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A year ago, many were swept up in the addition of Oquendo and McGee to the coaching staff as the solution for the defense. Clearly, that was not enough.
Want to know how Camp Shildt will be different? Start where the #cardinals were one of the worst last season — on defense. Some things to watch, and the one move that already has helped. #stlcards #MLB https://t.co/ctlkspohxw
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) February 12, 2019
Oquendo told Rick Hummel the Cards have five potential Gold Glovers, not including Bader.
For a team that topped the league in errors, #Cardinals officials sure seem optimistic about the defense. Oquendo tells Hummel there are five Gold Glove candidates on the team — and does not include Bader, a top defensive CF. https://t.co/baXD9YKeqa #stlcards #MLB
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) February 10, 2019
Here is an interesting outsider’s view, reminding us that errors is not always the best measure.
The Cardinals led MLB in errors, but they were also 10th in DRS, and 10th in UZR. (Plus, 8th in outfield-only OAA.) Errors are bad, I guess, but this was probably a better D in '18 than you'd think.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) February 12, 2019
Also, no NL team shifted less often than the Cards. There is definitely not a 1:1 correlation between "shift more" and "better defense," but it's an interesting note.https://t.co/DWrs2aj3uG
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) February 12, 2019
Its interesting that the Cards as a team face more lefties than righties. The only MLB to be in that situation.
I mentioned this before but going position by position, the Cards have above average to Gold Glove defenders at every position but 3B and RF. RF would be included if O’Neill takes that spot.
I personally don’t think they are going to be any better this year. goldy is great at first but carpenter is actually a pretty good first baseman so goldys defense doesn’t raise us that much. bader is awesome and wong is really good if not great but hes also injured a lot. I think dejong is solid but I wouldn’t consider him great. carpenter is mostly fine fielding wise but throwing wise he is horrible. while they may not be called errors, plays that should be made at third but wont be will go up unless he has gained lots of arm strength. Molina is showing his age, he lets more balls get by than he used to and he doesn’t throw out as high a percentage as he used to, course nobody hardly steals anymore and I still consider Molina a great catcher. ozuna is a solid outfielder though not exceptional and Martinez and fowler. im not even gonna go there. at least Martinez hits. the cardinals bench is mostly horrible defensively. outside of Martinez in right which about anyone would be an improvement, there is nobody at the other positions that you would consider bringing in for the late innings to bolster the defense. funny thing about errors though. they aren’t called the way they are supposed to be anymore. used to be if you got a glove on the ball, it was an error if you didn’t make the play. if you did some stupid thing and took yourself out of position and didn’t get to a grounder or fly ball you should, it was an error. now if the balls hit too hard, its a hit. if it requires any real skill to field but isn’t fielded, its a hit cause yea ut should have been made but it was a little tough. so don’t watch the errors perse, watch the plays that aren’t made that could or should have been made but weren’t. that’s more telling in this day and age.
stlcard25
I mentioned this before but going position by position, the Cards have above average to Gold Glove defenders at every position but 3B and RF. RF would be included if O’Neill takes that spot.
LF would only be considered above-average if Ozuna’s shoulder is healthy.
The FO has high hopes that Fowler will improve greatly at the plate. But his defense in the OF will remain, even to them, to stick out like a sore thumb. Oddly enough JoMartinez is in a spot to be actually better than another outfielder.
Just to balance the discussion, Fowler’s 2018 ended due to a foot injury. It is not unreasonable to consider the thought that a bad foot could affect his defense.
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