Defensive "Deficiency": The Red Sox D Ain't What It Used to Be

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

We don't as fans like to admit that players lose something, especially "fan favorites."  But it happens to everyone.  Although, I expect Lowell to improve on this side of the ball, because as he mentioned, he was gaining strength as the season progressed.  And with that torn labrum, it only makes sense that his lateral movement will improve.

Since two reliable metrics are more valuable than one, let me quickly point out that the Red Sox as a team are 25th in UZR.  So both metrics—UZR and Defensive Efficiency—say pretty much the same thing, and that is that the Red Sox defenders are tracking down far too few balls off of the bat.

But there is a catch.  That dreaded variable that so many often ignore. 

And that is Red Sox pitching.  As Rob Neyer always states, "What happens to balls in play is essentially luck." 

"Essentially." 

But the team has allowed line drives a higher percentage of the time than all but five teams in baseball.  And since line drives fall in roughly 75 percent of the time, then naturally, it will be more difficult for defenders to track down these balls. 

In 2008, the Red Sox were fifth in "Efficiency,"  but also allowed the fourth lowest percent of line drives.  Meaning that defenders didn't have to track down hard hit balls as much as most other defensive units did.

And that does matter. 

With an improvement in pitching will come an improvement in the defensive numbers.  Because like I said, the personnel is there, and hopefully will even get better if Lowrie can return healthy enough.  Because even a slightly less mobile Lowrie might do a better job than our SS by committee that is featured now.

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