2008.7.31 NPB Defensive Team Stats

NPB is heading into a 4 day All Star break, and with my lack on interest in All Star games in general (this year’s MLB edition not withstanding), let’s look at team pitching and defense numbers for NPB clubs at this 2/3 point in the season. The All Star games are late this season, immediately precedes the start of the training camp for the Japanese Olympic team, so maybe this was planned specially for this year’s schedule.

Here’s the Central League numbers (mainly focusing on DER and FIP):

Hanshin Tigers defensive numbers are about league average in terms of DER, but they have excellent pitching leading the league in both FIP and ERA, a well deserved 1st place in the CL. Now 2nd place Giants have come on strong lately behind their continued solid pitching (and their defense seems to have improved with the gap between FIP and ERA closing and DER improving, even if they’re still last in the league). The Dragons tailspin doesn’t seem to be caused by their pitching or defense which is about the same as the last time we looked at these stats last month, but the rising ERA indicates they’ve been unluckier over the last month.

And now the Pacific League numbers:

Nippon Ham Fighters continue to punch above their weight with excellent pitching and defense with their DER at an astounding .716, far beyond any other team in NPB. The Seibu Lions have about league average pitching and defense, so you know that their 1st place standings is attributed to their slugging and running games. The Eagles are an enigma, as they have decent pitching and defense (best FIP, average ERA and DER) and can pound the ball, but is last place in the league.

My mind’t not fully functional at the moment, so this is it for today.

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