Coming into Monday’s contest, the St. Louis Cardinals were last in Major League Baseball with 20 errors in their 19 games played. Their fielding percentage was “only” 29th in MLB as their upcoming weekend opponent, the Washington Nationals, had an even lower mark (.971 to .973).
This situation is causing uneasiness in some quarters, while others, including the club’s manager, offer explanations which label the current results as an outlier – an aberration that will apparently soon pass.
Let’s hope so, because if not, it does not bode well for the Cardinals’ 2009 post-season hopes.
Committing an error per game as are the Cardinals is a pace faster than any major league club over a full season since at least 1995. However, the rate is far from unprecedented.
The expansion 1962 and 1963 New York Mets both committed a modern major league record 210 errors, the most since baseball moved to a 162-game schedule. In recent years, the Mets of 1996 were only three errors under making one per game for the season and the 1999 Montreal Expos were just two short.
If carried over the entire season, the Cardinals current fielding percentage of .973 would also be MLB’s worst in at least the last 15 years and probably longer.
The following table shows the MLB team leader in errors in each season along with that club’s fielding percentage. I covered the Tony La Russa era in St. Louis plus one more year.
Only twice in those 14 years did the club with the most errors also not have the worst fielding percentage, but even in those cases, the team finished 29th, or second to last in fielding.
Committing the most errors in MLB generally means that club will be sitting at home in October. Yet, it can be overcome.
The 1995 Los Angeles Dodgers is the most recent team to pull off the rare feat of leading the game in miscues while still making the playoffs. In fact, Tommy Lasorda’s last full-season Dodgers team won their division, albeit in a 144-game strike-shortened year.
Not that I expect the Cardinals will continue in this manner, but even if so, there still would be a glimmer of hope.
| Most errors | # Errs | G | E/G | Flding % | FPct rank | Playoffs | |
| 2009 | St. Louis | 20 | 19 | 1.05 | 0.973 | 29 | |
| 2008 | Texas | 132 | 162 | 0.81 | 0.978 | 30 | no |
| 2007 | Florida | 137 | 162 | 0.85 | 0.977 | 30 | no |
| 2006 | Washington | 131 | 162 | 0.81 | 0.978 | 30 | no |
| 2005 | Kansas City | 125 | 162 | 0.77 | 0.979 | 30 | no |
| 2004 | Detroit | 144 | 162 | 0.89 | 0.977 | 30 | no |
| 2003 | Cincinnati | 141 | 162 | 0.87 | 0.977 | 30 | no |
| 2002 | NY Mets | 147 | 161 | 0.91 | 0.976 | 30 | no |
| 2001 | San Diego | 145 | 162 | 0.90 | 0.976 | 30 | no |
| 2000 | Anaheim | 134 | 162 | 0.83 | 0.978 | 29 | no |
| 1999 | Montreal | 160 | 162 | 0.99 | 0.974 | 30 | no |
| 1998 | Montreal | 155 | 162 | 0.96 | 0.975 | 30 | no |
| 1997 | Boston | 135 | 162 | 0.83 | 0.978 | 29 | no |
| 1996 | NY Mets | 159 | 162 | 0.98 | 0.974 | 30 | no |
| 1995 | LA Dodgers | 130 | 144 | 0.90 | 0.976 | 30 | yes |
Next, I looked at the error counts and fielding percentages of La Russa’s Cardinals teams plus one year. His third St. Louis club, the 1998 edition, committed 142 errors and posted a .978 fielding percentage – both La Russa team worsts.
Interestingly, his best defensive club, at least using these metrics, was the 2003 team. Yet betrayed by their pitching, that 85-win club missed out on the post-season. So just being solid defensively is not enough.
After a run of a half dozen years of ranking in the top half of MLB in both stats, the 2007 Cardinals were among the poorest defensive clubs in the league. David Eckstein (20 miscues), Aaron Miles (14), Brendan Ryan (10) and Scott Rolen (10) led the team.
