Here’s the thing with ERA, the runs have to be earned. Last year Twins pitchers were punished by ERA in part because the fielders behind them were statues. Lowest range metrics in MLB last year and lowest errors. They weren’t charged with errors because none of them could get to the dang ball.
this year, Buxton and Bader in the outfield swings the range metrics quite a bit ranked 12 in MLB (way too early for sample sizes, but I’m going with it anyways). But man that infield…
France is short, he’s scooping the digs OK, but a couple throws per week sail by a couple inches that 5’10” Carlos Santana would have stabbed. Lee and Correa are good, but that’s only two of the three, which brings us to the old school .981 fielding percentage, 25th in baseball with 21 errors tied for 7th most.
last year ERA was ballooned by the crap fielding, this year buoyed by it.