Do the Cubs have the worst outfield defense in the league?

[garsky]

Tonight's game was a perfect microcosm of the Cubs' season, outfield-defense-wise. Pagan totally blows a catchable ball in LF, Pierre can't make the throw from CF to 2nd with less than 3 bounces, Jones lets one get over his head (it didn't even make it to the warning track) then throws an offline 6-bouncer to second on what should have been a fairly easy play at second. And Murton also throws an offline 3-bouncer to second on a play that might have been made.

 

Hendry pays lip service to defense to rationalize moves like the Izturis trade, but our outfielders are pathetic.

 

Sure, there are worse butchers in the outfield (Dunn, Manny), but the worst of them at least give you something with the stick.

[Peoriaman]

No.

[Mizzou]

No.

I hate replies like that.

 

Then who does, in your opinion?

[gflore34]

What of the ball Huff hit in the 4th? I believe some with Pierre' speed should have caught that ball.

[cheapseats]

No.

I hate replies like that.

 

Then who does, in your opinion?

 

There are a lot of teams with worse defensive outfields. We focus on Cubs mistakes because that's the team we follow. We have no frame of reference except what a player "should" have done. When you actually compare the Cubs to other teams, they're fine.

 

Using Davenport's fielding stats, Boston, for example, is much worse. Manny Ramirez costs them many runs in left, Coco Crisp - who is an above average LF - is a below average CF, and Wily Mo Pena is below average in RF.

 

The Dbacks outfield is below average at every position at well.

 

The Giants have Randy Winn doing a great job in CF, but they also have Barry Bonds and Moises Alou at the corners.

 

etc. etc.

 

I'd gladly see the Cubs get worse defensively in the OF to upgrade the offense.

[Peoriaman]

good answer cheapseats. We tend to always focus on the negatives here to the point of obsession. Depressing.