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Mike Moustakas' Defense Is Up, Escobar's Defense Is Down or Is It.
Fangraphs tracks a defensive measure called UZR. It takes the balls that are normally fielded by all players and then apply those values to each player individually. It tries to measure the number of plays and therefore runs a defender saves compared to the league average
Slick fielding short stop Alcides Escobar has gone from a +10 UZR in 2011 to a -11 UZR in 2012. On the other hand, Mike Moustakas has gone from a 0 UZR to +17 UZR. It is like Moustakas is stealing some balls from Escobar, which may actually be be happening.
UZR assumes the defenders are positioned evenly. This season the Royals have been implementing more and more of an infield shift and Moustakas is moving into parts of the field that Escobar normally defends.
Here is an example of such a play from Wednesday night.
Moose is positioned about half way between 2B and 3B and makes a play on ball that Escobar would normally field.
The following is the 2011 and 2012 defensive numbers for all the SS and 3B on the Royals
(BIZ = Ball in defender's zone that are normally fielded)
2011
| Name | Pos | BIZ | Plays | % | UZR |
| Mike Moustakas | 3B | 185 | 137 | 74% | 0.4 |
| Mike Aviles | 3B | 51 | 39 | 76% | -0.3 |
| Yamaico Navarro | 3B | 14 | 7 | 50% | -0.3 |
| Wilson Betemit | 3B | 117 | 83 | 71% | -0.9 |
| Total | 3B | 367 | 266 | 72% | -1.1 |
| Alcides Escobar | SS | 391 | 326 | 83% | 10.2 |
| Chris Getz | SS | 5 | 4 | 80% | 0.4 |
| Mike Aviles | SS | 8 | 6 | 75% | -1.2 |
| Total | SS | 404 | 336 | 83% | 9.4 |
| All | 771 | 602 | 78% | 7.2 |
2012
| Name | Pos | BIZ | Plays | % | UZR |
| Mike Moustakas | 3B | 337 | 261 | 77% | 16.6 |
| Irving Falu | 3B | 8 | 8 | 100% | 0.6 |
| Yuniesky Betancourt | 3B | 9 | 8 | 89% | 0.5 |
| Tony Abreu | 3B | 11 | 8 | 73% | 0.2 |
| Total | 3B | 365 | 285 | 78% | 17.9 |
| Irving Falu | SS | 3 | 3 | 100% | 0.8 |
| Yuniesky Betancourt | SS | 5 | 2 | 40% | -0.4 |
| Tony Abreu | SS | 4 | 2 | 50% | -0.7 |
| Alcides Escobar | SS | 359 | 267 | 74% | -11.1 |
| Total | SS | 371 | 274 | 74% | -11.4 |
| All | 736 | 559 | 76% | 6.5 |
As a group, the 2011 defenders were a bit better, but generally, the Royals are just getting to and making just as many outs on the left side of the infield. UZR's totals are within a point. Fielding % for balls in zone are within a couple of points.
Escobar's defense has not fallen off the planet this season. The planet has shifted a bit and he is not looking as good statically.
With all that defense talk of Escobar, I don't think he will ever be an elite defender until his glove work improves.
Hosmer Has Problems With Grounders
For the second year in a row, Hosmer is ranking near the last in the league in defense. After watching him more and more, grounders just tearing him up. Take this play from Wednesday night.
It was a ball almost hit right at him and he could not make the play (once he finally reacts). These types of plays are just too common with him.
Keep the Tag On the Runner
Too many times this season the Royals may have gotten a runner out if they would have kept their glove on the runner as they slid through the base. It happened Wendesday night. The runner eventually came around as the winning score.
This lack of detail used to drive Frank White crazy.