2015 Blue Jays Defence, better than last years?

Mar 1, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (40) talks with pitchers during spring training workouts at Bobby Mattick Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

This off-season the Jays made a variety of moves aimed at creating a better club atmosphere for 2015. What the Jays may or may not have known was that those same moves made the club incrementally better from foul-line to foul-line.

And that’s a good thing. 2014 was a nightmare year defensively that saw the club finish 22nd in team defence according to FanGraphs. Below them, only two playoff teams- the Tigers and Pirates- managed to play worse defence and still succeed.

While 2014’s demise may not be directly related to the Jays poor defence, it’s hard to make the argument it did not play a key part.

With that said, here is a position-by-position look at how 2014’s defenders match up against the potentially improved successors this season.

Feb 25, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher

(55) work out during spring training at

Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher

It will come as no shock to anyone reading the piece that a significant upgrade was made at catcher this season. In 2014, the Jays allowed Dioner Navarro to receive the bulk of the innings behind the dish, taking over from the nauseatingly brutal J.P Arencibia.

According to FanGraphs advanced analytics, not including pitch framing, Navarro did an adequate job in his inaugural season. He caught 907 innings, throwing out 15 of a total 73 attempted stolen bases on the season. The problem is that throwing out base stealers accounts for only a fraction of the job description.

Pitch framing or more simplified, receiving, can be far more important. Last season, Navarro was the third worst pitch framer in the major leagues, recording a woeful -20.0 RAA (pitch framing metric).

The good news is that their new catcher Russell Martin is far superior. Last season, according to the only publicly available data, Martin had the 10th best RAA at 11.7, 31.7 runs or 233 calls better than Navarro. Not surprisingly, the Pirates ranked fourth in league defence for catchers.

Consequently, one of the noticeable differences to the Jays’ defence this season will be behind the dish with Martin framing his way to success.

May 5, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics right fielder

(3) is forced out by Seattle Mariners first baseman

in the fifth inning of their baseball game at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

First Base

In all fairness, the modern day metrics do not accurately capture all things first basemen have to deal with. There is still no accurate way to encapsulate tasks like scooping balls from the dirt and player positioning into quantifying the abilities of a first baseman defensively.

With that said, the 2014 Jays’ first baseman were atrocious. That was mostly due to the offensive juggernaut Edwin Encarnacion who was particularly lamentable at the position. In 694 innings, Encarnacion costed the Jays five runs (-5 DRS) and had a UZR/150 score of -9.7. Ouch. With the exception of Danny Valencia who played 66 innings, all of his companions were below average defenders as well so it’s not as if Encarnacion was the only issue.

It’s hard to say who is going to take the reigns at first this season so it’s really anyone’s guess as to whether there will be an improvement. One of the leading candidates, the newly acquired Justin Smoak, is familiar with the position but really doesn’t present an upgrade from Encarnacion as far as defence is concerned.

Sadly, the other options at the position aren’t much better. The recent signing of Dayan Viciedo presents a new, interesting option but even he doesn’t have much experience on the corner. It’s possible Valencia plays the position against lefties, whom he hits well against, so maybe, if he can maintain his premature success, the Jays will be better at the position. Maybe. 

Feb 27, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second basemen

(13) laughs as he warms up before the start of Friday mornings workout at the Bobby Mattick Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Second Base

At second, no Jays fan is a stranger to the gaping black hole on the right side of the infield. This isn’t news. This was a well publicized problem last off-season as well.

However, the Jays were still surprisingly ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of defence but everyday consistency was far from apparent. Seven players including Ryan Goins, Maicer Izturis, Steve Tolleson, Brett Lawrie, Jonathan Diaz, Chris Getz, and Munenori Kawasaki all played took their turn at second over the course of the season.

Kawasaki led the group in innings played at 444.2 which should tell you something. He was slightly below major league average, depositing a -3 DRS.