After considerable roster turnover, including the departure of Eckstein along with long-term Gold Glovers Rolen and Jim Edmonds, the 2008 Cardinals bounced back defensively. That group again ranked in the top quarter of MLB teams, but they still missed the post-season for the second consecutive year.
| StL errors | Error rank | StL FPct | FPct rank | Playoffs | |
| 2008 | 85 | T5 | 0.986 | 7 | no |
| 2007 | 121 | 28 | 0.980 | 28 | no |
| 2006 | 98 | T10 | 0.984 | 12 | yes |
| 2005 | 100 | 13 | 0.984 | 13 | yes |
| 2004 | 97 | 9 | 0.985 | 7 | yes |
| 2003 | 77 | 2 | 0.987 | 4 | no |
| 2002 | 103 | T13 | 0.983 | 15 | yes |
| 2001 | 110 | T16 | 0.982 | 11 | yes |
| 2000 | 111 | 15 | 0.981 | 17 | yes |
| 1999 | 132 | 24 | 0.978 | 26 | no |
| 1998 | 142 | 29 | 0.978 | 25 | no |
| 1997 | 123 | 22 | 0.980 | 19 | no |
| 1996 | 125 | 17 | 0.980 | 19 | yes |
| 1995 | 113 | 23 | 0.980 | 23 | no |
Time will tell as whether or not errors continue to be a topic of discussion for Cardinals fans this season, but do note that the team has not made the playoffs under La Russa when finishing in the bottom third of MLB in errors and fielding percentage.
It’s now 20 in 20 games and I agree with TLR, it’s somewhat of an outlier. Nine of the 20 have been committed by Pujols and Greene, two gus that don’t figure to continue at their current rate.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cards are in the top ten teams over the next twenty games in fielding percentage.
Pujols saved what could have been a couple of throwing errors on short hoppers by Thurston Monday night.
It would also stand to reason that those not playing in their natural positions should become more comfortable over time, but it is not assured. The FOX broadcasters on Saturday’s regional telecast took some message board heat for (correctly, IMHO) pointing out that the Cardinals strong offensive start has taken away the sting of most of the errors, but that cannot be expected to continue. In other words, if they don’t cut down on the miscues, it will start costing them games.
As we saw in spring training with the Wellemeyer comments critical of Schumaker’s difficulties in converting to second base, the pitching staff are the first to know if they are getting support or not. One of La Russa’s thankless jobs is to try to keep everyone happy and the team together. With the organization’s groundball philosophy, this Cardinals team especially needs solid defense.
I have never seen this data, but I would find it interesting to learn if the historical rate of errors increase, decrease or remain the same over the long season. A positive would be players become more familiar with their surroundings and each other, but nagging injuries and fatigue could also be a factor tugging in the other direction.
Edit: I did find some positive info in a quick search, a SABR review of a more detailed study of Retrosheet data.
The overall subject of the work is the general decrease in errors over time: a linear decline of one-fourth from 1969 until 2006, when the referenced study was published. Though probably not relevant here, it also notes a home team bias on errors of 54%, likely due to home scorers protecting pitchers’ ERAs by calling questionable plays errors instead of hits.
We’ve seen incidents like that in St. Louis in the past. If a coach has a stat-related bonus, he also has a personal reason to care. In my opinion, scorers should be insulated from external pressure, but not without governance of course. Bad scorers should be replaced, just as bad umpires should. But I digress…
guess it’s time for schumaker to go public about wellemeyers ineffective pitching
bip, if I had a Post of the Week, that would be a very strong contender!
LaRussa thinks were all idiots. This is the same guy who in the past has said our team defense was good when it obviously wasn’t. The same guy who says Duncan is above average defensively. And he wonder why he gets no respect in STL.
I am a defensive minded fan. I don’t like the errors. And I certainly don’t want to minimize errors. But (as DD17 pointed out) 45% of the team errors are by two of the better defensive players on the team. Going into the season, Schumaker was the biggest defensive concern. Skip has 2 errors (10% of the team total) 1 error at 2B and 1 error at LF, after he moved as a defensive replacement. IIRC, that was in a game the Cardinals were up by quite a bit, and I wonder if he lost a little focus changing to a more comfortable position. (I wonder how many of the errors have been with the game already well in hand.) I also think that replacements for Skip at 2B have occasionally miss played the ball or made an errant throw. I wonder if it is not time to just keep Skip at 2B and only use him in the OF in emergency situations.
TLR has a flexible, holistic mind. He can bat a pitcher 8th, when apt for the lineup. He can go with a designated closer or have an undesignated closer. He can value defense, but agree to Duncan in OF or Skip at 2B.
Much about baseball is holistic. Players should be viewed within their overall “history.” There is not just one formulaic “rule”, rather many factors to balance.
CC, I think if TLR gets no respect from somebody, it’s more of a reflection on that person than on TLR. His track record speaks for itself.
I’ve seen Pujols and Greene play enough baseball over the years to believe they will cut their error rates significantly over the rest of the season while guys like Rasmus and Schumaker will get more comfortable playing in unfamiliar positions. The guys at third have shown good reactions and, yes, Thurston’s throws to first can be adventurous but Pujols can dig ‘em out with the best.
