My Cincinnati Team is ranked dead last in double plays in No Quitters!!.  Over the course of 152 games we have 257 DP's (2nd worst is at 306, best at 426 and average of 353).  I have a good fielding team with a fielding % of .988, tied for 5th in the league and only .001 behind 1st place.  My pitching staff is average in gb/fb ratio at 1.14 but we are in the middle of the pack in the league.  I know that has something to do with my low DBs on the season but I can't imagine it has that much of an impact.

Other impact itmes may be due to the strengths of my pitching staff, high K's (6th at 1010) and low BB's (5th lowest at 434), and a good team WHIP (11th at 1.30).  However my slg % allowed is low at .391 indicating that most of the hits are singles. 

Additionally I have some good fielders, except for my 1B.  Here is my typical lineup

Position          Range          Glv          Arm Str          Arm Acc          Fld %         RF          DP turned

1B                    39                   42               33                   40               .998          10.04         87
2B                    75                    84              72                   82               .989          4.94          27
SS                    80                    86              79                   81               .970          5.14          49
3B                    75                    84               77                  81               .965          3.02          17

The ballpark is 0,0,-3,2,2 so that doesn't really play a role.  Is it my slightly below average 1B?  The below average arm of my SS?  An anomaly?  I have had a less than average 2B play significant time in that position (usually plays LF) - 75, 69, 84, 61 but he is offset by a much better fielder who played significant time there as well (90, 92, 57, 57).  Overall I would say I have a better than average infield with a much better than average arm at 3B and at 2B and with a slightly below average SS. 

All in all it just seems like my team should have many more double plays turned yet this is the 6th straight season where I been ranked in the bottom 10 in that category and the 4th straight season in the bottom 5 with the same lineup.

I'm not complaining, I want to know from people out there what they think the problem could be?  Is the actual number important or is there some other statistic out there that in could use to determine if my fielders need to be changed?  Maybe a conversion rate (actual DB's turned vs opportunities). 

FIrst of all, you've uncovered a bug in the team fielding stats; to get the correct number of DPs you've turned, go to pitching GIDP.  That said, you're still in last, and I'd bet that it's because your pitching staff doesn't put very many men on base, and your middle infield range is low.

Posted by dedelman on 11/11/2010 1:40:00 PM (view original):
FIrst of all, you've uncovered a bug in the team fielding stats; to get the correct number of DPs you've turned, go to pitching GIDP.  That said, you're still in last, and I'd bet that it's because your pitching staff doesn't put very many men on base, and your middle infield range is low.

You're right.  They must simply add up all of the DB's each individual position player has had over the course of the season in the team fielding stats.  So youn think it is the range of the 2B and the SS and not the arm of the SS?

your 2B range is fine. His AS is above average which should make up for your weaker SS AS. I think you are looking at too small a sample size - if the same guys are dead last 2 or 3 seasons in a row, its a different story.

Example: maybe your pitchers arent giving up many 0 or 1 out singles this season.

Yeah, is there a listing for your opp's BA with 2 outs?

Posted by csherwood on 11/11/2010 4:26:00 PM (view original):
your 2B range is fine. His AS is above average which should make up for your weaker SS AS. I think you are looking at too small a sample size - if the same guys are dead last 2 or 3 seasons in a row, its a different story.

I've been ranked in the bottom 5 for the past 4 seasons and in the bottom 10 for the past 6 seasons, one other time being ranked dead last.

Need better range, too many balls in play are getting through. Better AS and AA will result in less errors and more DP. .970 for a SS isn't all that good.