Juan Lagares: Arm Porn

[Edgy MD]

FanGraphs looks at Juan Lagares' work as a throwing outfielder, and comes to the conclusion that his stats are no illusion --- and in fact, his performance has been historically admirable. But close analysis points credit to neither his arm's power nor accuracy, both of which have been historically rated as "solid." Instead, they plotz over how he maximizes what he has, accentuating his throwing ability with his speed, aggressiveness, confidence, positioning. In summary, he uses an infielder's instincts and skills in the outfield.

It's all fascinating and so sexified that your work porn filters are probably gonna block it.

[Frayed Knot]

Before even reading the piece, my take on Lagares is that his shallow positioning and aggressive charging of balls allow him to often make shorter throws than many CFs which, when added to a quick release and unerringly accuracy, combine to pile up the assists even though if one were to arrange a 'throw-off' kind of contest among ML OFs it would probably show him to have a good though hardly super-human arm. Sort of the opposite of young Vlad Guerrero who could out-throw anyone but was as likely to miss the cut-off men or heave the ball into Row F behind 3rd base as he was to get the runner.

[Edgy MD]

But they further suggest that his accuracy is hardly unerring, so much as his play is as economical as it is aggressive, and you look at a play like this one, it's suggestive of the infielder who gets the ball away quick enough on a throw to first to allow the firstbaseman to adapt.

[Edgy MD]