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Even when they are good, they are not, really. And so it goes…
It is only six games, but Baseball Reference has Walker at a 0.0 Defensive Wins Above Replacement. That compares to -2.1 last year.
Fangraphs has his defense at +0.1 versus -21.9 in 2023.
But predetermined notions are set…
Brian, I agree with you that Walker is showing improvement defensively, but I would just note as a technical matter that dWAR and some of the advanced defensive metrics like DRS, UZR, and OAA are cumulative measures, so they aren’t very useful metrics early in the year (unless someone is a huge outlier, good or bad).
But FWIW (not much), so far this year Walker has a -1 DRS and 0 OAA.
Predertimined notions of Walkers D should be based on the larger sample of last season.
This seasons numbers are extremely limited, and with no attempts with less than at least a 50% catch probability.
Walkers attempts overall this season have an expected catch rate of 94% (statcast).
I still ask how Walker is supposed to get better, defensively, in the outfield if he shouldn’t play out there? This question is asked with the premise that he will not be sent down to Memphis for any reason other than he is not hitting/struggling in the majors.
Re: The Catch 🙂
I don’t think Burly gets there.
Donovan has to dive also, but doesn’t have the reach.
Noot runs through the catch.
Siani has time to scale back his run and quite his eyes, just short of pulling up.
All the CF’rs have that smirk on their face.
The mention by BW of Carpenter being called upon to man up at 2B while Wong was demoted to Memphis back in ’16 brought back a humorous memory. The slumping Wong was sent packing just a few days prior to a promotional giveaway night at the ballpark which was entitled, “Kolten Wong Cardinal Hawaiian Jersey Night.” Realizing the ill timed demotion, they had to scramble to fetch Kolten from Memphis and see to it that he was back in StL. for the big Hawaiian jersey giveaway game…Haha!
forsch asked:
I still ask how Walker is supposed to get better, defensively, in the outfield if he shouldn’t play out there?
You are not the first to ask what seems a very logical question. I’ve also asked who should play RF instead. There haven’t yet been answers provided that I have seen. I suspect that some have already decided that Walker’s defense cannot get better enough soon enough for their tastes. But that is me speaking for them.
Hoping we can progress this conversation a bit further, as we’ve gotten this far multiple times. The subject then goes away for a few days before we rinse and repeat. Perhaps it will remain that way until there is a large enough sample size of data to draw more than eye test conclusions.
I’ve also asked who should play RF instead
As of now I think the answer would be Noot and Carlson at the corners. With some combination of Scott, Burleson, Siani, Edman and Donovan filling CF and backing that.
Bling, you have a very different definition of the word “now” than I do. How about we agree to table the Walker discussion until whenever Carlson is actually able to come back? (P.S. There is no date for that.)
Brian if the idea is to table the discussion until there are no injuries, then never would probably be a good time. I was talking based upon the present active roster.
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