Earlier I looked at run scoring for the ALCentral teams. Now I’ll look at the
other side, run prevention, i.e. pitching and defense.
Runs
Allowed/Game:
CHW – 4.07
KCR – 4.38
DET – 4.57
CLE – 4.85
MIN – 5.36
CHW – 4.07
KCR – 4.38
DET – 4.57
CLE – 4.85
MIN – 5.36
Pitching:
ERA:
CHW – 3.89
KCR – 4.16
DET – 4.24
CLE – 4.48
MIN – 5.15
CHW – 3.89
KCR – 4.16
DET – 4.24
CLE – 4.48
MIN – 5.15
FIP:
DET – 3.80
KCR – 3.94
CHW – 4.01
CLE – 4.09
MIN – 4.77
DET – 3.80
KCR – 3.94
CHW – 4.01
CLE – 4.09
MIN – 4.77
xFIP:
DET – 3.72
CHW – 4.01
KCR – 4.22
MIN – 4.36
DET – 3.72
CHW – 4.01
KCR – 4.22
MIN – 4.36
tERA:
DET – 4.29
CWS – 4.37
CLE – 4.55
KCR – 4.55
MIN – 5.24
DET – 4.29
CWS – 4.37
CLE – 4.55
KCR – 4.55
MIN – 5.24
SIERA:
DET – 3.44
CHW – 3.64
KCR – 4.03
MIN – 4.15
CLE – 4.24
DET – 3.44
CHW – 3.64
KCR – 4.03
MIN – 4.15
CLE – 4.24
The Tigers
have allowed more runs than the White Sox and Royals, however how much of that
is pitching and how much is defense?
FIP, xFIP, tERA and SIERA attempt to remove defense from the equation
and the Tigers are #1 in all 4 of these stats in the AL Central. The Tigers also lead in K/9, 8.49 and in
K/BB, 2.88, not only in the AL Central but in the entire AL. Looking at these stats, it’s a safe
assumption that the Tigers have a pretty good pitching staff as a whole and dare I say the best pitching in the division?
Defense:
DRS:
KCR – 11
CLE – 1
MIN – 0
CWS – (3)
DET – (25)
KCR – 11
CLE – 1
MIN – 0
CWS – (3)
DET – (25)
UZR:
MIN – 7.9
CWS – 1.1
KCR – (2)
CLE – (19.5)
DET – (24.2)
MIN – 7.9
CWS – 1.1
KCR – (2)
CLE – (19.5)
DET – (24.2)
The Tigers
have been absolutely horrible on defense and it’s making their pitching look much
worse than it actually is. Brennan
Boesch and Miguel Cabrera are last in their respective positions in UZR. Prince Fielder and Ryan Raburn are near the
bottom. Alex Avila, Jhonny Peralta and
Andy Dirks are only average at best. The
only position player that has been way above average is Austin Jackson.
Putting it
all together, run differential:
CHW: +40
KCR: -8
DET: -14
CLE: -24
MIN: -74
KCR: -8
DET: -14
CLE: -24
MIN: -74
The White Sox
are the team to beat. If the Tigers were even average on defense (adding about 24 or 25 runs to their run differential), they’d
be on the positive side. I personally
believe their offense will improve; they are just too talented not to. It’s their defense that will be the Tigers
downfall. And they are kind of
stuck. They aren't going to move Cabrera
or Fielder away from their positions, which is the main difference between last
year and this year.
Therefore,
the Tigers need to compensate in other areas, mainly their offense. Not only do they have to improve their hitting with the players they have, but they need to add someone at the deadline.