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MLB: Who will be the biggest x-factors in the playoff chase?

By Ed Carroll

Aug 30, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a single against the Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Chicago White Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a single against the Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Chicago White Sox defeat the Detroit Tigers 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) throws to first during the ninth inning to put out San Diego Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko (not pictured) at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) throws to first during the ninth inning to put out San Diego Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko (not pictured) at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

C Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers

Another player who might surprise you, Lucroy has been excellent with his bat in 2014. His wRC+ is 131, 16th in the NL, and a wRC+ of 100 is average. Lucroy has been better than teammates Carlos Gomez (17th, 130 wRC+) and Ryan Braun (28th, 121 wRC+) and ahead of such names as Adrian Gonzalez, Jhonny Peralta and Hanley Ramirez. Lucroy can hit, and as Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs points out, Lucroy has a case for the NL MVP.

Where Lucroy truly seems to separate himself from the rest is in his defense. His arm is more middle-of-the-pack, but he’s among the most effective pitch-blockers in baseball, and the staff at Baseball Prospectus (and Fangraphs) typically finds his framing abilities to be elite. How catchers impact pitch framing is a newer concept in baseball, and is still slightly hard to measure, but using the data available shows Lucroy is certainly responsible for some of his pitch-framing prowess.

Lucroy, and the Brewers, have been scuffling lately, but defense usually doesn’t slump. Lucroy’s pitch-framing ability has been a boon to the Milwaukee pitching staff, and they might need Lucroy at his best to hold off the rest of the NL Central.

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