Pillar, Perez, and Our Common Bond

Oftentimes, preconceived notions inhibit our understanding of the game of baseball. From archaic methods of player evaluation to cultural expectations of players of varying ethnicity, each observer’s individual paradigm dramatically alters his or her view of the game.  Case in point, what common ground could Salvador Perez and Kevin Pillar possibly share beyond their profession? Perez, who recently inked a new contract extension with the Kansas City Royals, stands at a booming 6’3’’ and 240 lbs. Pillar measures in at a more svelte – for professional athletes, at least – 6’0’’ and 205 lbs. Perez signed with the Royals in 2006, at the age of 16, as an international free agent out of tumultuous Venezuela before Pillar had even graduated from Chaminade College Prep, a private Catholic school in San Fernando Valley. Pillar finally signed his first professional contract after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 32^nd round of the 2011 amateur draft, less than a month before Perez debuted in the Majors despite being two years Pillar’s younger. Examined from a cultural and personality standpoint, Perez and Pillar seem polar inverses of one another.

Herein lies the beauty of baseball, and sports in general – citizens from all walks of life can come together, abandon their differences, and enjoy a common passion. From first pitch to the final out, no one differentiates between the hulking, affable Venezuelan catcher and the agile, analytical outfielder. Indeed if you only considered their projected on-field contributions, you may discover them indistinguishable.

	G	PA	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	BB%	K%	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	wOBA	Fld	WAR
Player A	126	531	504	137	25	2	17	54	67	3.6%	14.0%	.272	.301	.431	.732	.313	5.0	3.1
Player B	142	595	556	153	34	3	12	67	66	4.3%	15.4%	.275	.311	.410	.721	.312	6.5	2.8

 

Projections courtesy of FanGraphs’ Depth Charts, a combination of ZiPS and Steamer, provide us our best estimate of a player’s “true talent” level. No, projections are not infallible, but for this exercise they convey more than enough. Perez and Pillar share striking similarities in their statistical profiles. Solid defense up the middle, meager walk rates complemented by above-average strikeout rates; even the “old school” stats and classic triple-slash lines bear remarkable resemblance. The summary stats further these parallels; both players project around 3 fWAR for the upcoming season, while only one point of wOBA separates them. The only appreciable area of separation resides in base-running, where Pillar’s stolen bases give his BsR a four-run edge over Perez’. Otherwise, Pillar and Perez mirror each other with regard to their contributions on the diamond – the only facet we should judge players by. Perhaps more compelling, their overall approach. The below table lists each players’ plate discipline statistics from the 2015 season, as found on FanGraphs.

	O-Swing%	Z-Swing%	Swing%	O-Contact%	Z-Contact%	Contact%	Zone%	F-Strike%	SwStr%
Player A	43.3 %	68.5 %	54.7 %	73.5 %	90.7 %	83.2 %	45.1 %	60.6 %	9.0 %
Player B	40.9 %	63.0 %	51.4 %	73.6 %	90.1 %	83.2 %	47.3 %	65.1 %	8.5 %

 

Both player profiles match what we should have expected given their walk and strikeout rates above: free swingers, particularly at pitches outside the zone, with an above-average ability to make contact. (Statistically speaking, among qualified batters Perez and Pillar both rank in the top quartile in Swing%, the 96^th percentile in O-Swing%, and top half in Contact%). Nonetheless, the proximity of their plate-discipline statistics encapsulates how comparably Perez and Pillar approach an at-bat.

Having not revealed the identity of the two stat lines* illustrates one of the charms of the game. No matter the background, personality, religion, whatever you may have, we convene to cherish a game we love. With an abundance of animosity arising over “playing the game the right way”, cultural lines oftentimes artificially divide us. We can choose to continue making these superficial discrepancies, or we can focus on what ultimately matters most, the product on the field and the joy it brings to our lives.

 

*For the curious (and spoilers for those who prefer the anonymity):

Player A – Salvador Perez, Player B – Kevin Pillar