AAA Errors by Position

I've already posted about AAA errors before, but now I've broken them down position-by-position. Most of the time when you see a leaderboard it's for a good thing, like hitting a bunch home runs or striking out hitters. I like dubious records, though, and guys who clutter the bottom of the list of players who qualify for certain titles. Players like the seven hitters who qualified for the batting title in 2008 with an OBP under .300. It's with that in mind that my fielding percentage "leaderboard" really looks at the qualifiers from the bottom up. Call me crazy, but numbers in the .940's are more interesting to me than a bunch in the .980's and .990's.

I was going to try and make it easier to navigate the mess of tables I have below, but after a year I still haven't figured this Blogger out completely. All that means is this has become a really long post without convenient breaks. Just think of it as all the reading you didn't get from me last week all at once. The tables and abbreviations therein should be pretty self-explanatory. I've decided to use total chances to make a cutoff for the fielding percentage board because I think it makes more sense than games played even if choosing the cutoff is sometimes tough.

Now that that's taken care of, let's get started:

AAA Pitchers

AAA Pitchers Sorted By Most Errors
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Damian Moss	Richmond	ATL	35	8	.771
John Parrish	Syracuse	TOR	22	7	.682
Casey Daigle	Rochester	MIN	17	6	.647
Brian Slocum	Buffalo	CLE	17	6	.647
Jeff Marquez	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	NYY	29	5	.828
Matt Wright	Omaha	KCR	32	5	.844
9 tied with				4

AAA Pitchers Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 20 total chances)
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
John Parrish	Syracuse	TOR	22	7	.682
Damian Moss	Richmond	ATL	35	8	.771
Matt DeSalvo	Richmond	ATL	21	4	.810
Jeff Marquez	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	NYY	29	5	.828
Matt Wright	Omaha	KCR	32	5	.844
Jack Cassel	Round Rock	HOU	26	4	.846
Ron Chiavacci	2 Teams	2Tm	20	3	.850
Chris Lambert	Toledo	DET	28	4	.857
Erick Threets	Fresno	SFG	21	3	.857
Esmerling Vasquez	Tucson	ARI	21	3	.857
Jeff Harris	Buffalo	CLE	22	3	.864
INT Pitchers			3713	228	.939
PCL Pitchers			3977	211	.947
AAA Pitchers			7690	439	.943

Fielding is apparently optional for AAA pitchers. Damian Moss is at least kind of respectable atop the error table since he had a fair number of chances to commit errors. I'm not sure what Daigle and Slocum could really say to explain their defense. A surprising number of the pitchers on each board have made it to the majors: Marquez and Wright are the only ones who haven't on the top board. Chiavacci and Vasquez are the only other career minor leaguers on the other list. It was tough deciding the minimum number of chances for the fielding percentage board. Too many and you cut out guys like Parrish and Marquez, too few and you get guys who booted a couple plays out of the few they tried. I thought twenty was a good compromise.

AAA Catchers

AAA Catchers Sorted By Most Errors
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Jason Jaramillo	Lehigh Valley	PHI	1008	16	.984
Mike DiFelice	Durham	TBR	555	12	.978
Caleb Stewart	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	NYY	700	10	.986
Landon Powell	Sacramento	OAK	700	9	.987
Rob Johnson	Tacoma	SEA	651	9	.986
Clint Sammons	Richmond	ATL	635	9	.986
Bryan Anderson	Memphis	STL	571	8	.986
Dusty Brown	Pawtucket	BOS	533	8	.985
Vinny Rottino	Nashville	MIL	767	7	.991
Ryan Budde	Salt Lake	LAA	292	7	.971
Hector Gimenez	Durham	TBR	209	7	.967

AAA Catchers Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 400 total chances)
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Mike DiFelice	Durham	TBR	555	12	.978
Jason Jaramillo	Lehigh Valley	PHI	1008	16	.984
Dusty Brown	Pawtucket	BOS	533	8	.985
Dane Sardinha	Toledo	DET	416	6	.986
Caleb Stewart	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	NYY	700	10	.986
Clint Sammons	Richmond	ATL	635	9	.986
Bryan Anderson	Memphis	STL	571	8	.986
Chris Gimenez	Buffalo	CLE	433	6	.986
Rob Johnson	Tacoma	SEA	651	9	.986
Landon Powell	Sacramento	OAK	700	9	.987
INT Catchers			16345	148	.991
PCL Catchers			17733	174	.990
AAA Catchers			34078	322	.991

Jason Jaramillo was really durable last season. He caught over 100 more innings than Vinny Rottino, the runner-up in that category (976.3 to 868.7). Not coincidentally, he was the only catcher with more than 800 total chances in the field. All those chances meant more opportunities for errors, so that's why he's atop the first list. Aging MLB veteran Mike DiFelice struggled with the glove in Durham. By virtue of leading the PCL in innings caught, Rottino's seven errors as a catcher resulted in a fielding percentage still a hair above average.

