MLB: Best Double Play Combos in Baseball
By Joe Piazza
A MLB team’s shortstop and second base duo has the potential make or break their defense and their lineup. Let’s take a look at the best double play combos in the business.
When I talk about the best double play combo in the business, what do you look at? Defense, offense, or a mix of the two? On Friday, Fangraphs took a poll of the best double play combos in baseball. While I won’t be using their same methodology, they did collect a few stats that will be helpful for this piece. To be fair, they were only looking at shortstop/second base combos that have been together for at least 200 games since 2015. In contrast, I will weigh last year more than the seasons preceding it.
So if we’re being literal, the best duo at turning double plays is either in Detroit or Baltimore. Of course, that’s not even looking at all defensive metrics. If we’re looking at just range, the Indians and Giants are far superior to the rest. In terms of overall defense, the Giants and Indians also rank first and second in the league since 2015, respectively.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
That’s just in terms of on-paper defense, and according to just one article by Fangraphs. Of course, I’m here to do more than that. I’m here to discuss offense, and defense, and hopefully find a way to combine the two. Wins Above Replacement won’t necessarily make my decisions for me, but realistically it’s the perfect statistic to gauge this kind of thing.
Due to a few untimely injuries, there are some notable double play combos that will not make this list. Specifically, the Mariners, Dodgers, and Rockies are all missing big name infielders that would change the landscape of this ranking system. Other top performers such as the Diamondbacks just haven’t had enough success to prove they can last. For the Red Sox, it’s an issue of defensive capability.
Honorable Mentions: Cano/Segura (Seattle), Forsythe/Seager (Los Angeles), LeMahieu/Story (Rockies), Pedroia/Bogaerts (Boston), Drury/Owings (Arizona)