The Planetary Extreme Baseball Alliance

Taking an early look at the middle infields of the Rising Sun Division. A shorthand evaluation of middle infield defense is the double play, and one team is far ahead of the others in double plays turned. The Cliffhangers' 26 twin killings are not only the most in the division, but most in the league. The Ghosts and Akira tie for second with 18 double plays each. Okinawa has 11 and Shin Seiki has 9.

Offensively, we'll look at the two positions individually for each team.



Shin Seiki second basemen are posting a .716 OPS.
Neo-Tokyo second basemen are posting a .692 OPS.
Lupin second basemen are posting a .660 OPS.
Niihama-shi second basemen are posting a .647 OPS.
Okinawa second basemen are posting a .483 OPS.



Shin Seiki shortstops are posting a .761 OPS.
Neo-Tokyo shortstops are posting a .628 OPS.
Lupin shortstops are posting a .591 OPS.
Okinawa shortstops are posting a .501 OPS.
Niihama-shi shortstops are posting a .479 OPS.

Looking at the combined WAR of the teams' current starters, and as you can see we are very early in the season. They're ranked like this:

Shin Seiki: 0.6
Neo-Tokyo: 0.2
Lupin: 0.1
Niihama-shi: 0.0
Okinawa: -0.4

I love this write up!

Well, at least a potted ficus tree could fall over conceptually and get in the way of a ball...

Nice little snapshot.

With only three weeks of info, there's lots of room for change, of course. Adachi's early numbers are highly depressed by his first week. He had a productive spring training (.375/.479/.625, with a pair of homers), but then withered to 2-24 opening week (.083). His defense for that week was a -.6ZR.

Since then he's gone 13-41 (.317) with a pair of doubles and an HR. His ZR has moved to neutral, then +.02. Much more spring-like.

Which one is real? We're almost certainly biased (which may just be another word for "deluded" in this case). :)

Taking an early look at the middle infields of the Rising Sun Division. A shorthand evaluation of middle infield defense is the double play. Thanks to some outstanding play by their swingman, Alfonso Mercado, the Ghosts stand atop the division with 73 double plays turned. The Cliffhangers are now in second with 61 twin killings. Not far behind them are the Akira with 60. Okinawa has 54 and Shin Seiki has 47.

Offensively, we'll look at the two positions individually for each team.



Lupin second basemen are posting a .798 OPS.
Shin Seiki second basemen are posting a .762 OPS.
Neo-Tokyo second basemen are posting a .754 OPS.
Niihama-shi second basemen are posting a .727 OPS.
Okinawa second basemen are posting a .619 OPS.



Shin Seiki shortstops are posting a .762 OPS.
Niihama-shi shortstops are posting a .631 OPS.
Lupin shortstops are posting a .600 OPS.
Neo-Tokyo shortstops are posting a .568 OPS.
Okinawa shortstops are posting a .506 OPS.

Looking at the combined WAR of the teams' current starters, Lupin and Niihama-shi are being carried by their second baseman. The teams are ranked like this:

Lupin: 2.8
Shin Seiki: 2.7
Niihama-shi: 1.6
Okinawa: 0.1
Neo-Tokyo: -0.2

Nice work again. I love reading these kinds of articles.

Outstanding. If Adachi can keep his glovework up, that'll be fine. But, yes, we're quite happy with Escobido so far.

These are awesome recaps. Wish we had them for the whole league!

I know, I know. "Jason, why don't you write it?"

/shakes fist

I love the recap. Great stuff!

It's definitely fun to see these updates.

The RS on the whole is coming up to speed, too. Last year the division went 376-434 (.464). To date we're at 158-156 (.503). And that's with Shin Seiki's winning percentage falling.

Cliff Hangers wrote:It's definitely fun to see these updates.

The RS on the whole is coming up to speed, too. Last year the division went 376-434 (.464). To date we're at 158-156 (.503). And that's with Shin Seiki's winning percentage falling.

I'd be curious as to what the division's record v. The Evil Evas is this year v. last...

Borealis wrote:

Cliff Hangers wrote:It's definitely fun to see these updates.

The RS on the whole is coming up to speed, too. Last year the division went 376-434 (.464). To date we're at 158-156 (.503). And that's with Shin Seiki's winning percentage falling.

I'd be curious as to what the division's record v. The Evil Evas is this year v. last...

I can't seem to find last season's team v. team records.

18-12 (.600) in the division so far this season, so slightly better than against the rest of the league.

Not sure where to look for last year.

The RSD Middle Infield Report returns. Leading the division with 48 double plays is Okinawa. Close behind them with 46 are the Akira. Toyama has 42, and Niihama-shi 41. Lagging behind are the Evas with 33 (dead last in the Sovereign League).



Toyama second basemen are posting a .726 OPS
Okinawa second basemen are posting a .681 OPS
Neo-Tokyo second basemen are posting a .641 OPS
Shin Seiki second basemen are posting a .500 OPS
Niihama-shi second basemen are posting a .478 OPS



Shin Seiki shortstops are posting a .717 OPS
Okinawa shortstops are posting a .706 OPS
Neo-Tokyo shortstops are posting a .626 OPS
Toyama shortstops are posting a .603 OPS
Niihama-shi shortstops are posting a .500 OPS

Looking at the combined WAR of the teams' current starters, the teams are ranked like this:

Toyama: 1.1
Shin Seiki: 1.0
Okinawa: 0.8
Neo-Tokyo: 0.2
Niihama-shi: -0.7

We've been trying to improve the SS area for two years, but it's danged hard.

Yeah, I know ... that's what she said.