For Mariners Fans: Baseball Sabermetrics 101
By Nick Lee
Defensive Runs Saved
Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) measures a fielder’s overall value with the glove. It is a number that is above or below zero. It is the number of runs that defender is worth compared to the average fielder. The average fielder would have a DRS of 0. Above average is around +5, +10 is great and anything +15 or above is Gold Glove caliber. The opposite is true for a player with a DRS number in the negatives.
Currently, the best fielder in the majors is Mookie Betts of the Red Sox as an outfielder. He boasts a +17 DRS. Nolan Arenado is looking to perhaps earn his 5th straight Gold Glove as he has a +16 DRS. As of right now, the league’s best shortstop is Addison Russell of the Cubs with a +12 DRS.
The best Mariners fielder is Jarrod Dyson in the outfield. He is currently at +11 DRS so far this season. With regular playing time, Dyson has proven his worth in saving runs alone.
This stat is also what is telling us Andrew McCutchen is not what he used to be. He has the second-worst DRS in the big leagues at -13. Meaning he has cost the Pirates 13 more runs than an average fielder in his place.