Brief aside. John Mayberry got 479 plate appearances in 2012 in which he hit into 17 double-plays. Seventeen double-plays was ninth-most among NL hitters in ’12, but virtually all of the eight players who hit into more than 17 double-plays in ’12 had a lot more plate appearances than Mayberry. Houston’s JD Martinez is the only NL player with more than 400 plate appearances to hit into double-plays in a higher percentage of plate appearances than Mayberry.
Here’s how the top of the list of players with the highest percentage of plate appearances in which they hit into double plays (for NL players with at least 400 plate appearances in ’12):
| Player | PA | GDP | % PA GDP | PA per GDP |
| JD Martinez | 439 | 18 | 4.10 | 24.4 |
| John Mayberry | 479 | 17 | 3.55 | 28.2 |
| Chris Johnson | 528 | 18 | 3.41 | 29.3 |
| AJ Ellis | 505 | 17 | 3.37 | 29.7 |
| David Freese | 567 | 19 | 3.35 | 29.8 |
| Chipper Jones | 448 | 15 | 3.35 | 29.9 |
| Michael Morse | 430 | 14 | 3.26 | 30.7 |
| Ryan Zimmerman | 641 | 20 | 3.12 | 32.1 |
| Buster Posey | 610 | 19 | 3.11 | 32.1 |
| Ian Desmond | 547 | 17 | 3.11 | 32.2 |
Overall in the NL in 2012, batters grounded into 1,840 double-plays in 98,063 plate appearances. That’s about 1.87% or one GDP per 53.3 PA. The Phillies overall grounded into 114 double-plays in 6,172 plate appearances, which is 1.85% of their PA and one about every 54.14. The Phils other than Mayberry registered GDP in just 1.7% of their PA or one every 58.7.
The good news for Mayberry and the rest of the Phillies is that none of them are likely to eclipse Wilson Valdez’s double-play pace from 2010, hopefully for a long time. In 2010, Valdez got 363 plate appearances and hit into 20 double-plays. That’s about 5.51% of his PA and once every 18.15 times to the plate.
This article looks at position battles for spring training and offers a projected lineup that looks like this:
- Rollins, SS
- Utley, 2B
- M Young, 3B
- R Howard, 1B
- D Young, RF
- TBD, LF
- Ruiz, C
- Revere, CF
Again, I still think Delmon Young won’t see much time in right and will play mostly in left when he plays. I think Revere will hit higher than eighth, especially against righties. I think Brown will be a regular guy at one of the corner positions — I’m hoping left, but think that right is more likely.
This article reviews the NRIs for the Phils.
February 6th, 2013 on 1:46 pm
I know Galvis didn’t get a lot of plate appearances last year, but I seem to remember him grounding into a ton of double plays, mostly because he wasn’t strong enough to hit anything other than ground balls. Although, looking at his numbers, it looks like 6 GIDP out of 200 PA’s. So 3%, which wouldn’t make the above chart.
My hope, based upon the current roster, is for Brown in right and Young in left, with Ruf ready in May/June when Young is sucking. Although I don’t know that Ruf will be any better than Young.
February 6th, 2013 on 2:12 pm
Galvis had 6 GDP in 200 PA. So 3.0% of PA and one every 33.3 PA.
Among the guys with more than 20 PA, Schneider (4.08%), Mayberry (3.55%), Martinez (3.28%) and Galvis (3.0%) had the highest percentage of PA in which they hit into double-plays. Schneider had 4 GDP in 98 PA.
I’d guess that Ruf plays less than 100 innings at any outfield position this year. Also guess that he proves to be close to unusable in the outfield given a significant number of innings. I’d guess that Delmon Young proves to be better than Ruf defensively in 2013.
I really, really hope that Brown is non-terrible, whether he plays left or right.
February 6th, 2013 on 5:48 pm
Man, when your good news is that you are better than Wilson Valdez, you might want to be thinking about a career move.
I really really hope that Brown is non-terrible.
February 6th, 2013 on 10:13 pm
It would help, doncha think?
If they don’t let Brown play this year, I’m throwing it all away to blog about traffic patterns on the Schuylkill Expressway. Or something.
February 7th, 2013 on 6:56 pm
Yeah, I didn’t mean you. I meant the guy you were talking about.