Which team had better results from their third base coach?
What I wanted to compare was what happened when the third base coach sent runners home. I found three statistics that seemed relevant.
First, I tip my cap to Jim McLennan for mentioning this statistic from Baseball Reference. It includes runners advancing on fly balls, hits, line drives, wild pitches, and passed balls. It is not the best comparison because it includes things that the third base coach is unlikely to have influenced.
Although the statistic was not much different (21 outs for Diamondbacks and 19 outs for Reds), the Reds had a slight edge. Let’s look at two other statistics.
Extra bases taken when the extra base is home plate.
The extra bases taken (EBTs) per attempt is likely the best comparison because the third base coach can make a significant impact. This statistic includes data from Baseball Reference (runner on first base attempts to score on a double, and runner on second base attempts to score on a single). It shows the Reds had much more success.
The percentage of EBTs that resulted in outs.
This statistic was available from Baseball Savant for all EBTs. It covers more attempts than the previous statistic because it includes attempts to score AND attempts by a runner on first base to reach either third base or home on a single. It shows the Reds had fewer outs per attempt.
The overall view is that the Reds had much better success while experiencing fewer outs per attempt. My conclusion is that J.R. House will make a positive impact on the Diamondbacks.
How did J.R. House achieve a better result?
My simplistic view is that he prepared for success, applied what he learned, and learned from his mistakes. My conclusion is that J.R. House will make a positive impact on the Diamondbacks. Details follow.
“Everything is a calculated risk. How much are you willing to risk on it as far as accuracy of the arm. We have all those reports. We do a pretty good job of studying them and making sure we’re prepared overall as a staff for our position. It’s just making that quick decision and relying on what happens as far as the outcome because we can’t predict the future. At the same time, we can prepare as best as possible.” — J.R. House
“After games, House studies video of plays at the plate to look at what he could’ve changed on his read from the third-base coaching box, what the runners could’ve done differently and whether it was the right situation to be aggressive.” — Bobby Nightengale
“You have to learn from mistakes. I think that’s just life in general that anyone goes through. Try not to make them again and make yourself better for it. That’s what we’re trying to do.” — J.R. House
J.R. House has previous experience with the Diamondbacks.
Wikipedia provided these highlights:
In 2014, he managed the Hillsboro Hops to the Northwest League championship. In 2015, he managed the Visalia Rawhide, earning California League Manager of the Year. In 2018, he was the field coordinator of instruction for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“And this is how I kind of experienced you as a manager. You were like a mentor – bring guys under your wing to really help them because you wanted them to have successful careers.” — Matt Hannaford
J.R. House knows what makes players successful.
This 50 minute interview makes me think that he could talk a very long time about player traits that contribute to success. I would gladly listen to him talk for hours, and although it’s unlikely anything is possible. I enthusiastically heard him talk about ten traits of successful baseball players.
As you read the traits, keep in mind the caveat that the following is a summary of what I heard, which does not reflect the full meaning and nuances because the interview was short and my summary (which is even shorter) did not capture every important aspect.
The ten traits of successful baseball players.
Athleticism (baseball rules benefit players who are athletic).Likeability (so other people are in your corner want to help you).Durability (preparing yourself to be durable is extremely important).Does not like to be rushed (arrive early and don’t abbreviate routines).Handles adversity (sometimes by listening to good advice).Has nice routines.Listens to his body (and adjusts accordingly).Has more solutions than average (especially everyday players).Mitigates failures with awareness of performance, positive takeaways, and doesn’t continue negative habits.Loves baseball. That love is reflected in working hard and putting in the time.
Bonus Point: Players who bring value find it easier to be involved in the clubhouse.
The overall view is that the Reds had much better success while experiencing fewer outs per attempt at extra bases. My conclusion is that J.R. House will make a positive impact on the Diamondbacks.
J.R. House had a better result because he prepared for success, applied what he learned, and learned from his mistakes.
J.R. House has previous experience with the Diamondbacks.
J.R. House knows what makes players successful. He expressed ten traits of successful players.
Athleticism (baseball rules benefit players who are athletic).Likeability (so other people are in your corner want to help you).Durability (preparing yourself to be durable is extremely important).Does not like to be rushed (arrive early and don’t abbreviate routines).Handles adversity (sometimes by listening to good advice).Has nice routines.Listens to his body (and adjusts accordingly).Has more solutions than average (especially everyday players).Mitigates failures with awareness of performance, positive takeaways, and doesn’t continue negative habits.Loves baseball. That love is reflected in working hard and putting in the time.