My Comments On Range Factor

    Range factor is a statistic that attempts to estimate a player's range in the field. There are two formulas for range factor: range factor per nine innings, 9 x (putouts + assists) / innings played; and range factor per game, (putouts + assists) / games played. While this is a useful statistic, it isn't foolproof, and probably a little overhyped. Let's see why. 

    Whenever I evaluate a player's defense, I usually check his range factor and see, in general, what that number looks like. However, I don't use it as an end all statistic like many people do, for a seemingly obvious reason. How can you blame your fielder for not making the play on a ball that was not hit to him? I know that range factor was designed to estimate how many hits above average a fielder saves on balls hit near him, but if they weren't hit to him, they're still counted the same. Nowadays range factors as a whole are at an all time low on account of higher strikeout rates, and this should be noted. As long as the player makes the play whenever the ball is hit to him, he's doing his job. Thus, a player with a slightly low range factor but a high fielding percentage can still provide much value to his team simply by making the play. 

    Obviously, if the difference between the player's range factor and the league average range factor at his position is significant enough, I will take it into consideration. Ozzie Smith didn't make 0.4 more plays per game than the average shortstop by accident. However, if the difference is small enough, it could just be a product of opponents simply not hitting the ball to shortstop. A more efficient way to measure a player's range would be to score hits based on where the ball ended up. I think that whenever a team records a base hit, it should be scored on the nearest fielder (for example, a single up the middle would be "1B-8"). Even if the fielder doesn't make an error, this helps indicate how good his range is. If the centerfielder is playing deep and all those singles are killing you, the manager knows that he needs to make a change. Even if the centerfielder doesn't make many errors, or if there are unusually many balls hit to him (by coincidence), this kind of statistic could meaningfully compliment range factor and fielding percentage. By counting a player's defensive "hits allowed" and combining them with his plays (and errors; balls hit his direction that he reaches), we could come to a more comprehensive view of his efficiency in the field (because a "hit allowed" has the same net effect as an error). This could account for range and fielding percentage while wiping out coincidences.