The team may end up among the leaders in errors but the makeup of the pitching staff plays a major part in that. We’re second only to Toronto in total chances and the Blue Jays have played 21 games vs. the Cards 20. The Cards have handled significantly more chances than any of the other teams that have played 20 games.
That is why I also included fielding percentage. In that case, the Cards are only second to worst in MLB at this point.
I am with you on the second point, but the first may have been true depending on the year or the time of the year in which he said it. Using these metrics, the 2008 Cards were very good, but not so in 2007. Of course there are more advanced fielding metrics than errors and fielding percentage, but my guess is that TLR is not up on them, nor am I for that matter.
What does it reflect about me Diz? …that I am a smart, intelligent, independent thinker?
I have no argument with TLR’s results but his apparent condescending attitude, disingenuousness, and petty attitudes leave me with little respect for him personally.
I don’t even know what to say Jumbo. Here have another hit brother. (:
I think, as this thread applies to Albert, that we are all watching the difficult and complex formation of an ego that matches a legendary talent. As he has gotten the support we all had hoped for, he has had to deal with those pressures, possibly in a new way. The simplicity of his normal spiritual repose is being squeezed by the needs of a new self image, thanks to the press, his agent, and BD.
I could not begin to guess where this one will end, but the “man for sale” doesn’t easily equate within the standard Christian behavioral models. Lets hope he doesn’t start his 40 days in the desert until November.
Also Chris’s experience with mortality and an unpadded wall will be less traumatic in the future. That game alone was worth 3 errors.
Since you asked, CC, I think it reflects that you have a pre-conceived idea of TLR, that you don’t like the guy, and you find it easy to disagree with anything he does. Thank God you don’t carry on like a couple of the regulars at the Birdhouse about him. I do appreciate your use of the word “apparent” in your description of him.
I’ve never met TLR and I’m leery of descriptions of him and his attitudes by the press, a group with which he regularly clashes. I have no trust of or respect for people like Bernie M. or Joe Strauss and I suspect TLR shares that opinion. I know I would get very tired of having to answer the same questions over and over and over, especially when they are prying into issues that perhaps shouldn’t be public knowledge, for whatever reason.
Do we really know those “petty attitudes” are his or simply what the reporter has judged them to be? For all I know, TLR may be a thoughtful, generous, caring person that simply doesn’t care for the spotlight the press shines on him.
But, then again, you may be right. Perhaps he does consider all of us to be idiots. I doubt it, though.
WC, you’ve lost me once again. What in the world are you referring to with comment number 11?
By the way, CC, here’s a quote by TLR from Scout’s notebook. I don’t see anything condescending, disingenuous or petty in his remarks.
“I know (the defense) is a legitimate subject because of the errors,” said manager Tony La Rsusa, “but day in and day out we make more plays than we’re missing.”
http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/860915.html
To Dizzy and CC,
Tony is a man, he has an ego. He is a deeply emotional person. It was no wonder that he was tippling a bit in recent times. He does his job the best he can. There have been endless dialogs here in past months about the composition of this team, and the causes there of. Considering the personnel, and the success he is having, no one knows better than Tony how fragile this illusion of “teams” is.
The press, and fans, often forget that he got little or nothing he asked for pre-season. And yet the season is on. He is working with player, many who are playing above there comfort level, and getting them to the finish line. If you put most ML coaches in this same situation, we are in last place. Think about it, Franklin 6/0 as a closer, a first place team after losing the Ace, keeping rookies like Thurston, Barden and Ryan from burning up in the ratified atmosphere. There just possibly is no explanation he could give an interviewer that asked a question without taking this all into account. He is friends with Albert. They talk. Who knows how much energy that takes. I dislike the platooning, but in this case, with the personnel he has, my mouth is shut.
Before it even happens, and it will, what types of adjustments do you think BD will be willing to make when he returns to the spot light. Has he achieved his goal of creating the expectation that all help can come out of the Cardinal system?
Dizzy, don’t worry about everything that I say here. The frame work for understanding is always an elective that we make depending on our needs. When you choose to see, you will.
WC, I don’t “worry” about what you “say” here. I “wonder” about what you “say” here. I don’t like to have to guess what a person is trying to write.
Also, I understand your football and track background and that you’ve only been seriously following baseball for ten years or so, but, doggone it, TLR is not a coach. Oquendo is a coach, Duncan is a coach. La Russa is a manager. Your “all-seeing” arguments would be (only) a little less unbelievable if you at least used correct baseball terminology.
Ryan is not a rookie and Thurston has probably spent enough time in the majors to technically not be one either.
