News
Stats are with Figgins at the hot corner
Los Angeles (81-54) at Kansas City (51-85), 11:10 a.m. PT
By Rustin Dodd / MLB.com
09/06/09 6:06 PM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Chone Figgins hasn't heard too much about these advanced defensive statistics that stat geeks love to tout.He couldn't tell you what they measure, or how stats such as Ultimate Zone Rating are even calculated in the first place.
But tell Figgins that most of these stats say he's one of the best third basemen in baseball and a wide smile forms across his face.
"Is that what it says?" he asks.
Figgins, a utility player for the Angels in 2005 and 2006, has found a home at third base in Los Angeles.
He'll still tell you that he's comfortable at almost any position, but after three seasons of playing primarily at third Figgins' defensive play has turned around in many baseball circles.
Figgins will get an opportunity show off his glove again on Monday as the Angels conclude a four-game series against the Royals in Kansas City.
And modern defensive metrics seem to suggest that few people can play third base like Figgins can.
Look at Ultimate Zone Rating, a stat which uses a complicated formula to determine a player's range and how many runs that player saves a team. Figgins is second among American League third basemen behind Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria in that category.
Figgins' UZR of 12.2 is also sixth in baseball among all fielders.
Further, according to John Dewan's plus-minus system of evaluating fielders, Figgins has saved the Angels 27 runs in 2009 -- the best among all third basemen.
Some argue that advanced defensive statistics are still a primitive way to measure fielders, but at the very least these numbers give quantitative evidence to what manager Mike Scioscia already argues.
Figgins, Scioscia says, is one of the best third basemen in baseball.
"Figgy is a Gold Glove candidate at third base," Scioscia said.
Figgins has one theory why the defensive stats seem to like him so much.
He is, in essence, a middle infielder playing third base.
"I'm a little more quick than your typical third baseman," Figgins said. "With me and [Erick] Aybar on the left side of the field, we're able to cover more ground than most left-side infielders can."
Figgins doesn't necessarily look like your typical third basemen either. At 5-foot-8 and 180 pounds, Figgins doesn't fit the profile of a tall, run-producing corner infielder.
"Size has nothing to do with playing this game," Scioscia said. "And certainly on the defensive end, his arm plays big. He plays big. He's got a big arm, has great range and hands that are very, very good."
It's too early to know whether Gold Glover voters will take notice of Figgins' work. But at one glance, the numbers seem to come out in Figgins' favor.
And Figgins isn't about to argue with the numbers.
"If it says that..." he said. "But I know I'm able to cover a lot of ground because I'm smaller and quicker than your other third basemen."
Pitching matchupLAA: RHP Ervin Santana (7-7, 5.68 ERA)
Santana delivered his fifth consecutive quality start, holding the Mariners to one run across six innings on Tuesday night in Seattle. His fastball settled in the 90-92 mph range and he was tough when he needed to be, pitching out of a first-and-third jam with none out to keep the game even. He's still not the dominant pitcher of 2008 and might not be for the balance of the season, but he's solid. Santana won his only outing against the Royals this year and is 3-2 in six career starts with a 4.82 ERA. At Kauffman Stadium, he's 2-1 with a 4.21 ERA in four outings. KC: RHP Kyle Davies (6-9, 5.71 ERA)
Davies won his second straight start on Tuesday night at Oakland and he's 3-1 with a no-decision in his past five starts. Davies credits a new delivery in which he leans back more and gets the ball out of his glove faster, thereby improving his command. He went six innings against the A's and left with a 4-1 lead, having allowed just four hits and two walks against six strikeouts. He now has 26 whiffs in his past 28 2/3 innings. Earlier this season, Davies faced the Angels and took a no-decision in a 4-3 Royals loss. Davies gave up just one run in six innings in that start. Tidbits
Entering Sunday, the Angels had the best road record in the Majors since 2004 (268-206). In a related note, the Angels -- with their win on Sunday -- improved to 23-5 at Kauffman Stadium since 2003. ... The Angels reached 80 wins on Saturday and are now 10 games from winning 90 games for the seventh time in nine seasons. ... Aybar's two triples on Sunday tied the Angels' club record, set in 1999 by Reggie Williams. Tickets
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• KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Tuesday: Angels (Scott Kazmir, 8-8, 5.68) vs. Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 14-5, 2.65), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Wednesday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 14-5, 3.79) vs. Mariners (Ian Snell, 6-9, 5.21), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Angels (John Lackey, 9-7, 3.74) vs. Mariners (Ryan Rowland-Smith, 3-2, 3.88), 7:05 p.m. PT
Rustin Dodd is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
