The WAR Room is back again, bringing you the 2014 advanced stats for every Cleveland minor leaguer. With the minor league seasons at an end, we continue bringing you seasons in review, with today’s featuring the 2014 Akron RubberDucks hitters.
The list of previous season in reviews are below:
Of course, it is always important to keep context in mind, just like with scouting. A pitcher who is old for his level using that experience to succeed against young, inexperienced hitters must be taken with a grain of salt; the same goes when looking at these WAR totals.
But it is a useful tool to put each player’s performance into context and look at where they sit in regard to the rest of the league.
For reference on how I computed WAR, a reminder on the problems inherent in the stats, and everything else you need to know, click here. For a refresher on WAR and what it is, click here.
As a reminder, a 0.0 WAR per 162 games is replacement level — otherwise known as the kind of performance an average player from the level below could offer — a 2.0 WAR per 162 games is average, and a 5.0 WAR per 162 games is All-Star level.
Also, the lack of good defensive metrics for the minor leagues means we have to adjust for a range of defensive abilities. To account for this, I will give you each player’s WAR with a qualifier: either poor-defense WAR for a poor defender (-10 runs below-average per 162 games), average-defense WAR for an average defender (0 runs per 162 games), or great-defense WAR for a great defender (10 runs above-average per 162 games).
One more thing, all “+” stats are averaged at 100. Anything over 100, like 110, is higher and means that player is 10 percent better than the league average. Anything under 100, like 90, is lower and means that player is 10 percent worse than the league average. In the case of any “-” stats — when lower is better, like with ERA — a 90 ERA- means that player is 10 percent better than the league average.
Today we begin our look at the Akron RubberDucks with the pitchers before moving to the hitters next week. For the full stats, go ahead and click here.
Notable Catcher
The most important thing about catcher Tony Wolters’ 2014 season is the continuing development of his acumen behind the plate. But while Wolters is getting really good reviews of his defense in just his second year as a catcher, the bat is leaving him not close to major league ready. Even giving the 22-year-old credit for great defense, his 1.3 great-defense WAR in 94 games leaves him as just an average Double-A player, not one forcing his way to Cleveland. Wolters does a good job with his plate discipline (19.1 percent strikeout rate, 100 K%+; 9.0 percent walk rate, 110 BB%+), but he needs to drive the ball with more authority (.065 isolated power, 50 ISO+) in order to keep progressing toward Cleveland. Read More…
From Indians Baseball Insider, October 12, 2014
Jim Piascik 