Jerusalem: The Test Case for Defensive Revamps?

[cheekimonk]

THE Hammer
16 June 2048
Jerusalem, Israel
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THE TEST CASE FOR DEFENSIVE CHANGES:

It's been a frustrating year for Hammers fans as they watch Beirut run away with the division in hand again and 2 teams fighting over the Wild Card that are 5 games behind. Of course, the most concerned and frustrated Hammer is GM Ben Teague. When he came aboard in midseason 2047 he inherited a team that was destroying teams at the plate (ranked 1st in offense in virtually every measure) but getting it as good as they gave as they ranked last or next to last in every pitching and/or defensive metric. Teague decided to make some tweaks and the team did wind up securing the WC.

In the offseason, Teague spoke freely in interviews that he did not want to see another defensive mess like 2047. He intended to try in the same area as far as offense goes, calculating that he had enough of a lead in those stats the prior season that he could focus on defense and pitching. No one can deny that it's been a complete disaster.

But if you dig into the details you'll find that Teague made just a few changes to the lineup. Hyped as he was about being a force in the league Teague and every Hammers fan expected to compete for a league title. With a nosedive on offense from 2047 (Jerusalem currently ranks last or 4th in most all offensive stats) that's the likely place to start as it is the biggest gap from last year to now. So what changed?

Catcher: Teague retained Baden Dutton (2047: .352 wOBA, +4.2 WAR, 94 RBI) and he is still in the neighborhood of what he brought last year.

1B: First base is a little different in 2048 but only slightly. 1B Dylan Malloch (2047: .344 wOBA, +0.9 WAR, 16 HR, 28 RBI) has been given a heftier load as he gets most starts at 1B while 1B Adam Backhouse (2047: .352/.363/.688, +5.3 WAR, 47 HR, 117) mainly handles DH duties.

Here's where the majority of changes were made.

2B: The FO refused to negotiate an extension for starter Richard Drouin (2047: .308/.339/.468, +0.4, 10 HR, 50 RBI) so Teague had to make a move. The change began with signing 2B Carlos Camacho (2047 Bucharest: .187/.295/.367, -0.2, 7 HR, 24 RBI), but his offensive stats were not reflecting his ratings in the first month or so of 2048 so Teague went and signed 2B Ab Elders (2047 BBA: .240/.327/.333, +0.2 WAR, 1 HR, RBI 7) to at least boost the defense. He's done so with a +0.5 ZR and 1.539 EFF, and while his offensive skills are limited there really isn't too much lost looking at Camacho stats.

SS: In 2047, Jerusalem used SS Issac Emmott (2047: .272/.321/.385, +0.4 WAR, 10 HR, 50 RBI) was permanently as the primary at SS. Ok, but his final fielding stats were 1128.1 INN, -9.6 ZR, 4.42 RNG. Not so hot even just a little. Teague wanted to retain Emmott for his flexibility in a role as a utility infielder but focused on SS & 2B, but that meant he had to find a replacement starter at SS. He dove into the FA market and grabbed SS O-min Paek (2047 Tripoli: .162/.223/.237, 1 HR, 11 RBI, -1.0 WAR) who sports scout ratings of 9/11/9/11 and can play anywhere on the infield excepting 1B. His meager stat line, which has actually been more robust this season, would be made up for by a defense that, as of 6/16/48 are 481 INN, .988 PCT, +1.1 ZR, and 1.020. In theory, that actually should make a difference and it has for the most part

3B: This just screwed the pooch. 3B Rashardo Menne III (.326/.425/.397, 1 HR, 24 RBI, +1.5 WAR) was allowed to walk due to numerous injuries. Well, he's more than bashing at Baghdad this year, he is destroying baseballs. Does it matter that he logged 1029 INN, .972 PCT, -4.8 ZR, .947 EFF. Maybe...I mean, those are terrible fielding numbers but there is wiggle room on the corners. So, should have kept Menne III (although I still think he's about to crumble physically). But his 2047 backup 3B Felipe Soto who, ironically, just returned from a long IL stint so he'll spend some time getting his marbles sorted.

DH: I mentioned earlier that 1B Adam Backhouse and 1B Dylan Malloch have been swapping duties at 1B and DH. But that was forcing LF Dane Licht (2047: .337/.402/.624, 14 HR, 54 RBI, +2.9 WAR) to pick up a glove at head to the corner OF spots. His offensive numbers are essentially the same, in other words he is raking like he did last year, and his defensive shortcomings, though minimal are being mitigated by keeping him mostly at LF.

LF: I did say mostly at LF. The main man in that corner has been LF José Figueroa (2047: .332/.360/.514, 22 HR, 78 RBI, +3.5 WAR) who is virtually duplicating his numbers at the plate and is solid in LF defense with a 319.2 INN, .944 PCT, +1.3 ZR, 1.011 EFF contribution.

CF: Most important position on defense after catcher. Last year was a platoon with CF Domingo Torres (2047: .210/.263/.228, 0 HR, 14 RBI, -0.4 WAR) backing CF Tyler Pavey (2047: .316/.344/.538, 11 HR, 42 RBI, +1.7 WAR). Pavey quite obviously gets the max amount of playing time and has turned in a fielding slash of 276 INN, .991 PCT, +4.1 ZR, 1.049 EFF. That ZR rating in CF will absolutely get the bills paid.

RF: Licht has almost equaled the innings played in RF with CF Juan López (2047: .333/.362/.475, 3 HR, 8 RBI, +0.5 WAR). The latter is more handy with the leather delivering a .978 EFF and +0.2 ZR

We should pause to point out that there are new faces hanging around when needed, but they bring an extreme to defense or offense. They include LF Garry Mihalsky, SS Juan Castillo, C Vicente Meléndez,
3B Dong-kyoon Park, and 3B Miguel Moya

The Verdict:
Basically a hung jury, but the numbers don't lie...or maybe they do. It's possible that defense in OOTP doesn't factor to the extent of other areas. I certainly overcooked the defense recipe, but I don't know how that has led to a mediocre offense with a pitching staff that is not doing the defense any favors at all. Basically, the team could out-score people last year but this offense just doesn't have the juice.