Just as we’re taking an in-depth look at bullpen with our BURR metric, we will breakdown the catcher’s position as well at Guru Elite. Normally we just worry about the offensive side of the game, but as we move to the next level of analysis we’re looking more and more at the importance defensive side of the game. The report that follows will lay out how each backstop is doing while wearing the tools of ignorance. How is the catcher at blocking balls? Is he able to slow down the running game? Do pitchers perform better or worse when he is behind the dish? Basically, we’re concerning ourselves with all aspects of the main job of catchers – and it’s not the offensive side of the game.
- If backstop has been traded, the numbers are for the current team they play for.
GREEN – means good for the pitcher.
RED – means good for the hitter.
CSAA (From Baseball Prospectus): Calculated on called pitches by an umpire, it speaks to the addition strikes gained for the hurler, i.e., the bigger the number the better the catcher is at framing pitches.
rCERA – Catcher ERA runs above average
rSB – Measures, in runs, how a catcher compares to the average catchers in terms of preventing the stolen base.
rGFP – Good Fielding Plays Runs saved above average.
DRS – Defensive Run Saved rates a player’s ability above and below the league average based in runs.
FRM – Pitch Framing
DEF – Defensive Runs Above Average
A: Assists
PO: Put Outs
E: Errors
PB: Passed Balls
DWAR: Defensive Wins Above Replacement
CERA: Catcher’s ERA, or CERA, is a very simple concept. CERA records the ERA of a club’s pitchers with a particular catcher behind the plate. To figure this metric simply multiply the earned runs allowed by pitchers while that specific catcher was behind the plate, multiply that number by nine, and then divide that number by the innings caught (ER while catcher was behind the plate*9) / IP). CERA tells you what a staff’s ERA is when a catcher is behind the plate, more indicative of a catcher’s game calling skills than looking at a team’s overall ERA.
Range Factor (RF): (Putouts + Assists) / 9 innings
SBA/9INN: The number of successful steals versus the catcher per nine innings.
*FOR MORE ON BULLPEN SEE OUR NEWLY DEBUTED METRIC – BURR – WHICH TAKES A WHOLE NEW LOOK AT BULLPENS AND HOW TO RATE THEM.
You can hear Ray, Monday through Friday, on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). Ray is on The Fantasy Drive 8-10 PM EST Monday-Friday, and he’s also on the Guru Elite Show Thursday from 2-4 PM EST. You can follow Ray on Twitter at @baseballguys.
