The Orioles’ defense has received its fair share of praise in 2013, and rightfully so. Through 126 games the Birds have the highest fielding percentage (.992), fewest errors committed (38), and are seventh with a defensive efficiency rating of .704.
When the season is over there is a chance we could be discussing this year’s team among the greatest in MLB history when it comes to defense. With just 36 ballgames left the Orioles are in good shape to establish a new record for fewest errors over a 162-game season, breaking the old mark of 65 by the 2003 Seattle Mariners. The .989 fielding percentage set by the 2007 Colorado Rockies is also within reach, which would add the 2013 Baltimore Orioles to the record book yet again.
We’ve seen Manny Machado dazzle with his glove seemingly countless times this year. J.J. Hardy isn’t as spectacular at shortstop, but often makes routine plays so effortlessly that you’re genuinely surprised when he doesn’t field a ball cleanly. Nick Markakis has a Gold Glove with his name on it and hasn’t done much to tarnish his reputation in the field this year while Adam Jones patrols center field from gap-to-gap as well as anyone.
Aside from the two areas mentioned above, the Orioles have ascended to the top of the list in another area defensively in 2013, as ESPN’s Baseball Tonight pointed out Wednesday.
At various points this year with left-handed hitters at the plate Manny Machado has vacated his normal position at third baseball and set up shop in shallow right field as part of an exaggerated defensive shift. In the below photo taken this past past Monday by Dan Glickman of the The Baseball Continuum blog we can see how the infield initially set up against Wil Myers of the Tampa Bay Rays.
With the amount of data on batter trends more readily available, teams like the Orioles, Pirates, Red Sox, Brewers, and Rays have been putting it to use in the form of on-the-field adjustments.
Based on the distribution of ground balls by the Rays’ rookie outfielder it’s understandable why a team would employ a shift against him and Myers stayed true to his tendency against the Orioles this week. Over the three games he grounded out to shortstop twice and third base twice. Myers also reached on an infield single to shortstop.
The Orioles pitching staff doesn’t strike out many hitters – their 851 is 27th in the majors – so playing percentages on defense certainly makes sense for a team that has balls put in play as often as they do.
And while six runs saved may not seem like a lot at this point in the season, for a team in the midst of a push towards the playoffs any base runner prevented from crossing home plate is crucial. So don’t expect Buck Showalter, Bobby Dickerson, and Wayne Kirby to stop changing defensive alignments any time soon.
