• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Phoenix Sports Today

Phoenix Sports News Continuously Updated

  • Cardinals
  • Diamondbacks
  • Coyotes
  • Basketball
    • Mercury
    • Suns
  • Soccer
  • Colleges
    • Arizona State
    • Grand Canyon University
    • Northern Arizona
    • University of Arizona

Analytics site delves into D-backs 1B Christian Walker’s weird offensive year

August 5, 2022 by ArizonaSports.com - 98.7 FM

Christian Walker’s long ball has worked this season. The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman’s defense, by defensive runs saved, is among the best not only at his position but all of them, according to the The Fielding Bible and Sports Information Solutions.

His 15 defensive runs saved at first base is nine more than the next-best first baseman, by the numbers on Sports Info Solutions (SIS).

But from an offensive perspective, it’s been a down year. SIS writer Mark Simon dove into the why of Walker’s 25 home runs and .201 average so far. Part of it is just about how good opponents have played defense against him.

RELATED STORIES
  • Christian Walker hits another 3-run homer as D-backs hold off Guardians

  • Arizona Diamondbacks drop series finale against Guardians

  • The Ain’t No Fang Podcast: D-backs stay quiet at MLB trade deadline

They’ve been aided by aggressive shifting, but bad luck also appears to be in play.

Opponents have 14 defensive runs saved with Walker at the plate. He has 19 fewer runs than expected, and he’s expected to have a .254 average based on the numbers available to SIS.

One element of Walker’s numbers not being where they could be is in how teams are defensing him. Walker, a right-handed hitter, has had more at-bats come against defensive shifts than ever before.

And those shifts have crushed his batting average – he’s 3-for-40 when hitting a ground ball or a short line drive against a fully shifted defense (three infielders on the pull side). As such, his ground ball numbers are nowhere near his career norms.

SIS further tags 11 plays expected to be a base hit that were categorized by the analytics service as “good fielding plays” by opponents.

Another curious thing: Walker’s homer numbers might be higher — it’s expected he’d be at 31 right now — if he and his teammates had more success at home, Simon adds.

Chase Field has seen 93 homers hit in Phoenix this season, but Diamondbacks away games have produced 137, making for the worst ratio in the majors, per SIS.

Anyway, a lot of bad luck appears to be dinging Walker, who is having a pretty darn good season all things considered.

He can at least say he’s making up for it with a stellar defensive season.

What separates Walker from his positional peers is his range, which accounts for all 15 of his Runs Saved, specifically the skill he has at handling a ball hit to his right.

He has converted 67 of 123 plays on balls hit in that direction in which he had a >0% chance of recording the out. He is the only first baseman at 50% or higher in that stat and is more than 10 percentage points better than anyone else with at least 50 such opportunities.

Follow @AZSports

Filed Under: Diamondbacks

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Is it worth spending big on relievers?
  • Newly signed pass rusher Josh Sweat lands at 95 on the ‘NFL Top 100 Players of 2025’
  • What number will Khaman Maluach dare to wear?
  • (no title)
  • Arizona men’s basketball notebook: Roster finalized for 2025-26 season, date set for Red-Blue Showcase

Categories

Archives

Our Partners

All Sports

  • 247 Sports
  • ArizonaSports.com - 98.7 FM
  • Bleacher Report
  • Heat Waved
  • OurSports Central
  • The Arizona Republic
  • The Sports Fan Journal
  • USA Today

Baseball

  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • AZ Snake Pit
  • Last Word On Baseball
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Venom Strikes

Basketball

  • Phoenix Suns
  • Amico Hoops
  • Basketball Insiders
  • Bright Side Of The Sun
  • High Post Hoops
  • Hoops Hype
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Last Word On Pro Basketball
  • Pro Basketball Talk
  • Real GM
  • Valley Of The Suns

Football

  • Arizona Cardinals
  • Cardinals Gab
  • Cards Wire
  • Deep Dive
  • Last Word On Pro Football
  • NFL Trade Rumors
  • Our Turf Football
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Football Talk
  • Raising Zona
  • Revenge Of The Birds
  • Words From The Birds

Hockey

  • Elite Prospects
  • Five For Howling
  • Howlin Hockey
  • Last Word On Hockey
  • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Talk
  • The Hockey Writers

Soccer

  • Last Word on Soccer
  • MLS Multiplex

College

  • AZ Desert Swarm
  • Busting Brackets
  • College Football News
  • College Sports Madness
  • Devils In Detail
  • House Of Sparky
  • Last Word On College Basketball - Univ of Arizona
  • Saturday Blitz
  • Zags Blog
  • Zona Zealots

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in