Posted by colonels19 on 11/16/2012 3:18:00 PM (view original):
Agreed MikeT...the arbitrary designations for the different positions are rather ridiculous
And they aren't arbitrary.
From
baseball reference:
Rpos, Positional Adjustment Runs
If you take a quick look at the batting performance by defensive position, you'll quickly see that teams are willing to sacrifice offense at "defensive" positions (stats are prorated to 650 plate appearances).
Split |
G |
PA |
AB |
R |
H |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
CS |
BB |
SO |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS |
TB |
GDP |
HBP |
SH |
SF |
IBB |
ROE |
BAbip |
tOPS+ |
sOPS+ |
as C |
165 |
650 |
582 |
64 |
142 |
28 |
1 |
17 |
70 |
3 |
2 |
54 |
126 |
.245 |
.313 |
.389 |
.703 |
226 |
14 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
.282 |
95 |
100 |
as 1B |
152 |
650 |
575 |
75 |
155 |
32 |
1 |
22 |
85 |
3 |
1 |
63 |
121 |
.271 |
.345 |
.452 |
.797 |
259 |
15 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
.305 |
121 |
100 |
as 2B |
151 |
649 |
586 |
75 |
152 |
29 |
4 |
12 |
62 |
13 |
4 |
47 |
103 |
.260 |
.320 |
.389 |
.709 |
228 |
11 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
.294 |
97 |
100 |
as 3B |
155 |
649 |
583 |
69 |
147 |
31 |
2 |
14 |
71 |
7 |
3 |
52 |
111 |
.252 |
.317 |
.390 |
.707 |
227 |
14 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
.287 |
96 |
100 |
as SS |
152 |
650 |
590 |
73 |
155 |
28 |
3 |
10 |
60 |
15 |
6 |
44 |
98 |
.263 |
.317 |
.380 |
.697 |
224 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
.298 |
94 |
100 |
as LF |
152 |
649 |
585 |
75 |
149 |
29 |
3 |
17 |
70 |
14 |
5 |
52 |
124 |
.255 |
.320 |
.408 |
.728 |
238 |
10 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
.295 |
102 |
100 |
as CF |
148 |
650 |
583 |
84 |
152 |
29 |
6 |
14 |
62 |
25 |
8 |
52 |
124 |
.261 |
.326 |
.410 |
.735 |
238 |
9 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
.307 |
104 |
100 |
as RF |
152 |
650 |
578 |
78 |
155 |
31 |
3 |
20 |
75 |
11 |
4 |
59 |
123 |
.269 |
.341 |
.441 |
.782 |
254 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
.308 |
117 |
100 |
as DH |
151 |
650 |
578 |
74 |
151 |
31 |
1 |
20 |
84 |
6 |
2 |
62 |
120 |
.263 |
.337 |
.427 |
.764 |
247 |
15 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
.298 |
112 |
100 |
as P |
283 |
649 |
556 |
29 |
78 |
12 |
0 |
3 |
31 |
3 |
1 |
21 |
213 |
.141 |
.175 |
.182 |
.357 |
101 |
6 |
1 |
69 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
.221 |
0 |
100 |
When one quantifies these differences and also looks at the changes in fielding performance when players move to different positions we can estimate the average differences between positions.
Current values (per 1350 (150*9) innings played) are:
- C: +10 runs
- SS: +7.5 runs
- 2B: +3 runs
- CF: +2.5 runs
- 3b: +2 runs
- RF: -7.5 runs
- LF: -7.5 runs
- 1B: -10 runs
- DH: -15 runs
- P: see Pitcher Positional Adjustment
Since fielding performances change over time, these values will vary as you travel back in time. For example, first basemen in the early 1900's through the 1940's were required to be better fielders than they are today. They were still the worst fielders on the infield, but the position had more of a defensive focus then than the corner outfield positions did.
To compute a player's Positional adjustment Runs, we add together for each non-pitching position: Position multiplier (from above) × innings played at position / 1,350 Innings. For players who are only pitchers this is Pitcher Positional Adjustment (from below) × (PA/4) / 150.
Games played are used for seasons where we lack innings played data.
