Matt Chapman managed 20 DRS saved in only 79 games. Chapman will challenge Arenado and Machado for the best defensive 3B in baseball if he keeps it up over a full season. Clips range from 6/15 to 9/26.
Must be lonely playing behind chapman. The ball will never get to you because he always make a great play to grab it. Seriously though he needs to learn that third base isn't 75% down the left field line but other than that he is probably one of the best AL third baseman
People say he plays a better 3B than Arenado and I say that's BS. He's really good but Nolan has been doing this for 5 years (with 5 Gold Gloves to match), aaaaaaand just happens to be just as good with the bat too.
Azian2DaMax Chapman hasn't even played a full season and is already blowing everyone else out of the water in defensive metrics. He's on pace to have 12.1 career WAR at the end of this season; only players in history with a higher career war in their first two seasons are Kris Bryant, Frank Robinson, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Paul Waner (remember that Chapman will have only played a little over 1.5 seasons at the end of 2018). Pujols and Chapman had the same WAR at this point in their careers. Arenado is great, but c'mon.
I really, really want a 2018 defensive highlights video for Chapman. It's absolutely unreal watching this kid. When Donaldson left the team I thought I'd never get over it. But watching Chapman's defense alone has almost made me forget about Donaldson. And Chapman's offense is coming around too. He's been on fire at the plate the last month or so. Man, this kid has such a bright future. Since last year I've been saying he's my favorite player, and now he's their best player. Top 10 in WAR this season along the likes of Betts, Trout, Nola, Scherzer, Jose Ramirez, etc. If he can hit consistently like he has been the last ~month+, he'll be a top 10 player in the MLB during his prime. The A's better not trade him. I haven't watched a lot of Arenado's defense so I can't comment. But Chapman is even better than Donaldson on defense, and Donaldson was amazing defensively for us. Almost every game Chapman makes a gold glove caliber defensive play. I'm not even exaggerating on that. I was just at the game Friday night and he made an unbelievable sliding catch in LEFT FIELD foul territory near the bullpen mound. He had to run full speed and slide while the ball was over him from behind. Can't wait for that 2018 highlight video. Where can I find the defensive metric stats for individual players? Really curious where Chapman lies -- he has to be near the top. Between him and Laureano, the A's have got quite the defensive future.
John Kempel Chapman is the top spot in almost everything except defensive rating or something I'm pretty sure. Andrelton Simmons leads the league in that and Chapman is a close second. Chapman finished the 2018 season with the highest WAR of any infielder if I'm not mistaken.