As for DeWitt returning to the spotlight, whatever that means, what sort of adjustments do you think he will make. You’re the guy painting this scenario, what’s in your color palette?
Finally, I don’t think the organization has ever said all help can come from the organization. A strong organization can obviously help in having talent available to deal for needed help from outside. The perception that we had several young right-handed relief type pitchers allowed the team to deal two of them for a shortstop upgrade in K. Greene.
When a manager takes time to teach, he is a coach.
When a players squats to piss, he is a rookie.
Lets wait and see on BD. I say, “it can’t be this easy to get everything you want.”
Two minor leaguers wasn’t his first offer, but I think that was a good use of resources in the Greene trade.
Do you play any games?
Do I play any games? Are you referring to playing sports or toying with rookies on blogs?
Have you any expertise. You seem very competitive. I hate it when Ryan, Barden and Ludwick look so bad against a poor pitcher.
I think that we should stand up to the facts and move Greene back to the outfield. Oh, wait a minute…
Lohse is through 5 giving up a 0. He is starting to hop around after the release, bad sign. 6th will get dangerous if we don’t support that 1 run.
WC, I am old enough to apply for Social Security. I played competitive sports for years; basketball in high school, college and city leagues, baseball in high school and softball in city leagues. You are right about my competiveness.
I have been a huge fan of baseball since I was nine years old and have watched and listened to thousands of games. You are not the first person to enjoy watching patterns of pitchers and guessing what is coming next.
Once again, though, your football mentality is rearing its ugly head with your comments about Ryan, Barden and Ludwick. The baseball season is way too long to worry so much about 10-12 plate appearances. Jo-Jo Reyes was 13-2 in the minors over the last two years. he is a 24 year old left-hander who is developing as a pitcher. Give him time.
I was a 4 yr Varsity letterman in high school in baseball. Played on two state champion softball teams. I play a bit. I never deal is stats. When I say they stink, it today. Duncan looking at three strikes without swinging the bat. It sucks. I would like to see Lohse get this win.
Tony will need to match up lefties. I hope they hold.
14 pitchers……………………..
McClellan matches up better against lefties than he does against righties, as I mentioned last night.
They have 13 pitchers.
Now he walks out………………. thats sucks.
Bases loaded in two straight games in the 8th.
“Now he walks out………………. thats sucks.”
?
I wish Diaz had walked instead of swinging at ball four. At least we would’ve been tied instead of behind.
2 logy’s Boyer PJ Perez…………….Yikes
Great. Luddy opened up his stance 3 or 4 inches tonight. Perfect for a left closer. Tony’s apprehension at using Reyes earlier, for what ever reasons, puts undo pressure on K-Mac. If he doesn’t have guys to go to. Get some.
“I was a 4 yr Varsity letterman in high school in baseball. Played on two state champion softball teams”
Whatever you wanna claim, pal. You haven’t exactly established any bona fides around here, what with all your “insider” remarks.
By the way, it’s LOOGY, not logy. It stands for Lefty One Out GuY.
I hope I never have to watch Mike Gonzalez pitch again. he looks like a drunk weaving around looking for a fight.
All three of my brothers did it. It was A division slow pitch. Right around the time Howard’s Furniture was cranking up an open division. Albert got beat. I can’t believe he thought the guy might challenge him with a fastball.
Regardless of what we have in the Pen, Tony’s interpretation of its talents and usage should raise some eye brows. I like that Lohse is good enough and smart enough to walk Chipper 3 times. That is good baseball.
I have a marvelous trophy collection in a box somewhere.
Diz,
For the record, Thurston is indeed not a rookie. He has 154 days of major-league service time coming into this season, according to COTS.
As for WC – the way he “writes” leads me to believe he’s either drunk, stoned, or delusional. Maybe all three. I didn’t know they let the inmates at Camarillo have internet access.
Once I get out of here JMO, I’ll play catch with you, really appraise your game maybe.
Until you play for money your a rookie. I like Thurston. Barden got a look today, he was so busy posing he couldn’t contribute. Ryan’s energy is good, but he gets a bit lathered up to be an everyday player. Greene got beat middle 3 times tonight. Dave D usually sets them though, what can you say. At some point with all the youth in the Pen, you can’t carry Miller if there isn’t a place you would use him. KMac was the only one left. Tony plays to win. His hunch on the pen doesn’t say much for the Pen.
A reminder that personal attacks are out of bounds here. The posting guidelines are linked to at the bottom of the page.
Thanks Brian.
WC, KMac got the lefties that he wasn’t pitching around. The right handed hitter, Diaz, dribbled one through the middle for the game winner. Unless you want Franklin going ro a four out save, who else are you going to use there? Perez with the bases loaded? I don’t think so.
