Upton’s defense

[m0nkey]

Wasn’t he supposed to be a competent fielder, which is one reason why he ended up getting the contract he got?

[bloodbrother]

I'll never trust defensive metrics again. He's terrible in the field

[m0nkey]

Two misplays in two innings. Nice

[Angel Oracle]

He sucks!!!!

[tdawg87]

I'll defend his offense vehemently.

His defense, however, is absolutely pathetic. If you can't field. You're a DH.

[2020worldseries]

It’s almost at the point where you need to have a late inning defensive replacement for him

[bloodbrother]

Few things are more frightening than watching Upton try to track a flyball

[BackUpTheTruck]

Upton's defense is fine, he was smart enough to throw to the cutoff man.  There are players who would have air mailed it.

[Blarg]

Yeah, no. His defense is erratic. 

[Dick B Back]

Wat? I was hired for my bat!

 

[Chuck]

1 hour ago, tdawg87 said:

I'll defend his offense vehemently.

His defense, however, is absolutely pathetic. If you can't field. You're a DH.

And we have two of those. Short and long term.

[Chuck]

44 minutes ago, Blarg said:

Yeah, no. His defense is erratic. 

Very inconsistent. I've seen him make several good plays as well.

[beatlesrule]

I mentioned this in the game day thread but it's inexcusable that this team has no defensive replacement for him on the major league team.

[Tank]

1 hour ago, bloodbrother said:

Few things are more frightening than watching Upton try to track a flyball

a double down the line rolling to the corner should be on this list.

[Erstad Grit]

I've been saying this since we traded for him. Except Jars most have called my crazy. Upton is a defensive wreck. 

[TroutField]

He is absolute garbage in the outfield. He doesn’t track the ball at all, he just runs to the spot where he thinks the ball is hit and then adjusts. 

 

2 relatively routine fly balls tonight became doubles because he doesn’t even look for the ball in the air. 

[IheartLA]

Gold Glove finalist - let that sink in

[BackUpTheTruck]

Left field is not a defense first position, left field is where a big bat goes.

Upton's bat more than compensated for his glove today, and rarely will there be a game where that will not be the case.

My problem with Upton is his batting average with RISP.  He is doing better lately though.

[Chris]

Remember that Encarnacion inside the park HR early this season...uggh.

[Billy_Ball]

 

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

7 hours ago, 2020worldseries said:

It’s almost at the point where you need to have a late inning defensive replacement for him

almost? How was he a runner up for the gold glove in 2017?

[Inside Pitch]

8 hours ago, bloodbrother said:

I'll never trust defensive metrics again. He's terrible in the field

You have that backwards....  

The metrics have always been unkind towards his defense, he's a negative 5 war dWAR player for his career.   CConvrrsely his defensive reputation has always been good.  The metrics had him as a -.6 defender last year.   His reputation had him as a GG finalist.   

I think the truth is he's as streaky with glove as he is his bat.

[eaterfan]

1 hour ago, Inside Pitch said:

You have that backwards....  

The metrics have always been unkind towards his defense, he's a negative 5 war dWAR player for his career.   CConvrrsely his defensive reputation has always been good.  The metrics had him as a -.6 defender last year.   His reputation had him as a GG finalist.   

I think the truth is he's as streaky with glove as he is his bat.

I love it that whenever a guy is bad in defense it's the metrics that are wrong even when they say he's bad. People are just always looking for reasons to blast defensive metrics.

[JarsOfClay]

2 hours ago, Ace-Of-Diamonds said:

almost? How was he a runner up for the gold glove in 2017?

Upton had an excellent .9 dwar when he was with the tigers, then came to the angels and had a -.6 dwar.

He all of a sudden forgot how to hit and defend like every player that comes to the angels

[T.G.]

Clearly, AW members miss Craig Gentry.