I did pick the most titillating quote, but whether you agree or disagree, it’s an interesting fangraphs article on Andre Ethier defensively. I don’t know who could come in to be the RF, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Andre in LF in 2011 (post-Manny) if a credible upgrade in RF happens.

First of all, let’s look at the biggest component of the statistic: range. Ethier showed fantastic range in 2007 after showing average range in 2006. His range fell off a cliff then in 2008 and 2009, at -6.6 and -6.9 runs, respectively.

Someone else mentioned this here before but….

What started happening in 2008 compared to 2006 and 2007? The Dodgers got a much, much better defensive CF. Perhaps this is a weakness of UZR; since Kemp can get to more balls than Pierre did, Ethier’s range looks worse.

when I watch Ethier go back on a ball, it looks like he’s trying to sprint through a swamp. He moves in slow motion. He made a play in the NLDS (I forget who hit it) but Etheir fielded it cleanly and then crashed into the wall. He makes that play 2 out of 10 times during the regular season. I’ve seen him mis judge balls over his head and balls carom off his glove as he crashes into the wall way more times than him cleanly field a ball over his head.

Dear LORD! I read the above and I’m apparently turning into Joe Morgan. Here, I’ll do better – I am unaware of a defensive metric called, “ability to field balls hit behind you” but I’m sure Ethier’s abysmal performance in that metric accounts for the lion’s share of runs allowed. I figure his arm’s average for right field.

One of the commenters on fangraphs.com said Ethier is basically Shawn Green. I remember Green at least having a rocket arm.

I wonder if Ethier’s numbers were any better with Juan in LF instead of Manny.

With Pierre in left, I don’t remember, but I don’t think Matt cheated more to right, but why not?

With Manny in left and Ethier in right, Matt really has no where to cheat. I do seem to have remembered a lot of balls to the gap which you were hoping were going to be caught, but Ethier not even coming close. That being said, I think he isn’t as good as a CF playing right, but good enough for right, it would be nice to have a better LF and Matt play closer to Ethier’s gap though.

http://www.drivelinemechanics.com/2009/10/13/1082419/2009-catcher-defense-filling-in

Ouch. Well at least he hits for Power — damn. . .