Gleeman (and Sheehan) on the Importance of Height in Forecasting (March 12, 2004)
Sheehan + Foulke = me riled up
Sheehan + Mauer = Gleeman riled up
--posted by TangoTiger at 01:59 PM EDT
Posted 2:15 p.m.,
March 12, 2004
(#1) -
J Cross
(homepage)
I agree with Gleeman that there's probably not much to Sheehan's argument. I wrote my thought about it the other day (homepage). How does Gleeman's data on 6'4" players by position match up with my theory that height (ie power) is selected for more strongly at positions that are more offensive where as defensive position are closer to average in height?
From Gleeman's article (moving along the offensive spectrum going down)
Pos #6'3" #6'4"
SS 2 14
C 28 78
2b 2 5
CF 8 32
3b 9 36
lf 22 54
rf 29 63
1b 62 132
It actually looks like their are MORE tall catchers than would be expected based on their defensive position (and slightly fewer tall 2b).
Posted 3:57 p.m.,
March 12, 2004
(#2) -
Mike Green
I checked the heights of the greats at some of the positions. The third basemen are clustered between 6' and 6'2". A goodly number of great second basemen are under 6' tall from Evers and Collins to Morgan and Biggio. Great first basemen range from 6' to 6'5". Three of the games greatest catchers, Berra, Campanella and Rodriguez, were 5'8"-5'9", but there are a smattering at 6', up to Carlton Fisk's 6'2" or 6'3" (depending on who does the measuring and when).
You could do this systematically, but that would take away half the fun.
Posted 5:21 p.m.,
March 12, 2004
(#3) -
Hatrack Hines
I didn't really do anything like a complete study, and I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I messed with height/weight correlations somewhat myself.
Taller players hit for more power. Heavier players hit for more power. Taller and heavier players also tend to play the less demanding defensive positions. Everyone knows this, and the data bears it out.
This accounts for most of the differences in offensive output for positions. Shortstops tend to be short and light, and so they don't hit for much power. When you've got shortstops that are over 6' and in the vicinity of 200 lbs. you have Cal Ripken and Alex Rodriguez.
It may be that there's a bias against tall middle infielders such that they get moved to less demanding positions, but it may also be that height/weight have an inverse correlation to defensive ability. I.e., shorter players are quicker and have better gloves. This makes some intuitive sense. I didn't study this aspect in detail.
The huge exception is catchers. Catchers are about the same size as third basemen but don't have anywhere near the same offensive output.