In 2015, similar to first base, it’s a mystery what the Jays will reap from that position. The lead candidate seems to be Izturis who, in his 77 innings prior to his injury, played above average defence. If he can carry that forward this season, the position will be his until the newly acquired top prospect Devon Travis is ready to take the reigns. At that point, scouting reports indicate he will be able to provide at least league average defence from the position.

Thus, the short answer is yes; the Jays should be better defensively at second this season. Izturis, Goins and Travis should all be practical options before they turn to the fan-favourite Kawasaki in the state of an emergency.

Mar 1, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop

(7) during spring training workouts at Bobby Mattick Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Shortstop

This is one position where the Jays and their fans know what they will be getting. For over $20 million, it isn’t much. According to FanGraphs, the Jays were ranked 20th in shortstop defence. That doesn’t accurately capture the position being that their primary shortstop, Jose Reyes, ranked last among the five other defenders who took reps at the position last season.

And that will basically be the same this season. Reyes isn’t going anywhere and at 31 years-old playing on artificial turf won’t help. The thought of him improving on his 93rd rank is something of a pipe dream at best.

Short story is the Jays will, as a team, likely improve defensively because Reyes will likely not play as many games (138) at short as he did last year. His colleagues should provide better defence when Reyes needs a day off but that may cost them offensively.

At short, the Jays will have to pick their poison with not a lot of depth to work with.

Mar 1, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman

(20) during spring training workouts at Bobby Mattick Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Third Base

Despite Lawrie’s absence for a third of last season, the Jays managed to slip in at 8th across the Majors in defence at third base. That’s not to say they had great production out of the position because, offensively, they didn’t.

Not including Lawrie; Valencia, Tolleson, Kawasaki and Juan Francisco all shared time at third with all but Francisco providing above average defence. The problem is that Francisco was relied upon for 482.2 innings, the most of any among his colleagues. In that time frame, he posted a lousy -7 DRS.

Luckily, the Jays shouldn’t have to tolerate sub part defence this season at the hot corner. In potentially the top move of the off-season, the Jays acquired Josh Donaldson in exchange for former third baseman Lawrie.

In Donaldson the Jays obtained one of the league’s top defenders. Last season, in 1,320.2 innings, Donaldson saved an impressive 20 runs (20 DRS) which is 21 more than the Jays did last season combined. Additionally, Donaldson was able to do it over the course of a full season, something that isn’t unique to his 2014 season. In the past three seasons he’s averaged 1,109 innings played which is more than two times what any Jays’ third baseman was able to contribute in 2014.

Unquestionably, the Jays will benefit from getting consistent defence from Donaldson who should be slotted in the everyday lineup around 140 times this season.

May 20, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder

(55) shows the umpires that he caught Texas Rangers left fielder

(not pictured) in the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Left Field

Right now, left field is somewhat of a question mark for the blue birds. Nevertheless, it’s hard to imagine the Jays being as bad as 17th ranked this season given that Michael Saunders should still garner the majority of innings from left field.

Saunders played only one inning in left field last season but has played above average in his 1,335 career innings at the position according to DRS and UZR.

If anything, he will be a significant upgrade defensively over his predecessor Melky Cabrera who had a -4 DRS last season dovetailed with a -3.5 UZR.

While Saunders may not be ready for opening day, his probable replacements-Kevin Pillar, Dalton Pompey and Andy Dirks– should still all provide a short term upgrade over Cabrera’s 2014 season.

Left field should manifest a defensive upgrade this season; whether it is an offensive one as well remains to be seen.

Mar 1, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder

(19) stretches as he sticks his tongue out during spring training workouts at Bobby Mattick Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Right Field

This season, similarly to shortstop, should manifest relatively the same results as last season in right field. Jose Bautista played a pedestrian right field last season. In 1,080.2 innings, he cost the Jays four runs defensively and was ranked slightly below average in that category.

With that said, it’s not like he doesn’t make up for that and more, hitting .286 while smashing 35 home runs.

It’s hard to predict what his defence holds as he continues to age but it’s most likely 2015 will be much the same as it was in 2014: serviceable at least.