5 infielders for Carmona?
 

Ignoring offensive output for the moment.

How dramatic would a players GB/FB ratio have to be for a defensive set up with 5 infielders and 2 outfielders when he was pitching? This year Fausto Carmona had a 3.28 GB/FB ratio. He recorded 476 GO and 137 SO and 16 HR out of 879 PA against him. That leaves 387 balls that made it to the outfield (or were infield popouts/lineouts/foulouts, don't know where to find these #s).

Carmona gave up 183 hits (excluding HRs)- so how many of these would have to be stopped by an extra infielder to make it worthwhile for all the extra hits given up + the extra bases added on to those hits he does give up.

Anything I'm missing in trying to figure this out? I would assume his outfield would be Sizemore + Gutierrez.

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

Well, he only had 131 flyballs.

Edit: That's 2 flyballs every 3 innings

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

you also need to consider how hitters strategies would change when there were only 2 outfielders.

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

If hitters were deliberately trying to hit flyballs, would they be able to hit quality flyballs?

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

I don't see if happening, even with the extreme GB/FB ratio. The number of hits (singles) a team would cut down by adding an infielder would not be very high (IMO), especially compared to the additional extra base hits that would be given up in the OF.

Now, perhaps a super shallow RF (where he had a real chance to throw out runners at first), with the CF shaded toward right center, could work against certain right-handed hitters. Interesting question.

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

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If hitters were deliberately trying to hit flyballs, would they be able to hit quality flyballs?

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well, this would matter less if there were only 2 outfielders!

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

I think you also have to remember that a lot of singles would probably turn into doubles/triples if you did this.

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

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I think you also have to remember that a lot of singles would probably turn into doubles/triples if you did this.

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worthwhile for all the extra hits given up + the extra bases added on to those hits he does give up.

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Yeah, I'm on it. Is there a site that estimates how much a Single, double and triple are worth in run expectation?

Re: 5 infielders for Carmona?
 

[ QUOTE ]
If hitters were deliberately trying to hit flyballs, would they be able to hit quality flyballs?

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I think most good hitters do deliberately try to hit fly balls anyway. I don't think their approach would change much.