Is Darwin Barney baseball’s best defensive infielder? |

Quick – who’s the best defensive 2nd baseman in baseball? Chase Utley? Robinson Cano? Dustin Pedroia? All fine second basemen, to be sure. But, as you’ve probably surmised by the title of this post, one answer to my question is perhaps an unlikely one.

Or, maybe you’re just thinking “Who the heck is Darwin Barney?”.

After the jump, I’ll look a little closer at Mr. Barney’s surprising season.

Here are the B-Ref Fielding Runs leaders for second basemen this season (min. 100 games).

Rk	Player	Rfield	OPS+	G	Year	Age	Tm	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Darwin Barney	28	80	137	2012	26	CHC	509	60	123	25	4	6	39	26	49	.258	.300	.365	.665
2	Dustin Ackley	13	81	135	2012	24	SEA	589	77	124	19	2	10	48	51	112	.231	.298	.330	.628
3	Robinson Cano	13	142	140	2012	29	NYY	598	87	162	38	1	29	75	53	84	.301	.370	.537	.907
4	Dustin Pedroia	11	113	124	2012	28	BOS	552	76	147	33	3	15	60	40	56	.293	.348	.460	.809
5	Omar Infante	8	95	128	2012	30	TOT	511	60	134	26	6	11	47	18	60	.279	.304	.426	.730
6	Danny Espinosa	8	97	141	2012	25	WSN	592	75	136	34	2	16	52	40	165	.255	.321	.416	.737
7	Robert Andino	5	65	109	2012	28	BAL	381	37	74	11	1	7	25	33	92	.216	.286	.316	.602
8	Kelly Johnson	5	81	129	2012	30	TOR	533	56	104	17	2	14	50	57	144	.224	.313	.359	.672
9	Jason Kipnis	5	101	133	2012	25	CLE	582	73	132	18	3	13	65	54	95	.257	.330	.379	.709
10	Brandon Phillips	4	106	131	2012	31	CIN	554	79	151	30	1	17	74	26	68	.293	.332	.454	.786
11	Howie Kendrick	4	103	129	2012	28	LAA	524	49	138	26	3	7	55	26	100	.285	.323	.394	.717
12	Dan Uggla	3	96	137	2012	32	ATL	563	78	101	25	0	18	65	83	152	.215	.343	.384	.727
13	Ian Kinsler	0	98	136	2012	30	TEX	637	93	150	39	5	16	68	51	80	.263	.330	.433	.763
14	Aaron Hill	-2	124	137	2012	30	ARI	579	76	156	35	5	22	67	47	78	.297	.356	.508	.864
15	Neil Walker	-2	115	121	2012	26	PIT	501	62	125	27	0	14	69	44	97	.280	.342	.435	.777
16	Gordon Beckham	-4	80	133	2012	25	CHW	519	57	113	24	0	15	56	32	83	.239	.293	.385	.678
17	Daniel Descalso	-5	70	124	2012	25	STL	366	36	73	8	5	4	21	30	72	.225	.297	.318	.615
18	Tyler Greene	-8	80	105	2012	28	TOT	301	32	63	13	2	10	27	17	88	.227	.271	.396	.667
19	Daniel Murphy	-8	104	136	2012	27	NYM	536	51	146	36	3	5	56	32	70	.292	.334	.406	.740
20	Marco Scutaro	-9	88	138	2012	36	TOT	608	70	160	27	4	6	58	36	47	.290	.333	.387	.720
21	Jemile Weeks	-14	70	113	2012	25	OAK	504	54	96	14	8	2	20	50	68	.220	.305	.302	.607
22	Jose Altuve	-16	100	130	2012	22	HOU	559	73	148	31	4	5	33	37	66	.290	.341	.395	.736
23	Rickie Weeks	-32	95	138	2012	29	MIL	594	75	117	28	3	18	53	67	153	.229	.332	.400	.732

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 9/12/2012.

More than double the total of the #2 man – that’s quite a lead, isn’t it. So, how exactly has Darwin pull this off?

Well, for starters, his range factor is almost half-a-chance per 9 innings better than league average. Nice, but still only good for 3rd in the NL. Here’s the shocker, though – those extra chances translate into well over 600 (and counting) fielding plays that have resulted in exactly one (yes, ONE) error committed at 2nd base (Barney committed a second error in his 18 chances at SS). Kind of a Ripley’s Believe-It-or-Not statistic, don’t you think.

With an error total like that, perhaps this season is more than just a good one by 2012 standards. Here’s how Darwin stacks up against the best qualifying 2nd base defensive seasons ever.

