This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.
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Boy, can they catch the ball, though. Statcast has the defense second in baseball with 20 runs prevented. Total Zone and Defensive Runs Saved, both presented by Baseball Reference, say they have the #2 defense in the game. Baseball Prospectus, which runs at all these questions a bit differently, slots them fifth. Whatever system you use, you quickly reach two conclusions: The Red Sox defense is among the best in baseball, and the Red Sox defense is carrying the team right now.
Ceddanne Rafaela is one of the five best defenders in the game, and he’s joined in the outfield by Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu in being at least +6 by Statcast measures. The Sox outfield has been +21 so far; the highest mark ever recorded by Statcast is +34, by the 2021 Rays. (Last year’s Sox were +30.)
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You can subscribe to the newsletter for one year for $79.95
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