clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

How Costly Have the Errors Been?

By CasonJollette
Hurry Back, Evan. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-US PRESSWIRE
Hurry Back, Evan. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Griffith-US PRESSWIRE

In today's game against Baltimore, the Rays benefited from three Oriole errors in the middle part of the game on their way to six of the runs that aided in the victory today. FreeZorilla pondered on Twitter how much the errors have cost the the Rays so far this season and thankfully, there's a report for that buried within the depths of Baseball-Reference.

Coming into today, the Rays' defense has permitted 30 runners to reach base via the error: 26 by the non-catchers and four on catcher's interference plays. Using rettrosheet's field locations chart, we learn that 18 of those 30 errors have come from the left side of the infield with two each coming in the 5 and 6 zone and 12 coming from the 56 zone. In all, 17 of the 26 non-catcher errors have been committed by a third baseman or a shortstop.

11 of the 30 errors have come with two outs in the inning and 12 of the errors have occurred in the final three innings of games. 11 of the 30 errors have come in high leverage situations while another 15 have come in medium leverage situations. Where the most damage has come is when the errors have committed when runners have been in scoring position.

Yr# Gm# Date Pitcher Opp Batter Score Inn RoB Out Pit(cnt) R LI
1 1 2012-04-06 James Shields NYY Nick Swisher ahead 4-2 t3 1-3 1 3 (0-2) 1 2.14
2 1 2012-04-19 Jeremy Hellickson @TOR Yunel Escobar ahead 3-2 b4 -2- 1 2 (1-0) 1 1.64
3 1 2012-04-25 Fernando Rodney LAA Erick Aybar ahead 3-1 t9 --3 2 2 (0-1) 1 1.29
4 1 2012-04-27 Wade Davis @TEX Mitch Moreland ahead 8-4 b8 12- 1 4 (1-2) 0 1.70
5 1 2012-04-28 Jeff Niemann @TEX Nelson Cruz down 1-2 b6 --3 2 1 (0-0) 1 1.43
6 1 2012-05-21 Burke Badenhop TOR Yunel Escobar down 2-3 t8 12- 1 4 (1-2) 0 1.79
7 2 2012-05-21 Burke Badenhop TOR Jose Bautista down 2-3 t8 123 1 3 (0-2) 2 2.33
8 1 2012-05-22 Matt Moore TOR Edwin Encarnacion ahead 6-2 t5 1-3 2 7 (3-2) 2 1.16
9 1 2012-06-02 Jake McGee BAL Robert Andino tied 1-1 t7 12- 2 2 (0-1) 1 2.95
Generated 6/3/2012.

Nine different times this season, the Rays have committed an error with at least one runner in scoring position and in seven of those nine instances, at least one run scored. The only time such a play cost the Rays a win was in the yesterday's loss to the Orioles when Robert Andino scored on the throwing error by Drew Sutton which plated the eventual game-winning run. In every other case, the Rays either held onto their lead or the eventual game-winning run had already been scored.

FreeZorilla's initial question was asking about how errors and two-out struggles overlapped and the Rays have committed 11 errors with two out in innings this season. In those situations, five runs have scored due to errors.

Yr# Gm# Date Pitcher Opp Batter Score Inn RoB Out Pit(cnt) R LI
1 1 2012-04-06 Burke Badenhop NYY Russell Martin down 5-6 t7 1-- 2 1 (0-0) 0 .88
2 1 2012-04-13 Wade Davis @BOS Mike Aviles down 1-4 b6 --- 2 2 (1-0) 0 .11
3 1 2012-04-19 Jeremy Hellickson @TOR Edwin Encarnacion ahead 3-1 b3 1-- 2 5 (2-2) 0 .92
4 1 2012-04-25 Fernando Rodney LAA Erick Aybar ahead 3-1 t9 --3 2 2 (0-1) 1 1.29
5 1 2012-04-28 Jeff Niemann @TEX Nelson Cruz down 1-2 b6 --3 2 1 (0-0) 1 1.43
6 1 2012-05-02 James Shields SEA Jesus Montero tied 0-0 t1 1-- 2 4 (1-2) 0 .80
7 1 2012-05-10 Burke Badenhop @NYY Chris Stewart down 2-5 b8 --- 2 3 (1-1) 0 .04
8 1 2012-05-20 Burke Badenhop ATL Jason Heyward down 0-2 t8 1-- 2 2 (1-0) 0 .43
9 1 2012-05-22 Matt Moore TOR Edwin Encarnacion ahead 6-2 t5 1-3 2 7 (3-2) 2 1.16
10 1 2012-06-02 Jake McGee BAL Robert Andino tied 1-1 t7 12- 2 2 (0-1) 1 2.95
Generated 6/3/2012.

There have been 15 other errors committed by the Rays while men were on base that did not result in putting additional runners on base but I am unable to efficiently track down the impact of those plays. That said, the Rays pitching staff was tied for second place with 28 unearned runs allowed heading into play today with Houston and Baltimore as both trail Texas and San Francisco who each have 30 unearned runs.

On a somewhat related note, Rays pitchers came into today with the fifth-highest total of pitches thrown in 2012 with 7,955 with Milwaukee leading the league at 8,228. Last season, the Rays had the fifth-lowest pitch total in baseball with 23,316 while Kansas City had the highest at 24,376 giving the team an extra seven pitches per game in 2012 than in 2011.

More From DRaysBay