The defensive metric UZR is now available for free on FanGraphs.  Since it’s there, let’s take a look.

Based on PMR and the +/- system, a conclusion can be made that Yuniesky Betancourt is among the worst 5-10 defensive shortstops in all of Major League Baseball.

According to the UZR system, Betancourt allowed 14.7 more runs in 2008 than an average fielding shortstop, ranking dead last.

The results are in.  Yuniesky Betancourt is among the very worst defensive shortstops in all of baseball, out-sucking the likes of Michael Young, Jhonny Peralta and Stephen Drew.  What say you to that, Jim Street?

Based on the other measurements, Lopez can be pegged as an average/below-average defensive second baseman, very middle of the pack, but steadily declining year to year.

UZR confirms the other measurements.  Lopez is 3.3 runs worse than an average fielding second baseman, ranking him 10th out of 17 MLB second basemen with at least 850 innings at the position in 2008.

Seattle’s defense has to get much better if their pitch-to-contact pitching staff is going to succeed.  The Tampa Bay Rays are living proof of how much better a pitching staff can get once a solid defense is backing them up.

I’m already convinced that Betancourt is on his way out or about to get bumped over the second base, especially considering that GM Jack Zduriencik has reportedly reached out to all-defense no-offense shortstops such as Adam Everett and Omar Vizquel.  We’ll see what happens.