Rk	Player	Rfield	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1	Frankie Frisch	37	124	1927	28	STL	153	693	112	208	31	11	10	78	43	10	.337	.387	.472	.858
2	Chase Utley	33	136	2008	29	PHI	159	707	113	177	41	4	33	104	64	104	.292	.380	.535	.915
3	Hughie Critz	32	68	1933	32	NYG	133	605	68	137	18	5	2	33	23	24	.246	.279	.306	.586
4	Craig Counsell	29	89	2005	34	ARI	150	670	85	148	34	4	9	42	78	69	.256	.350	.375	.726
5	Pokey Reese	29	86	1999	26	CIN	149	636	85	167	37	5	10	52	35	81	.285	.330	.417	.747
6	Bobby Grich	29	116	1973	24	BAL	162	700	82	146	29	7	12	50	107	91	.251	.373	.387	.760
7	Darwin Barney	28	80	2012	26	CHC	137	509	60	123	25	4	6	39	26	49	.258	.300	.365	.665
8	Ben Zobrist	28	132	2011	30	TBR	156	674	99	158	46	6	20	91	77	128	.269	.353	.469	.822
9	Bobby Knoop	27	67	1964	25	LAA	162	547	42	105	8	1	7	38	46	109	.216	.289	.280	.569
10	Nap Lajoie	27	134	1907	32	CLE	137	558	53	152	30	6	2	63	30	27	.299	.345	.393	.738
11	Orlando Hudson	26	98	2004	26	TOR	135	551	73	132	32	7	12	58	51	98	.270	.341	.438	.779
12	Woody Williams	26	66	1944	31	CIN	155	707	73	157	23	3	1	35	44	24	.240	.290	.289	.580
13	Johnny Evers	26	90	1907	25	CHC	151	565	66	127	18	4	2	51	38	17	.250	.309	.313	.622
14	Ben Zobrist	25	149	2009	28	TBR	152	599	91	149	28	7	27	91	91	104	.297	.405	.543	.948
15	Chase Utley	25	132	2005	26	PHI	147	628	93	158	39	6	28	105	69	109	.291	.376	.540	.915
16	Lonny Frey	25	101	1940	29	CIN	150	663	102	150	23	6	8	54	80	48	.266	.361	.371	.732

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 9/12/2012.

Yup. Makes the top 10 seasons since 1901, and on par with last year’s top second-sacker. In fact, seven of the above 16 seasons are from just the past 9 years.

And, how does Darwin compare to left-side infielders (excluding first base) generally? Here’s his competition among qualifying seasons this year.

Rk	Player	Rfield	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Darwin Barney	28	80	2012	26	CHC	137	509	60	123	25	4	6	39	26	49	.258	.300	.365	.665	*4/6
2	J.J. Hardy	17	86	2012	29	BAL	137	613	74	135	28	2	21	64	35	88	.238	.285	.405	.689	*6
3	Brett Lawrie	17	96	2012	22	TOR	103	441	61	115	21	3	9	40	22	64	.280	.323	.411	.734	*5/6D
4	Mike Moustakas	16	98	2012	23	KCR	131	543	62	125	31	1	19	67	34	107	.250	.304	.430	.734	*5
5	Yunel Escobar	16	76	2012	29	TOR	128	542	55	127	20	1	9	47	30	64	.255	.300	.353	.654	*6
6	Mike Aviles	16	76	2012	31	BOS	128	519	55	122	27	0	13	59	22	74	.251	.283	.387	.670	*6/D
7	David Wright	14	147	2012	29	NYM	137	592	81	159	38	2	17	81	76	99	.312	.400	.495	.895	*5/6
8	Robinson Cano	13	142	2012	29	NYY	140	598	87	162	38	1	29	75	53	84	.301	.370	.537	.907	*4/D
9	Dustin Ackley	13	81	2012	24	SEA	135	589	77	124	19	2	10	48	51	112	.231	.298	.330	.628	*43/D
10	Zack Cozart	11	79	2012	26	CIN	127	560	70	127	32	3	15	32	29	103	.243	.285	.402	.686	*6
11	Dustin Pedroia	11	113	2012	28	BOS	124	552	76	147	33	3	15	60	40	56	.293	.348	.460	.809	*4/D
12	Adrian Beltre	10	133	2012	33	TEX	137	579	84	170	30	2	31	90	30	74	.317	.352	.554	.906	*5D
13	Alexei Ramirez	9	81	2012	30	CHW	138	545	57	142	23	4	9	66	14	68	.274	.296	.385	.681	*6
14	Danny Espinosa	8	97	2012	25	WSN	141	592	75	136	34	2	16	52	40	165	.255	.321	.416	.737	*46
15	Omar Infante	8	95	2012	30	TOT	128	511	60	134	26	6	11	47	18	60	.279	.304	.426	.730	*4/5
16	Alberto Callaspo	7	98	2012	29	LAA	118	443	48	96	15	0	9	44	51	49	.249	.334	.358	.692	*5

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 9/12/2012.

