The biggest difference between Evans and Parker in 1986, though, was in defense. Parker played 117 more innings in the outfield, but made fewer plays than did Evans. Parker fielded .970; Evans fielded .983. Both players had strong arms, and each player threw out ten runners on the bases. Because of the difference between them in range, however, Baseball Reference estimates that Parker in 1986 was 17 runs worse in the outfield than an average right fielder, whereas Evans was eight runs better. That's 25 runs.
I don't know how they calculate that, and, because defense is so hard to measure, I prefer to use more conservative measurements. The difference between an average team and a championship team, in a season, is only about 150 runs. Saying that the fielding difference between two right fielders is 25 runs is a little like saying that a 150-pound woman gave birth to a 25-pound baby. Ouch. I'm not saying it's not possible; it's just hard to believe. I have Evans as being only about eight runs better than Parker in the field, not because I don't believe the 25-run difference is possible, but just because I just don't think that we know for certain how large the difference was. Parker also had been an outstanding defensive outfielder earlier in his career. But I don't think anyone questions that, by 1986, Dwight Evans was a lot better of an outfielder than was Parker.
