With the lowest total of errors at the 3B position and the highest fielding percentage in the AL at the position, Joe Crede has obviously been effective at third base for the Twins in 2009. There's a new metric that's taken more seriously, though, and this is called the UZR.
Crede is a very valuable Minnesota Twin offensively. Relative to where he hits in the order, his numbers are solid to the point where any team would be happy to have such numbers later in the lineup. His fielding has been better though.
The UZR/150 is the average number of runs saved over the course of 150 defensive games. As can be seen, Crede sits between 25-30 runs saved per 150 defensive games. The next highest run saver,Adrian Beltre, is between 15-20 runs saved per 150 games. Thus, Crede saves about 10 runs more per 150 games than Beltre, one of the premier defensive 3B in baseball.
This raises the question: Are we, as bloggers, taking Crede's defense for granted? Do we realize just how valuable Joe Crede is to this team?
Crede gets very little respect for what he does. He's a solid hitter and people recognize this, but virtually no one ever discusses his efficient play as a third baseman. He's simply been phenomenal this year.
Crede should be the hands down favorite for the Gold Glove, and I'm going to predict that he won't win it. It's the nature of the beast when it comes to these things.
Unfortunately, the Twins get little respect when it comes down to voting. Look at snubs like Luis Castillo, Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer, all of whom deserved Gold Gloves and never got them.
The voters for the award are far from objective, and this unfortunately shows. With a small market team like Minnesota, it's hard to get the "pull" that the bigger cities have.
Crede is a very valuable Minnesota Twin offensively. Relative to where he hits in the order, his numbers are solid to the point where any team would be happy to have such numbers later in the lineup. His fielding has been better though.
The UZR/150 is the average number of runs saved over the course of 150 defensive games. As can be seen, Crede sits between 25-30 runs saved per 150 defensive games. The next highest run saver,Adrian Beltre, is between 15-20 runs saved per 150 games. Thus, Crede saves about 10 runs more per 150 games than Beltre, one of the premier defensive 3B in baseball.
This raises the question: Are we, as bloggers, taking Crede's defense for granted? Do we realize just how valuable Joe Crede is to this team?
Crede gets very little respect for what he does. He's a solid hitter and people recognize this, but virtually no one ever discusses his efficient play as a third baseman. He's simply been phenomenal this year.
Crede should be the hands down favorite for the Gold Glove, and I'm going to predict that he won't win it. It's the nature of the beast when it comes to these things.
Unfortunately, the Twins get little respect when it comes down to voting. Look at snubs like Luis Castillo, Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer, all of whom deserved Gold Gloves and never got them.
The voters for the award are far from objective, and this unfortunately shows. With a small market team like Minnesota, it's hard to get the "pull" that the bigger cities have.
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