THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

“I’m not sayin’… I’m just sayin‘“: The non-sabermetric sabermetric stance of the Phillies

Crashburn gives it to us:

It’s highly unlikely that the Phillies lucked their way into teams as consistently elite as their defensive squads have been.
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From 2002-07, the Phillies were either first or second in the NL in drawing walks.
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I’ll conclude this with perhaps the most damning bit of evidence that the Phillies are Sabermetrically-inclined: base running.... the Phillies have been not only elite but once again consistently elite. It’s one thing to have a fluke season here and there but the Phillies are incredibly consistent.
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The Phillies’ success rate on the base paths will astound you:

* 2004: 79%
* 2005: 81%
* 2006: 79%
* 2007: 88%
* 2008: 84%
* 2009: 81%

Once again, not just elite, but consistently elite.

Whoah.  Really?  From 2004-2009, the Phillies have stolen 701 bases and been caught 151 times.  Tim Raines for example is 808/146.  Joe Morgan is 689/162.  Kenny Lofton is 622/160.  Willie Wilson is 668/134.  These 4 guys averaged 697 bases and caught 151 times, numbers virtually identical to the Phillies.  Imagine that.  The Phillies as a team, as efficient base stealers are somewhere between Raines, Morgan, Lofton, and Wilson.