
    8 Dustin Pedroia 60 2006 2012 22-28 856 0.0701
    9 Mark Lemke 74 1988 1998 22-32 1069 0.0692
    10 Bill Mazeroski 146 1956 1972 19-35 2163 0.0675
    11 Morrie Rath 36 1909 1920 22-33 565 0.0637
    12 Claude Ritchey 66 1901 1909 27-35 1149 0.0574
    13 Bobby Knoop 66 1964 1972 25-33 1153 0.0572
    14 Frank White 121 1973 1990 22-39 2324 0.0521
    15 Willie Randolph 114 1975 1992 20-37 2202 0.0518
    16 Dick Green 65 1963 1974 22-33 1288 0.0505
    17 Nellie Fox 119 1947 1965 19-37 2367 0.0503
    18 Julio Cruz 58 1977 1986 22-31 1156 0.0502
    19 Aaron Hill 48 2005 2012 23-30 1064 0.0451
    20 Nap Lajoie 87 1901 1916 26-41 1988 0.0438
    21 Ian Kinsler 40 2006 2012 24-30 930 0.0430
    22 Jackie Hayes 45 1927 1940 20-33 1093 0.0412
    23 Brandon Phillips 48 2002 2012 21-31 1188 0.0404
    24 Bobby Grich 81 1970 1986 21-37 2008 0.0403
    25 Max Bishop 50 1924 1935 24-35 1340 0.0373
    26 Rennie Stennett 44 1971 1981 20-30 1237 0.0356
    27 Red Schoendienst 78 1945 1963 22-40 2216 0.0352
    28 Rich Dauer 39 1976 1985 23-32 1140 0.0342
    29 Lou Whitaker 75 1977 1995 20-38 2390 0.0314
    30 Ted Sizemore 41 1969 1980 24-35 1411 0.0291
    31 Ski Melillo 40 1926 1937 26-37 1378 0.0290
    32 Billy Herman 55 1931 1947 21-37 1922 0.0286
    33 Ryne Sandberg 60 1981 1997 21-37 2164 0.0277
    34 Robby Thompson 36 1986 1996 24-34 1304 0.0276
    35 Dave Cash 37 1969 1980 21-32 1422 0.0260
    36 Bobby Doerr 43 1937 1951 19-33 1865 0.0231
    37 Miller Huggins 36 1904 1916 26-38 1586 0.0227
    38 Jim Gantner 38 1976 1992 23-39 1801 0.0211
    39 Del Pratt 35 1912 1924 24-36 1836 0.0191
    40 Eddie Collins 35 1906 1930 19-43 2825 0.0124

    Chase Utley?  The numbers back it up.

    And, anyone else thinking “Where’s Robinson Cano?”

    Filed under Baseball History,Greatest Fielding,Season Finders · ·

    Comments on The Greatest Fielding 2B Of All-Time Is…

    1. KPOcala
      December 4th, 2012 | 12:05 am

      Steve, these lists are all very interesting. But, as a group, today’s players as a group that are highly rated haven’t gone through long decline phases yet. So let’s see where Utley, et al, wind up after they’ve played 15+ years. Just trying to sprinkle some perspective in…….
    2. Evan3457
      December 4th, 2012 | 10:45 am

      Cano is not really an elite defensive 2nd baseman. He’s average to above, according to the advanced defensive metrics (if anyone believes them).
    3. MJ Recanati
      December 4th, 2012 | 11:01 am

      @ Evan3457:
      Not that this is the be-all and end-all, but, I’ve spoken to a scout in the Phillies organization that I’m friends with and he’s told me that defensive metrics don’t do Cano justice. Cano’s range to his right is good (while his range to his left is average) and he’s got the strongest arm at the position.
    4. KPOcala
      December 4th, 2012 | 1:49 pm

      @ MJ Recanati:MJ, totally agree. I think the time has come to see if Cano would agree to switch to third, prolonging his career, (I’m sure for the right money, ‘hey no problem’) and maybe try out David Adams/or a ‘one year man’. A-Rod, if he ever plays again will only be able to DH.
    5. MJ Recanati
      December 4th, 2012 | 2:18 pm

      @ KPOcala:
      With Cano just one year out from free agency there is absolutely no way he agrees to move off 2B. He and Scott Boras know that he’ll make more money in free agency as the best 2B in baseball.

      I’m fine with moving Cano to 3B and using a few stop-gaps at 2B for next year but it’ll never happen, especially not with Scott Boras involved.
    6. Steve L.
      December 4th, 2012 | 3:57 pm

      The thing that kills Cano here is when you look at his Fielding Runs on a year by year basis. Some years, he’s very good. And, in other years, he’s terrible. And, the net comes out to him being average.

      Just another feather in the cap of the notion that Cano needs to be prodded sometimes to give his best effort at all times.

      Good luck to the team that throws mega money at him over a 7-year period.
    7. KPOcala
      December 4th, 2012 | 5:28 pm

      @ MJ Recanati: Totally agree. The only way it would happen would be the unlikely event that the Yanks blew Cano out of the water with money, and part of the deal would include a “possible” move. And that also is assuming that Cano has the reflexes for third to play it well. Regardless, aint gonna happen this year, barring Cano volunteering to give it a try (HA!)…..

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