Top and Bottom 10 Seasons for CF by WAR

by U-God on May 14, 2009 6:00 PM CDT

To fill space due to the off day and to celebrate the end of the semester (meaning I can write stuff like this again), I decided to take a historical look at our seemingly endless problem in centerfield. This idea isn't entirely my own (actually not my idea at all), as I've seen it done at True Blue LA and Amazin' Avenue, so here's to them.

Anyways, all figures come from here, and unfortunately only go back to 1955 so this list isn't entirely complete, but oh well. So what I've done is gone through and recorded the WAR (wins above replacement) for the player who lead the team in games in centerfield for that year. The chart and some observations after the jump.

The Top 10:

Rank	Name	Season	WAR
1	Tommie Agee	1966	6.6
2	Aaron Rowand	2004	5.9
3	Lance Johnson	1993	5.8
4	Jim Landis	1959	5.7
5	Chet Lemon	1979	5.5
6	Chet Lemon	1977	5.2
7	Larry Doby	1956	4.9
8	Jim Landis	1961	4.5
8	Chris Singleton	1999	4.5
10	Mike Cameron	1997	4.4

The Bottom 10:

Rank	Name	Season	WAR
1	Rudy Law	1984	-0.6
1	Ken Berry	1969	-0.6
3	Chet Lemon	1976	-0.5
4	Dave Gallagher	1989	-0.4
5	Jim Busby	1955	-0.2
5	Darren Lewis	1996	-0.2
7	Jim Landis	1964	-0.1
8	Daryl Boston	1985	0.0
9	Brian Anderson	2006	0.2
9	Brian Anderson	2008	0.2

Some Observations:

Only 3 players appear multiple times: Chet Lemon, Jim Landis, and Brian Anderson. Lemon and Landis had two of the best years and one of the worst at the start and end of their respective careers. Anderson has been slightly above mediocre for two seasons.
Tommie Agee had a monster year in 1966, due to a combo of good offense and defense.
1959, 1979, and 1999 seasons all rank in the top 10. Conversely, the 1969 and 1989 seasons are in the bottom 10. Where am I going with this? 2009 does not project to be a good season in center.

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Comments

Huh. Only a bottom 10 for Berry? Yeah he sucked on O, but

I’m surprised his D didn’t compensate. But I was young then and knew about as much as I do in my dotage.
Btw, I DID know (suspect) Agee would rank highest or near to it.
Very interesting, thx.

Until you've looked at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day, you don't realize how often they go up in flames...

by Chiburb on May 14, 2009 6:31 PM CDT reply actions

the great thing about baseball is that you'll never figure it out....

lemon had one of the best and then one of the worst in back to back years.

by Hatchetm on May 14, 2009 6:56 PM CDT reply actions

makes sense when you realize it was only his second full major league season

" You know...
I think this technique of using the ninth inning of close ballgames as extended spring training for pitchers who’ve missed time due to injury might not be a great idea."
by eponymous_coward on May 14, 2009 1:16 PM PDT

by U-God on May 14, 2009 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions

tru

what a shitty trade. chet lemon for steve kemp.

by Hatchetm on May 15, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Sweet, dude. Thanks.

by homesickalien on May 15, 2009 9:19 AM CDT reply actions

i was surprised that rowand was second

and only reinforces my womans intuition that they shouldnt have let him go…cest la vi.

what was the reason for that anyways, $$$?

Hawk; "what would you do in that situation"

"id hit him" ;Stone

by Grinder Rule #42 on May 15, 2009 12:22 PM CDT reply actions

He was traded to Philly in the deal that brought Thomer to the Sox.

Also, the Sox decided not to sign him before the 2008 season, if you want to count that as letting him go.

If you regret him not being signed by the Sox, go find some Giants fans and ask them what they think of his contract situation. The contract has a remaining 4 years and $44 million, iirc, and you can get an estimate of his wins over replacement at fangraphs.

You are right. But larry is actually a prick too.
- HSA 01/07/09

by rhythm on May 15, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

I hear ya Rythm

but all stats aside, the guy plays with heart and made up a good portion of the chemistry in the sox clubhouse.

im glad we got thome, and that was a value added deal. all im sayin is that despite what the #s show i liked rowand as one of the good guys just like i liked pods.

i guess im an introvert to a fault

Hawk; "what would you do in that situation"

"id hit him" ;Stone

by Grinder Rule #42 on May 15, 2009 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions