Based on the Plus/Minus System from The Fielding Bible, here are this year's leading defenders by position in Major League Baseball:
| First Base | Daric Barton, Oak | +8 |
| Second Base | Mark Ellis, Oak | +8 |
| | Chase Utley, Phi | +8 |
| Third Base | Troy Glaus, StL | +12 |
| Shortstop | Orlando Cabrera, CWS | +9 |
| Left Field | Matt Holliday, Col | +8 |
| Center Field | Carlos Gomez, Min | +5 |
| Right Field | Alex Rios, Tor | +3 |
| | Bobby Abreu, NYY | +3 |
| | Jeremy Hermida, Fla | +3 |
Note: A plus number in the Plus/Minus System signifies the number of additional plays made by the fielder compared to an average defender at his position.
Some comments:
Former catcher Daric Barton has done well so far at first base. Chase Utley wants to take over Albert Pujols' mantle as the best hitter in baseball and best fielder at his position as well. The injuries that plagued Troy Glaus are no longer an issue for him defensively. The loss of Torii Hunter hasn't hurt Minnesota with Carlos Gomez' stellar play so far.
An unrelated note: Pitcher Micah Owings has a 1.106 OPS thus far this year. That's better than every regular position player in baseball except Lance Berkman and Chipper Jones. Utley and Pujols are right there as well at 1.089 and 1.083. Owings was a tremendous hitter in college, hit .371 in the minors, .333 in the majors last year with a ton of power, and .417 so far this year. Can anyone say Babe Ruth?
The Plus/Minus numbers above are from the Online Fielding Bible which debuts today at www.billjamesonline.com. It's a subscription service ($3 per month).
Copyright © 2008 by John Dewan.
Permission to reprint or broadcast this information is granted only if used in conjunction with the following citation: "Used with permission from John Dewan's Stat of the Week™,
www.statoftheweek.com."