Here are the adjustments made year-by-year.
year_ID |
runs_p |
runs_c |
runs_1b |
runs_2b |
runs_3b |
runs_ss |
runs_lf |
runs_cf |
runs_rf |
runs_dh |
1871 |
20.7 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-10 |
-15 |
1872 |
-7.8 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-10 |
-15 |
1873 |
28.7 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-10 |
-15 |
1874 |
16.2 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-10 |
-15 |
1875 |
10.8 |
10 |
0 |
2.5 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-10 |
-15 |
1876 |
-1.2 |
10 |
0 |
2.5 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-10 |
-15 |
1877 |
7.3 |
10 |
0 |
2.5 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-9.5 |
-15 |
1878 |
23.5 |
10 |
0 |
2.5 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-9.5 |
-15 |
1879 |
38.6 |
10 |
0 |
2.5 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9.5 |
-15 |
1880 |
13.8 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9.5 |
-15 |
1881 |
17.9 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9.5 |
-15 |
1882 |
41.2 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9.5 |
-15 |
1883 |
31 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1884 |
33.6 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1885 |
25.1 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1886 |
33.8 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1887 |
56.3 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1888 |
36.7 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1889 |
55.4 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1890 |
47.9 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1891 |
42.9 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1892 |
35.9 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1893 |
31.4 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1894 |
45 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1895 |
29 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1896 |
32.9 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-10 |
-8 |
-9 |
-15 |
1897 |
35.1 |
10 |
-0.5 |
2.5 |
5 |
10 |
-9.5 |
-7.5 |
-9 |
-15 |
1898 |
30.9 |
10 |
-1.5 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
-9 |
-7 |
-9 |
-15 |
1899 |
38 |
10 |
-2 |
1.5 |
5 |
10 |
-9 |
-6.5 |
-9 |
-15 |
1900 |
37.8 |
10 |
-2.5 |
1.5 |
5 |
10 |
-8.5 |
-6 |
-8.5 |
-15 |
1901 |
35.7 |
10 |
-3.5 |
1 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-5 |
-8.5 |
-15 |
1902 |
33.2 |
10 |
-4 |
0.5 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4.5 |
-8 |
-15 |
1903 |
38.3 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1904 |
25.3 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1905 |
31.5 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1906 |
25.2 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1907 |
26.8 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1908 |
24 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1909 |
31.6 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1910 |
26.9 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1911 |
39.5 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1912 |
33.8 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1913 |
35.8 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1914 |
40.1 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1915 |
31.5 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1916 |
29.1 |
10 |
-5 |
0 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1917 |
26.3 |
9 |
-5.5 |
0.5 |
5 |
10 |
-8 |
-4 |
-8 |
-15 |
1918 |
24.3 |
8.5 |
-5.5 |
1.5 |
5 |
10 |
-7.5 |
-4 |
-7.5 |
-15 |
1919 |
29.3 |
7.5 |
-6 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
-7.5 |
-4 |
-7.5 |
-15 |
1920 |
28.2 |
7 |
-6 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
-7.5 |
-4 |
-7.5 |
-15 |
1921 |
38.1 |
6.5 |
-6.5 |
3.5 |
5 |
10 |
-7 |
-4 |
-7.5 |
-15 |
1922 |
43.9 |
5.5 |
-6.5 |
4.5 |
5 |
10 |
-7 |
-4 |
-7 |
-15 |
1923 |
39.3 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
-7 |
-4 |
-7 |
-15 |
1924 |
35.6 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
-7 |
-4 |
-7 |
-15 |
1925 |
47.2 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
-7 |
-4 |
-7 |
-15 |
1926 |
41.7 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
5 |
10 |
-7 |
-4 |
-7 |
-15 |
1927 |
42.5 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
4.5 |
10 |
-7 |
-3.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1928 |
45.9 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
4.5 |
10 |
-7 |
-3.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1929 |
50.9 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
-7 |
-3 |
-7 |
-15 |
1930 |
45.3 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
-7 |
-3 |
-7 |
-15 |
1931 |
44.9 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
3.5 |
10 |
-7 |
-2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1932 |
46.1 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
-7 |
-2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1933 |
41.7 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
-7 |
-2 |
-7 |
-15 |
1934 |
49.3 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
-7 |
-2 |
-7 |
-15 |
1935 |
43.9 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
-7 |
-2 |
-7 |
-15 |
1936 |
51.4 |
5 |
-7 |
5 |
3 |
10 |
-7 |
-2 |
-7 |
-15 |
1937 |
50.5 |
5 |
-7 |
5.5 |
2.5 |
10 |
-7 |
-2 |
-7 |
-15 |
1938 |
50.6 |
5 |
-7 |
5.5 |
2 |
10 |
-7 |
-1.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1939 |
48.6 |
5 |
-7 |
6 |
1.5 |
10 |
-7 |
-1.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1940 |
48.9 |
5 |
-7 |
6 |
1.5 |
10 |
-7 |
-1.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1941 |
48.1 |
5 |
-7 |
6.5 |
1 |
10 |
-7 |
-1.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1942 |
44.4 |
5 |
-7 |
6.5 |
0.5 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1943 |
35.9 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1944 |
40.4 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1945 |
37.8 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1946 |
41.6 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1947 |
