Defense doesn't win championships...

[lordsepic]

In baseball. Pirates were the best fielding team in baseball last year with a .988 fielding percentage and only 73 errors. It earned them not a championship but 99 losses... Perhaps less than 100 losses for the Pirates is like a title though. What do you think? Is defense overrated to a certain degree in baseball?

 

[colts1888]

its overrated in general if you cant score points your not gonna win

Look at the Jets this year best d but couldnt put up points same thing with the ravens

 

[mredsox89]

no, having only defense doesn't. Pittsburgh scored the least runs in baseball. You can have a fielding % of 1.000 but if your offense is the worst in baseball it won't matter. They were also in the bottom half of runs allowed. Its ignorant to ignore the other aspects of baseball when making a point about defense and comparing it to overall record.

 

[Reyes7tulo2]

I don't think so. Yankees defense increased dramatically with the addition of Teixeira last season. In 2008, the Phillies and the Rays were the top 2 fielding teams in the majors, I believe. So the 3 teams in the World Series the past 2 seasons were all pretty efficient defensively. It might be talked about a little too much since the lineups of the Yanks and Phils are what really got them to the World Series last year (along with very good #1 starters), but it's definitely important.

 

[Gwynn545]

If pitching = defense, then defense does win championships! Pittsburgh only had half a defense (the fielding half!)

 

[TomMurry]

Until Pittsburgh Executives stop wasting their Minor League talent, Pirates will NEVER be contenders in their own division, let alone the league.

 

[Codasco07]

I think using errors and fielding percentage to assess fielding is overrated.

 

[sportscardtheory]

Baseball is far more balanced than most sports. You need to be able to do everything well to win a Championship. Great pitching is a huge piece of the pie, but if you can't score runs, good pitching goes to waste. Just ask Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

 

[baseballguy350]

What was their run differential? It all comes down to run differential.

 

[darocker80]

Baseball is far more balanced than most sports. You need to be able to do everything well to win a Championship. Great pitching is a huge piece of the pie, but if you can't score runs, good pitching goes to waste. Just ask Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain.

Lincecum won back to back cy youngs and is about to become filthy rich. I think he's happy

But i know what you're saying about their win totals.

With the upgrade offense, watch out!

 

[thefatguy]

If pitching = defense, then defense does win championships! Pittsburgh only had half a defense (the fielding half!)

Thank-you.
Pitching wins championships! The pitcher has to give the other 8 guys behind him a chance to make that play. It starts with 1.

 

[subject to change]

Did a solid defense win the Pirates a WS title last year? No. But it certainly gave them a few wins that otherwise would have ended up being losses. Keep in mind that team fielding percentage really only accounts for infield defense, since errors are horrible inefficient in gauging defensive play or range for outfielders.

Last year, the Pirates were a very strong defensive team, at least up to the trade deadline. The outfield of Morgan, McCutchen, and Moss was above average across the board, with Morgan's play being very important in PNC's large left field (which size-wise plays more like center field). In the infield, an injured Ryan Doumit was replaced for a large stretch by a defensively superior Jason Jaramillo. Andy LaRoche made huge strides at third under infield coach Perry Hill, and Jack Wilson is perhaps the best defensive shortstop in the game. Freddy Sanchez played some of the best second base of his career, and Adam LaRoche was at least an average defensive 1B, if not a tick above average. The impact of this improved infield and outfield defense unquestionably saved runs, and helped in breakout seasons fo Zach Duke and Ross Ohlendorf.

However, the Pirates had the worst pitching in the majors two years ago, by a pretty wide margin. Though it improved last year, the pitching staff still left a lot to be desired. Additionally, there was little power in the lineup, causing the team to lose numerous games despite only giving up 1-2 runs. The team got shut out an obscene number of times last year, and not just by some of the better pitchers in the game. Number 4 and 5 starters could look like Walter Johnson against the Pirate lineup. It's also worth noting that after the midseason trades, the team's era rose as its defensive capabilities were suddenly far more limited.

Baseball is a game that requires all facets of the team to produce at a reasonably high level to win. Having the best defense will win you a few extra games, but keep you far from being a contender if you have mediocre pitching and weak hitting, just as a team will likely struggle if they have a lineup of sluggers who can barely field their position playing behind a staff of #4 starters.

 

[andyduke86]

I think using errors and fielding percentage to assess fielding is overrated.

Overrated, if not a totally useless way to compare defenses. Those two stats really mean nothing when it comes to evaluating overall defense.

 

[19braves77]

If your team has a bunch of people sliding all over the place in the outfield, its because they are poor defenders not great defensive players. Why people think someone like Nate McClouth or Bj Upton is great in the field is beyond me.

 

[sportscardtheory]

If your team has a bunch of people sliding all over the place in the outfield, its because they are poor defenders not great defensive players. Why people think someone like Nate McClouth or Bj Upton is great in the field is beyond me.

If they are making plays, why would it matter in the least HOW they make the plays. Do you really believe ONLY great outfielders don't ever dive or slide for catches? That sounds dumb.

 

[subject to change]

I haven't seen enough of Upton to pass judgment, but the example of McLouth is spot on. During his time in Pittsburgh, people often raved about his sliding or diving catches. However, most people failed to realize he needed to dive for those balls because he took bad routes to balls, and didn't have the speed to make up the ground.

I don't think anyone would argue that a good center fielder never has to slide/dive for a ball. However, good outfielders have the range and ability to read a ball off the bat so they can make a running catch on balls other OF'ers with less range would have to dive for.

 

[Codasco07]

If your team has a bunch of people sliding all over the place in the outfield, its because they are poor defenders not great defensive players. Why people think someone like Nate McClouth or Bj Upton is great in the field is beyond me.

Except that Upton is really good and McClouth is historically awful (decent this year).

 

[19braves77]

Outfielders are usually sliding and having balls go over their head due to being lazy, out of place and poor route running. All part of playing defense and one of the easiest things to correct. It matters because they win GG's over people that dont take poor routes. Rarely, do you see Upton in the athletic position that you are taught in teeball. Sad thing about Upton is that he has a great example out there with him: Carl Crawford.

 

[carrsallstars]

In baseball. Pirates were the best fielding team in baseball last year with a .988 fielding percentage and only 73 errors. It earned them not a championship but 99 losses... Perhaps less than 100 losses for the Pirates is like a title though. What do you think? Is defense overrated to a certain degree in baseball?

Ahhh, yes the Pirates should have won the world series based on their fielding percentage. And Jason Bay is a better defensive left fielder than Carl Crawford because Bay had a higher fielding percentage last year.

I don't think defense is overrated in baseball, but fielding percentage is overrated as a measure of defensive prowess. See also: Brian Downing.

 

[Big Mac McGwire]

If pitching is defense, then the phrase will always ring true...

PITCHING WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

How many titles did the offense powered Rockies win in the 90's, or the Rangers from the last few years....ZERO. The yankees had alot of offense in the years that followed the last title before this year, but they did not have the pitching. Pitching is what counts when it comes to post season.