OF Defense. Thoughts and community Poll ?

[DocBauer]

I do think it's a good thing all these awful defenders and non-OFs will no longer be in the OF.  That is a plus for the team's defense.  We also know from Gardy and others that Arcia is just not comfortable in LF - so we added an aging RF and moved a bad RF to a spot he feels even less comfortable.

 

There is a chance we don't see as much improvement from that positive as we hope simply for that reason.  I still think adding a rangy CF would dramatically reduce this problem, even if the guy can't hit worth a lick.

Yep. Exactly this.

 

At this point, blaming Gardy who marched out there is unnecessary. Just the simple fact playing real OF's in the OF will make a marked difference. Forget Hunter's loss of range over the past few seasons. At least he knows how to position himself and track a ball and take proper angels. He even knows what base to throw to!

 

That being said, a move for a defensive CF can still make a huge difference to the team defense overall. Perhaps I'm being a big naïve or overly optimistic about this, but isn't our pitching staff moving more and more toward ground balls and SO's than in previous years as well?

 

Also, eye test means a lot to me as well. I can watch a gold glover all-star like Cal Ripken position himself well, show good hands and a good arm, and play sound defense and make few errors, but he still doesn't compare to the flash and range of an Ozzie Smith playing the same position, getting to balls and making plays Ripken couldn't dream of.

[Willihammer]

also how many runs will the OF create?  and how many wins does that give us back?

That's the part I'm crossing my fingers about. The OF defense was bad last year, it probably will be bad again, hopefully Hunter has it for one more year and recovers more runs on Offense that Hammer, Colabello, and Kubel didn't.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I predict your wish will be granted by about mid-July in the form of Buxton, sans the hitting problem.

 

I'll drink to that, though I think it's a bit overly optimistic

[strumdatjaguar]

WE need Buxton here some time soon and Hicks to become a big-leaguer, or we'll be beleaguered. The defense for the first half of this season will be brutal to watch!!!

[Twodogs]

Well it can be any worse than watching Kubel stumble around out there.  It's not going to be the "Soul Patrol," (Hunter, Lawton, and J.Jones) but it shouldnt be a lot worse than last year.  But defense is important.  Back in the early 2000's people couldnt figure out how the twins were winning games they had a bunch of nobodys but they played tough defense.