It wasn’t the pitching that cost us the game tonight. Miller wasn’t needed tonight. Relief pitchers should be able to go two nights in a row once in a while. KMac seemed to have earned the eighth inning setup job. We’ll see who the call the next time that situation arises. Motte, maybe?
I watched the game Dizzy. KMac just got by the same hitters last night. Two nights in a row with his youth level in a no no. I contend that KMac will show some damage from this. His is young in this respect. People win and lose all the time. Bases load two nights in a row damages a kid with confidence problems. You know he gave it up with the ball behind the head. A miracle catch by Yadi. This problem isn’t over. Watch the same issues come up tomorrow. Boyer and Miller? The young guns? I was glad to see the breaking pitch for the strike out from Motte. We needed Kinny to show more. I drop Miller and bring up an arm. As I watch the other teams. MANAGERS are using their whole pen in match ups. Tony used to do that. If he thinks he can’t, that tells me we have problems.
I watched the game tonight and the one last night. Again, he got beat on a dribbler up the middle. It happens, it’s baseball. The pitch Diaz hit was low and away, ball four if he takes it. The game is tied and, who knows, the two teams could still be playing.
I’ve watched enough baseball to trust TLR’s judgment in bullpen usage. I’m glad I’ve been able to help you understand some baseball terminology. Stick with me, kid. You have much to learn and I can teach you a lot.
Thanks Dad. Torrey has Broxten in with one out in the 8th. Nothing wrong with Reyes to Franklin in the 8th for that part of the order….. with Peres in the ninth. Tony gave something away. Lets see what he does tomorrow.
Who are Torrey, Broxten and Peres? Is this a South American Nazi novel?
You weren’t watching the Giants/Dodgers. ……………………. OH, my spelling. Really Dizzy.
Torre enjoyed the luxury of having perhaps the greatest closer in the history of baseball in his bullpen during his tenure as Yankee manager. Mariano Rivera was used often during sticky situations in the eighth inning and then stayed on for the save.
Maybe Joe has decided that some of the Internet nerds have a good idea in using your best reliever during a key situation. Oh wait, that’s how Gossage and Sutter were used a quarter century ago.
Yeah, I watched the Dodgers and Giants tonight. My flight attendant wife left on a trip so it was just me and Jack Daniels hangin’ out with Vin Scully watching baseball. Broxton came on in the eighth, likely because Kuo has been ineffective so far, but threw 20+ pitches to get out of the inning with just a blown save. He walked in the tying run where our guy was beat by a bleeder up the middle on ball four. But the Dodgers scored in the ninth and made Torre look like a genius while you’re complaining that TLR doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Thanks for letting me tie those games together.
Maybe Jack Daniels could improve WC’s spelling.
There are lots of tactics. There are consequences. Lets see how his solutions evolve with this group of pitchers. He was more interested in preserving the purity of Franklin’s new closer designation than winning the game. I hope he doesn’t flog Wainwright to go 8 tomorrow. I’m not criticizing Tony. He has few reliable arms to use in a one run game. Hi Jumbo. Hope Lohse doesn’t have Swine Flu. I bet Jacks wife Tina could teach me.
WC, I’ll disagree with you one more time here. We lost the game on a bleeder hit up the middle. it could very well have been right back to pitcher or closer to Greene at shortstop. It could also have been called ball four had Diaz not been so fooled by the pitch.
As much as i dislike Don Sutton (being a Dodger) he used to comment that not every hit was off a bad pitch and not every out was off a good pitch.
If you can’t understand that concept you should not be commenting about baseball. TLR was probably comfortable with the matchup he had in the eighth inning Tuesday. It didn’t work out. He’ll have his team out there ready to compete Wednesday night.
Yadi’s dream dialog;
“What is that, round yonder Brave’s head doth break.” “Tis the bean ball my lord, just the bean ball.” “Nay, tis not true! The bases are loaded my love, the count was 2 by 2. It was the curve, yes, it was the curve that has gone a rye.” Woe be it to the master that has sent young Lord Kyle to this doom. We will all know the stiff meat of rejection should not a hero arise. Dennys, young Dennys, where for arte thou young Dennys?
Claim you this space for thy self master Dizzy? The Lord has madeth my IQ at least 30 points higher that your my friend, I know not his reasoning. Enjoy the beat of the poetry, the rasp of the rap, the tension of my tourretts. They are all yours.
Funny stuff. How did you know I was planning on corny beef on a rye today?
Tourette’s is the syndrome.