According to Baseball Reference, David Wright leads the National League in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with 6.1. Only Mike Trout (9.1) has more in all of major league baseball.
That (among other stats – I’m not a big proponent of WAR as the ultimate measure of a player) shows you what kind of year Wright is having. It also shows you what beast Mike Trout has been this year.
ESPN’s Mark Simon points out that a big reason for Wright’s WAR is his defense. He has saved 14 runs from fielding, second only to Brett Lawrie. That’s the most he’s had in a season in his career. In fact, in all but 3 full seasons, that metric has been a negative number (he’s cost the team runs) for Wright. When you drill down even further, it’s apparent that this has been the best defensive season of Wright’s career.
He’s committed 10 errors, the fewest of his career (He had 11 Es in his rookie season of 2004, when he only played 603.2 innings in the field). His fielding percentage, flawed as the statistic is, sits at a career best .968. That’s as a third baseman – he had a grand total of 2 chances at shortstop this year. His range factor per 9 innings (2.44) is above league average. And his 1.8 dWAR is the most of his career.
Anecdotally, he’s looked much better in the field as well. His throwing motion is more mechanically correct, and he’s been more consistent in general.
Anyway, just click here, and you can see for yourself. Could more goooold be in David’s future?
6 comments
Stickguy
8/29/2012-5:58pm at 5:58 pm (UTC -4)
not playing with a broken back has to be helping!
fixing his throwing motion (no idea why he ever started with that sidearm flip stuff) certainly can’t be hurting either.
Connor O'Brien
8/29/2012-6:01pm at 6:01 pm (UTC -4)
If you go by Fangraph’s WAR (fWAR) David is third in baseball. Still impressive. I do agree that he has improved a whole lot on the field this year. Fewer ridiculous throws.
(Also it’s Mark Simon, not Eric Simon. Eric is the writer at Amazin’ Avenue)
gategem
8/30/2012-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
But more importantly do you know who Paul and Neil Simon are?
SaltyGary
8/29/2012-6:28pm at 6:28 pm (UTC -4)
Yea I noticed this the other day to. Imagine if he was having this season back when he had a good Beltran and Delgado around him, it would probably be higher.
srt
8/29/2012-10:25pm at 10:25 pm (UTC -4)
I knew by the eye test his defense has been so much better this season. I didn’t realize it was actually this good.
Gold Glove should be his for 3rd base for 2012.
drklynoon
8/31/2012-8:00am at 8:00 am (UTC -4)
Wright is a damn fine player and I am proud of his turn around. Its a littel funny that I am proud, as if I had something to do with it, but in a way alot of fans do feel a connection with Wright. He opitimizes The Mets in a way. No matter how hard he tries or ho well he does there seems to be an uncontrolable force that ensures mediocrity. I feel bad for thse fans who want to trade him. They seem to be self depricating in a way that I have never understod. I have been a fan of The Mets since I was 5 years old, which corrosponds to the 84 season BTW. Wright is the best posistion player the Mets have ever produced and still some fans want to trade him for mere possibilities. I hope that he resignes and stays with us through the long haul for many reasons mainly Wright never quits. He had an impressive slide in performance after the switch to Citi and yet he hung in there. He changed his game and after an adjustment period he is again better than before. His defense has improved as this article explaines and his offense has become more consistant. If The Mets are to become a winning team in the next five years Wright needs to be a part of that, and he deserves it. This is quickly becoming the type of team that I started routing for as a child, It is pitcher heavy and offensively in flux; however, we have more consistant home grown talent then any time since the 80′s. If only we could fill the gaps and holes we would all be as proud of the team as I am of Wright himself.