AAA First Basemen

AAA 1B Sorted By Most Errors
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Joe Koshansky	Colorado Springs	COL	1128	11	.990
Josh Whitesell	Tucson	ARI	979	11	.989
Brad Eldred	Charlotte	CHW	734	10	.986
Randy Ruiz	Rochester	MIN	372	10	.973
Chris Richard	Norfolk	BAL	1059	9	.992
Brian Myrow	Portland	SDP	749	9	.988
Michael Costanzo	Durham	TBR	311	9	.971
Jordan Brown	Buffalo	CLE	760	8	.989
7 tied with				7	--

AAA 1B Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 500 total chances)
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Brad Eldred	Charlotte	CHW	734	10	.986
Barbaro Canizares	Richmond	ATL	549	7	.987
Garrett Jones	Rochester	MIN	570	7	.988
Brian Myrow	Portland	SDP	749	9	.988
Josh Whitesell	Tucson	ARI	979	11	.989
Craig Wilson	2 Teams	2 Teams	568	6	.989
Jordan Brown	Buffalo	CLE	760	8	.989
Scott Thorman	Richmond	ATL	598	6	.990
Joe Koshansky	Colorado Springs	COL	1128	11	.990
Oscar Salazar	Norfolk	BAL	739	7	.991
John Lindsay	Las Vegas	LAD	773	7	.991
INT 1B			17982	185	.990
PCL 1B			21063	181	.991
AAA 1B			39045	366	.991

Koshansky and Richard were two of three players to have 1000 or more total chances at first base last year. The other was Josh Phelps, one of the seven players tied with seven errors. Costanzo and Ruiz are head and shoulders above (feet and ankles below?) the rest with their abysmal fielding percentage, but mercifully they didn't spend enough time at first to make it into both tables.

AAA Second Basemen

AAA 2B Sorted By Most Errors
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Matt Antonelli	Portland	SDP	569	13	.977
Andy Cannizaro	2 Teams	2Tm	215	12	.944
Elliot Johnson	Durham	TBR	322	12	.963
Danny Richar	2 Teams	2Tm	308	12	.961
Andrew Beattie	Albuquerque	FLA	502	11	.978
Jarrett Hoffpauir	Memphis	STL	470	11	.977
Kevin Howard	2 Teams	2Tm	220	11	.950
Bobby Scales	Iowa	CHC	317	10	.968
5 tied with				9

AAA 2B Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 250 total chances)
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Danny Richar	2 Teams	2Tm	308	12	.961
Elliot Johnson	Durham	TBR	322	12	.963
Bobby Scales	Iowa	CHC	317	10	.968
Diory Hernandez	Richmond	ATL	260	8	.969
Bernie Castro	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	NYY	318	9	.972
Travis Denker	Fresno	SFG	296	8	.973
Mike McCoy	2 Teams	2Tm	281	7	.975
Jarrett Hoffpauir	Memphis	STL	470	11	.977
Emilio Bonifacio	2 Teams	2Tm	390	9	.977
Matt Antonelli	Portland	SDP	569	13	.977
INT 2B			9279	226	.976
PCL 2B			11448	245	.979
AAA 2B			20727	471	.977

There's an awful lot of movement at this position. No fewer than five of these guys plied their trade for more than one team last season. The top four on the errors table have played in the majors while Hernandez, McCoy, Scales, and Hoffpauir are the members of the fielding percentage table who haven't made it to the show.

AAA Third Basemen

AAA 3B Sorted By Most Errors
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Matt Tuiasosopo	Tacoma	SEA	281	27	.904
Neil Walker	Indianapolis	PIT	358	19	.947
Mark Saccomanno	Round Rock	HOU	205	19	.907
Aaron Herr	Buffalo	CLE	167	18	.892
Dallas McPherson	Albuquerque	FLA	288	17	.941
Jamie D'Antona	Tucson	ARI	177	17	.904
Ian Stewart	Colorado Springs	COL	186	16	.914
Jeff Baisley	Sacramento	OAK	243	15	.938
Morgan Ensberg	Buffalo	CLE	136	15	.890
Joel Guzman	Durham	TBR	221	14	.937

AAA 3B Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 150 total chances)
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Aaron Herr	2 Teams	2Tm	167	18	.892
Matt Tuiasosopo	Tacoma	SEA	281	27	.904
Jamie D'Antona	Tucson	ARI	177	17	.904
Mark Saccomanno	Round Rock	HOU	205	19	.907
Ian Stewart	Colorado Springs	COL	186	16	.914
Michael Costanzo	Norfolk	BAL	183	13	.929
Eric Duncan	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	NYY	156	11	.929
Josh Fields	Charlotte	CHW	165	11	.933
Peter Ciofrone	Portland	SDP	168	11	.935
Joel Guzman	Durham	TBR	221	14	.937
INT 3B			5270	314	.940
PCL 3B			6484	391	.940
AAA 3B			11754	705	.940

This is where it starts to get interesting. Third basemen and shortstops typically commit the most errors of anyone on the diamond and AAA this season is no different. Tuiasosopo led all AAA players with 27 errors committed and easily outpaced his comrades at the hot corner. Curiously, minor league veteran Aaron Herr spent all his time with the Indians at third base and all his time with the Reds at second base. It's an interesting coincidence that Joel Guzman is tenth on each list.

