May 2, 20169 yr As we all know sample size is everything when it comes to assessing defense stats, but just for fun I will mention that Eaton is on pace to shatter the single season dWAR record as calculated by Baseball Reference. Andrelton Simmons holds the current at 5.4 and Eaton is currently on pace for 8.1. I'm not expecting it to hold up but it's fun to think about. He is also on pace for 43 defensive runs above average using Fangraphs method. That is an absurd number.
May 2, 20169 yr The thing that jumps out to me is that his reads seem SO much better in RF this year. Basically by the time the camera is on him, he is already moving towards the ball. I can't think of a single time this year when I saw Eaton break the wrong way on a ball.
May 2, 20169 yr Eaton is now very similar to Heyward. The one difference is at most, the Sox will owe him $41,150,000 the next 6 seasons, although they have a couple of cheap buyout years if he gets hurt or falls apart. The Cubs owe Heyward $140,000,000 over the same period.
May 2, 20169 yr QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 2, 2016 -> 10:18 AM) The thing that jumps out to me is that his reads seem SO much better in RF this year. Basically by the time the camera is on him, he is already moving towards the ball. I can't think of a single time this year when I saw Eaton break the wrong way on a ball. Yep. I've noticed the same thing. There has been numerous balls hit to right that I thought "well that's a hit" until the camera switches and you see Eaton is right there to catch it. I've especially noticed it on balls that are hit right down the line that would be doubles with a lot of guys out there but Eaton catches them or at least cuts them off to prevent the double quite often.
May 2, 20169 yr QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 2, 2016 -> 10:18 AM) The thing that jumps out to me is that his reads seem SO much better in RF this year. Basically by the time the camera is on him, he is already moving towards the ball. I can't think of a single time this year when I saw Eaton break the wrong way on a ball. He initially froze but eventually recovered on a Weiters line drive Saturday night. He's froze on a few this year but still managed to catch them.
May 2, 20169 yr QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 2, 2016 -> 10:20 AM) Eaton is now very similar to Heyward. The one difference is at most, the Sox will owe him $41,150,000 the next 6 seasons, although they have a couple of cheap buyout years if he gets hurt or falls apart. The Cubs owe Heyward $140,000,000 over the same period. It's unbelievable how much surplus value there is between the Sale, Quintana and Eaton deals right now. 14.6 combined fWAR for a measly $10.25 million last year. On pace for 23 fWAR this year for just $17.3 million or roughly the same as the Cubs are paying John Lackey alone. Edited May 2, 20169 yr by lasttriptotulsa
May 2, 20169 yr QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ May 2, 2016 -> 10:27 AM) It's unbelievable how much surplus value there is between the Sale, Quintana and Eaton deals right now. 14.6 combined fWAR for a measly $10.25 million. On pace for 23 fWAR this year for just $17.3 million or roughly the same as the Cubs are paying John Lackey alone. They have definitely locked up the correct players.
May 2, 20169 yr Remember when we were all worried about his arm? Amazing turnaround since that first week.
May 2, 20169 yr QUOTE (OmarComing25 @ May 2, 2016 -> 04:25 PM) Remember when we were all worried about his arm? Amazing turnaround since that first week. For me, I wasn't necessarily worried, I was more curious because IIRC he had surgery. I figured it'd take time for him to get his arm going. Early on he was spiking throws. Now he's as advertised. His arm fits RF very well.
May 3, 20169 yr I honestly thought his arm looked like s*** a week or so in. He hadn't made many throws but most that he did were straight into the ground. They're looking pretty good now, though
May 4, 20169 yr The catch Eaton made to end the 3rd inning fits right in this narrative. He knew it was over his head from the moment he left the bad. If he hesitates at all, that ball is probably a triple.
May 7, 20169 yr http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-watch-...n-save-12-runs/ Cool article with a bunch of gifs of all of Eaton's run-saving plays this season.
May 7, 20169 yr Just looked at Fangraphs, Eaton now has a Defensive Runs Saved of 5. WTF? There has to be some sort of issue, right? Edited May 7, 20169 yr by maggsmaggs
May 7, 20169 yr Eaton making his contract look like a steal. Rick Hahn looks like a genius when his players perform.
May 7, 20169 yr QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ May 7, 2016 -> 08:05 AM) Just looked at Fangraphs, Eaton now has a Defensive Runs Saved of 5. WTF? There has to be some sort of issue, right? His defensive bWAR dropped from 1.4 to 0.4 this morning too. If any SABR nerds know what's going on, I'd love to know.
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