Evaluating catcher defense

[Ex-hippie]

Interesting article here by Chuck Brownson on a new method for evaluating catchers' defense. One catcher per team is evaluated in the summary. Rob Johnson comes out as very slightly above-average. But what caught me was in the comments section, in response to a question about Michael Hernandez of the Rays:

(Hernandez) comes out w/ an RAA of 11.79 — about 13 runs better than Navarro over the course of 150 games. It’s funny that you mentioned him as I left out (deliberately) both Kenji Johjima and Raul Chavez b/c both play on teams where another catcher, like Hernandez, has played more innings. Had I used Johjima and Chavez, they would have been 1 and 2 on the list, respectively, as they’ve both been spectacular defensively. Johjima, in fact, has thrown out 20 of 35 potential base stealers.

He goes on to say something about sample size. But still. I believe this is the first time I have ever heard the words "Johjima" and "spectacular" in the same sentence. Still, he's really going out on a limb with that kind of superlative.

I found this because it got picked up in the Wall Street Journal "Morning Tip-Off."

[Bulltalk]

Interesting article here by Chuck Brownson on a new method for evaluating catchers' defense. One catcher per team is evaluated in the summary. Rob Johnson comes out as very slightly above-average. But what caught me was in the comments section, in response to a question about Michael Hernandez of the Rays:

(Hernandez) comes out w/ an RAA of 11.79 — about 13 runs better than Navarro over the course of 150 games. It’s funny that you mentioned him as I left out (deliberately) both Kenji Johjima and Raul Chavez b/c both play on teams where another catcher, like Hernandez, has played more innings. Had I used Johjima and Chavez, they would have been 1 and 2 on the list, respectively, as they’ve both been spectacular defensively. Johjima, in fact, has thrown out 20 of 35 potential base stealers.

He goes on to say something about sample size. But still. I believe this is the first time I have ever heard the words "Johjima" and "spectacular" in the same sentence. Still, he's really going out on a limb with that kind of superlative.

I found this because it got picked up in the Wall Street Journal "Morning Tip-Off."

"Spectacular". That's funny.

I just don't know what to make of all these new catcher stats. I defer to people like you who can make sense of such things.

[HeavyP]

Johjima is a better player at C than Rob Johnson. That being said, there are things one cannot evaluate (like the trust the pitchers have in Johnson's calls) and others that MAY have some influence on the game. That being said, Johjima is significantly better at throwing out base runners, blocking balls and a better hitter. If it were me he'd be starting 5 or 6 games a week.

[HeavyP]

2 passed balls in the 2nd inning. I hate rob johnson.

[Bay_Areas_Finest]

Intangibles my ass. Rob Johnson sucks and should be playing 1 or 2 times EVERY TWO WEEKS. I'm tired of seeing that loser.

Johjima has erased way over 50% of base-stealers and is hitting better.