AAA Shortstops

AAA SS Sorted By Most Errors
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Andres Blanco	Iowa	CHC	377	22	.942
Jesus Merchan	Tucson	ARI	493	21	.957
Mike Rouse	2 Teams	2Tm	457	20	.956
Brent Lillibridge	Richmond	ATL	402	19	.953
Brett Dowdy	Portland	SDP	369	16	.957
Gregorio Petit	Sacramento	OAK	334	16	.952
Brandon Wood	Salt Lake	LAA	244	16	.934
Fernando Cortez	Charlotte	CHW	405	15	.963
Oswaldo Navarro	Tacoma	SEA	348	15	.957
Sergio Santos	Rochester	MIN	262	15	.943

AAA SS Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 250 total chances)
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Andres Blanco	Iowa	CHC	377	22	.942
Sergio Santos	Rochester	MIN	262	15	.943
Nick Green	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre	NYY	252	13	.948
Gregorio Petit	Sacramento	OAK	334	16	.952
Brent Lillibridge	Richmond	ATL	402	19	.953
Jorge Velandia	2 Teams	2Tm	257	12	.953
Mike Rouse	2 Teams	2Tm	457	20	.956
Brett Dowdy	Salt Lake	LAA	369	16	.957
Oswaldo Navarro	Charlotte	CHW	348	15	.957
Danny Sandoval	2 Teams	2Tm	258	11	.957
Jesus Merchan	Tucson	ARI	493	21	.957
INT SS			8724	347	.960
PCL SS			10452	383	.963
AAA SS			19176	730	.962

Tuiasosopo aside, shortstop is where the errors are. Ex-Royal Andres Blanco struggled with the glove at Iowa, showing up in the top spot on both lists. Even though he's tied for eighth in total errors, Fernando Cortez actually had a higher than average fielding percentage for an International League shortstop. It's hard to be disappointed with that. Careful observers might have noticed Atlanta players in the fielding percentage leaderboard at each infield position besides third base. The Yankees AAA club's infielders struggled on defense as well.

AAA Outfielders

AAA OF Sorted By Most Errors
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Luis Terrero	Norfolk	BAL	207	13	.937
Brendan Katin	Nashville	MIL	136	10	.926
Jai Miller	Albuquerque	FLA	234	9	.962
Tommy Murphy	2 Teams	2Tm	255	8	.969
Brent Clevlen	Toledo	DET	244	8	.967
Chris Roberson	Norfolk	BAL	221	7	.976
Brandon Watson	Lehigh Valley	PHI	215	7	.965
Felix Pie	Iowa	CHC	167	7	.964
7 tied with				6

AAA OF Sorted By Lowest FPct. (minimum 200 total chances
Name	Team	Org.	TC	E	FPct.
Luis Terrero	Norfolk	BAL	207	13	.937
Jai Miller	Albuquerque	FLA	234	9	.962
Brandon Watson	Lehigh Valley	PHI	201	7	.965
Brent Clevlen	Toledo	DET	244	8	.967
Tommy Murphy	2 Teams	2Tm	255	8	.969
Chris Lubanski	Omaha	KCR	215	6	.972
Tony Gwynn Jr.	Nashville	MIL	221	6	.973
Xavier Paul	Las Vegas	LAD	241	6	.975
Chris Roberson	Norfolk	BAL	286	7	.976
Christopher Frey	Colorado Springs	COL	224	5	.978
INT OF			12653	222	.982
PCL OF			14276	276	.981
AAA OF			26929	498	.982

Finally, we turn to the outfielders. While each position has its own intricacies, when it comes to outfield errors they're all the same: catch the ball, hit the cutoff man, no error. Apparently even those simple ideas are challenging for some players. I hope for the sake of the guys on these lists that they can blame a strong arm for these errors rather than trouble keeping the ball in their glove. Whatever his defensive issues are, Luis Terrero really blows away everyone else in the worst fielding percentage contest. Brendan Katin was saved from that indignity by lack of playing time.

So that's the errors situation at each position in AAA. Some guys make the list because they played a lot more than anyone else and some make the list because they're just not very good on defense. Whatever the reason each individual player has for appearing here, all of them collectively provide helpful context when looking at error totals for your favorite International League or Pacific Coast League player.