And, since 1901, Barney’s season is still in the top 25 among those same infield positions.

Rk	Player	Rfield	OPS+	Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1	Frankie Frisch	37	124	1927	28	STL	153	693	112	208	31	11	10	78	43	10	.337	.387	.472	.858	*4/6
2	Mark Belanger	35	64	1975	31	BAL	152	502	44	100	11	1	3	27	36	53	.226	.286	.276	.562	*6
3	Terry Turner	34	124	1906	25	CLE	147	643	85	170	27	7	2	62	35	42	.291	.338	.372	.709	*6
4	Chase Utley	33	136	2008	29	PHI	159	707	113	177	41	4	33	104	64	104	.292	.380	.535	.915	*4/3
5	Rey Ordonez	33	64	1999	28	NYM	154	588	49	134	24	2	1	60	49	59	.258	.319	.317	.636	*6
6	Brooks Robinson	33	117	1968	31	BAL	162	667	65	154	36	6	17	75	44	55	.253	.304	.416	.720	*5
7	Robin Ventura	32	106	1998	30	CHW	161	674	84	155	31	4	21	91	79	111	.263	.349	.436	.785	*5
8	Ozzie Smith	32	97	1989	34	STL	155	664	82	162	30	8	2	50	55	37	.273	.335	.361	.696	*6
9	Brooks Robinson	32	124	1967	30	BAL	158	681	88	164	25	5	22	77	54	54	.269	.328	.434	.763	*5
10	Hughie Critz	32	68	1933	32	NYG	133	605	68	137	18	5	2	33	23	24	.246	.279	.306	.586	*4
11	Adam Everett	31	64	2006	29	HOU	150	566	52	123	28	6	6	59	34	71	.239	.290	.352	.642	*6
12	Scott Rolen	30	158	2004	29	STL	142	593	109	157	32	4	34	124	72	92	.314	.409	.598	1.007	*5
13	Buddy Bell	30	110	1979	27	TEX	162	720	89	200	42	3	18	101	30	45	.299	.327	.451	.778	*56
14	Graig Nettles	30	114	1971	26	CLE	158	690	78	156	18	1	28	86	82	56	.261	.350	.435	.785	*5
15	Aurelio Rodriguez	30	102	1970	22	TOT	159	663	70	152	33	7	19	83	40	87	.249	.302	.420	.721	*5/6
16	Clete Boyer	30	79	1961	24	NYY	148	579	61	113	19	5	11	55	63	83	.224	.308	.347	.656	*56
17	Art Fletcher	30	103	1917	32	NYG	151	608	70	145	24	5	4	56	23	28	.260	.312	.343	.655	*6
18	Chone Figgins	29	110	2009	31	LAA	158	729	114	183	30	7	5	54	101	114	.298	.395	.393	.789	*5/4D7
19	Craig Counsell	29	89	2005	34	ARI	150	670	85	148	34	4	9	42	78	69	.256	.350	.375	.726	*4/6
20	Pokey Reese	29	86	1999	26	CIN	149	636	85	167	37	5	10	52	35	81	.285	.330	.417	.747	*46
21	Bobby Grich	29	116	1973	24	BAL	162	700	82	146	29	7	12	50	107	91	.251	.373	.387	.760	*4
22	Glenn Wright	29	96	1924	23	PIT	153	662	80	177	28	18	7	111	27	52	.287	.318	.425	.744	*6
23	Darwin Barney	28	80	2012	26	CHC	137	509	60	123	25	4	6	39	26	49	.258	.300	.365	.665	*4/6
24	Ben Zobrist	28	132	2011	30	TBR	156	674	99	158	46	6	20	91	77	128	.269	.353	.469	.822	*49/D
25	Troy Tulowitzki	28	109	2007	22	COL	155	682	104	177	33	5	24	99	57	130	.291	.359	.479	.838	*6
26	Jack Wilson	28	74	2005	27	PIT	158	639	60	151	24	7	8	52	31	58	.257	.299	.363	.662	*6
27	Ozzie Guillen	28	72	1987	23	CHW	149	604	64	156	22	7	2	51	22	52	.279	.303	.354	.656	*6
28	Clete Boyer	28	101	1962	25	NYY	158	633	85	154	24	1	18	68	51	106	.272	.331	.413	.745	*5
29	Dick Bartell	28	107	1936	28	NYG	145	573	71	152	31	3	8	42	40	36	.298	.355	.418	.773	*6
30	Tommy Thevenow	28	59	1926	22	STL	156	608	64	144	15	5	2	63	27	26	.256	.291	.311	.602	*6

