Posted by tecwrg on 8/27/2013 9:44:00 AM (view original):
Posted by MikeT23 on 8/27/2013 9:39:00 AM (view original):
Posted by burnsy483 on 8/27/2013 9:34:00 AM (view original):
FWIW, I looked up his game log, and most of the time he came out because his team was up or down by a large margin. Strange that a ballplayer in his mid 20s is being rested late in games so much, but yea, there's that.
He also had a Damon-like arm. Not sure we'll find any stats to back that up but, if you google Rickey Henderson and check enough articles, it can be confirmed.
Advanced fielding stats for Rickey at b-r.com indicate that he had a below-average arm for CF, with an Rof value of -2.
Rof -- Total Zone Outfield Arm Runs Above Avg
The number of runs above or below average the player was worth based on baserunner kills and baserunner advances.
Rtz: Total Zone Fielding Runs Above Average
In 1985 Mattingly was at -1. Now, one year of total zone doesn't really tell us much (for Mattingly or Henderson). So let's look at the career numbers:
In 14 1B "seasons" according to BR, Mattingly has a Rtz of 21 (he lost some points as an OF, but I'm ignoring those negatives and looking at 1B only). In 13 "seasons" as a CF, Henderson's Rtz is at 28 (also ignoring the 66 he had in LF and the -10 he had in RF).
I don't think either of those numbers are conclusive, but, if you think they have credibility (and apparently you think Total Zone is credible) then the ability gap between the players at their respective positions was small. They both look slightly above average.
A slightly above average CF is significantly more valuable than a slightly above average 1B, even more so if he is just as good offensively.