48.6 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1948 |
46.1 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1949 |
47.4 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1950 |
52.4 |
5 |
-7 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1951 |
40.9 |
5 |
-7 |
6.5 |
0 |
9.5 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1952 |
48.2 |
5 |
-7 |
6.5 |
0 |
9.5 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1953 |
47.4 |
5.5 |
-7 |
6.5 |
0.5 |
9.5 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1954 |
51 |
6 |
-7.5 |
6 |
0.5 |
9 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1955 |
40.3 |
6.5 |
-7.5 |
5.5 |
0.5 |
9 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1956 |
46.3 |
7 |
-8 |
5.5 |
1 |
9 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1957 |
46.4 |
7.5 |
-8.5 |
5 |
1.5 |
9 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1958 |
47.6 |
8 |
-8.5 |
5 |
2 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1959 |
49.2 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4.5 |
2.5 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1960 |
47 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4.5 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1961 |
50.5 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1962 |
53 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1963 |
46.7 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1964 |
50 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1965 |
50.2 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1966 |
44.9 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1967 |
46.2 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1968 |
40.8 |
8.5 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1969 |
50.4 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1970 |
52.8 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1971 |
44 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-8 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1972 |
40.5 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1973 |
48.6 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1974 |
40.4 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1975 |
47.1 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1976 |
44.3 |
9 |
-9 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1977 |
52.7 |
9 |
-9.5 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1978 |
51.6 |
9 |
-9.5 |
4 |
3 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1979 |
57.3 |
9 |
-9.5 |
4 |
2.5 |
9 |
-7.5 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1980 |
50.7 |
9 |
-9.5 |
4 |
2 |
9 |
-7 |
-1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1981 |
45.8 |
9 |
-9.5 |
4 |
2 |
8.5 |
-7 |
-0.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1982 |
52.1 |
9 |
-9.5 |
4 |
1.5 |
8.5 |
-7 |
-0.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1983 |
54.3 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
4 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
0 |
-7 |
-15 |
1984 |
53.5 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
4 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
0 |
-7 |
-15 |
1985 |
51.6 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
4 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
0 |
-7 |
-15 |
1986 |
59.1 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
4 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
0 |
-7 |
-15 |
1987 |
66.2 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
4 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
0.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1988 |
55.2 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
4 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
0.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1989 |
50.4 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3.5 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
1 |
-7 |
-15 |
1990 |
60.2 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
1.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1991 |
56.1 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
1.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1992 |
57.2 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
2 |
-7 |
-15 |
1993 |
63.7 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1994 |
70.5 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1 |
8.5 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1995 |
64.4 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1.5 |
8.5 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1996 |
68.4 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1.5 |
8.5 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1997 |
71.1 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1.5 |
8.5 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1998 |
67.4 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1.5 |
8 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
1999 |
71.2 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
1.5 |
8 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2000 |
73.7 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
8 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2001 |
68.4 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7.5 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2002 |
64.5 |
8.5 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7.5 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2003 |
66.9 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2004 |
70.7 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2005 |
65.1 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2006 |
76 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2007 |
70.1 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2008 |
67.2 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2009 |
69.2 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2010 |
63 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2011 |
59.4 |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |
2012 |
NULL |
9 |
-9.5 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
-7 |
2.5 |
-7 |
-15 |