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 9/12/2012.

So, what do you think? Fluke or a solid and polished defender?

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bstar

11 years ago

Doug, I’m guessing the reason Andrelton Simmons of the Braves didn’t show up on your 2012 list is because you may have set some limit on games played or something, but he’s got 13 fielding runs….in only 35 games! That would give him 56 fielding runs over 150 games. Looks like that would smash the record for infielders. Can’t wait for 2013.

As for Barney, I think he’s the real deal.

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Doug

Reply to bstar

Yes, it was qualifying seasons for the latter lists. Hard to know what to make of Simmons’ numbers – kind of like of Brett Lawrie in 2011 with 14 fielding runs in 43 games. Lawrie’s still doing fine (2.1 dWAR in 2012 in 104 games), but at a more realistic level.

So, you evidently like what you see in Simmons? I haven’t seen him (or Barney) play.

Reply to Doug

Yes, he’s fantastic. Simmons was a rarity in that his glove and arm were both rated as an 80 by scouts-a rarity. Perhaps the most impressive thing is he doesn’t feel the need to show off his arm unless absolutely necessary. He was actually accumulating fielding runs at a higher rate than Lawrie before he got hurt and could at the very least have deflected some of the anti-defensive-metric venom away from the Toronto third baseman. Unlike Lawrie, Fangraphs’ UZR loves his D as well. I haven’t seen Barney nearly as much as tag for sure, but it seems every… Read more »

Oh dear- it’s a rarity to use the term rarity twice in a sentence.

tag

bstar, I saw Simmons four times and he was incredibly impressive. All four games he made good sound plays plus at least one jaw-dropping play that involved his absolute gun of an arm. And, as you say, he doesn’t crank up the throws unless he has to. I watch a good deal of Cub games and I do see Barney make athletic plays, especially going to his left into short right and spinning and throwing guys out. But maybe because I’m just not used to seeing it on a Cub team, I can never get over how he’s generally so… Read more »

Doug, we’ve been talking about this in spurts all season long. Barney is a superior fielder, but I think the Cubs are using some very advanced positioning metrics because he always seems to be in the right place, up the middle when the ball goes over the mound, shaded toward first when the ball is pulled. Plus he has very good range, which adds to the effect. Ben Zobrist of the Rays also benefits from the advanced positioning the Maddonites employ. I think both he and Barney are excellent fielders that get extra credit from cutting-edge defensive ideas.

Reply to tag

Thanks tag,

Glad to hear from someone who’s seen him play a bit.

No doubt part of the reason (perhaps even a large part) why 7 of the 16 best second base seasons (second list) are from the past 9 years.

Hartvig

I smell the makings of the next Moneyball in there somewhere.

Great stuff.

Reply to Hartvig

Yeah, I think some work has already been done on the Rays in this regard: how it was mostly defense that raised them from worst to first in (when?) 2008. They have to be doing something right in the field because they sure don’t hit very well. I watched a couple innings of their loss last night (another one-run O’s win!) and it was almost painful.

brp

I would love to see the Cubs move Barney to SS, where his weak hitting and OBP could be hidden a bit, and move Castro to 2B or 3B and mitigate his defensive lapses.

In other words, yes, Barney is a very good 2B defender and would certainly be a good SS.

Reply to brp

Barney of course, like a lot of 2B, came up as a SS and probably would be excellent there in the bigs as well. But I don’t see the Cubs moving Castro to 2B. 3B maybe. It looks like he’s trying to drive the ball more now, whether of his own initiative or because the coaches are instructing him to. Thus far it hasn’t resulted in much except for more warning track outs, fewer doubles and a lower average/OBP. But if he can boost his HRs into the 20s and SLG% solidly above .450 he’d probably be a much better… Read more »

John Nacca

I had to read the sentence that included “one error” about four times….THEN had to go and check his bbref page for clarification. That is just insane!