Graph of the Day: Robin Yount's Position Switch

by Sky Kalkman on Mar 26, 2009 9:55 AM EDT

Robin Yount started as a shortstop with the Brewers, then was moved to the outfield in 1984, I assume because people felt he struggled there, but maybe others can add more detail. He then played center field almost exclusively, although some left field was included in 1985 (the lowest point on the red line) and he DH'd a few games each year. The position adjustment for CF jumps a bit in 1990, because center field has become more valuable over the decades.

TotalZone absolutely hates the position switch. From 1974 through 1984, Yount rates at +10 runs overall on defense per season, while he comes in at -8 runs per year after the move to center field. I realize players lose their fielding ability as they age, but it's a striking, immediate decrease in defensive value.

WAR data from Sean's historical WAR database.

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Yount was moved to the outfield because of a shoulder issue.

Playing center lowered the strain on his arm and lengthened his career.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 26, 2009 10:29 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks.

So he and the team felt it was a necessity. Good reason.

Still killed his defensive value, unfortunately.

What’s the general perception of his fielding abilities at SS and in CF?

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Mar 26, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

i'll jump in as a non-brewers fan

that i’d always heard he was good at both positions. interesting to see that perception seriously challenged. i love defense gotd.

by larry on Mar 26, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Someone older than me will have to answer that one.

Yount retired when I was ten, so I’m hardly in a position to offer reasoned analysis. He did win a gold glove at shortstop in 1982, though.

"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."

by Kyle Lobner on Mar 26, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

TotalZone backs that up, if you agree with the year-after theory for fielding

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Mar 26, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

So did Jeter

Not in 1982… but still…

http://statspeak.net

by pizzacutter on Mar 26, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

The first baseball game I ever went to (I think) was the Brewers.

Gary Sheffield was the shortstop.

Heh.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Mar 26, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Question re: Centrefield

I know that 3B was seen as a more important position than 2B for a while (due to the prevalence of bunting, etc.). Did Centrefield have more value back in the early part of the twentieth century (when it was played by Speaker, Cobb, eventually the three DiMaggios, etc.)?

Also, seeing its value diminished may hurt the value of guys like Mantle and Mays who must have been playing it when it was seen as least important.

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" -- Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Mar 26, 2009 7:52 PM EDT reply actions