Defensively, what more important SS or CF?

[CuseCubFan69]

I was just thinking about Wrigley field and what would more important, to have a good fielding CF or a SS? The grass is always high so maybe range isn't that big of a thing for the SS so is it that important to have a good range guy there as much as it would be to have a guy that could catch everything in CF? I suppose it does depend on who is playing the OF corners as well. So, if the Cubs went for Pie in CF could they get a slugger for SS like Tejada and be able to hide him better? Or, get Funkudome in CF and a poor fielding/good hitting RF and get a very good fielding SS that has Theriot like numbers but makes more plays?

[seanimal]

SS. They field more batted balls and therefore their defensive prowess is more likely to have an effect on the outcome of the game. I doubt the length of the infield grass does much to mitigate this.

[Ryno12]

Obviously, both positions are important defensively. In most cases I would value defense at SS a little more than in CF. Primarily, because there seems to be more of an abundence of decent fielding CF who can at least hit a little. Many times at SS, it seems to be feast or famine, either great defense and no bat, or a good bat and bad defense, except for your rare exceptions such as ARod, Rollins, ...Jeter.

 

Also, I feel that while CF is a tough position to field, I do not believe it is the toughest OF spot to play at Wrigley. That honor would go to RF, due to the contours of the wall and whatnot. That being said, I would like to sign Fukudome for RF, put Pie in CF, and somehow still get Murton a decent number of AB's against LHP. I would also like us to bring in a better bat at SS, but I just don't see that happening.

[nilodnayr]

Heck, in the Wrigley OF, I think RF is harder than CF.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

SS, imo.

[UK1679666180]

SS, even with the upgrades to the field. The wind and the sun are always tough for any OF'er when coming to Wrigley, but there isn't much ground to be covered as some of these odd new ballparks.

 

None of the Cubs 2B have great range, Ramirez is ok at 3B and Z and Marquis are technically sinkerballers.

 

As far as applying it to the '08 Cubs...

 

The Cubs best defensive ballplayer is Pie (who could be the best defensive CF'er in the NL once he learns Wrigley, I think Taveras is the best right now) and what he could do that for that OF for 162 games with Lilly and Hill being flyball pitchers would be worth the possible and likely growing pains Pie will go through.

[biittner77]

Any ball a SS doesn't get to is a single. Any ball that a CF can't get to is usually an extra base hit. The difference between a mediocre SS and a really good one is not as great as the difference between a Rosie Brown type vs. Andruw Jones.

[UK1679666180]

Any ball a SS doesn't get to is a single. Any ball that a CF can't get to is usually an extra base hit. The difference between a mediocre SS and a really good one is not as great as the difference between a Rosie Brown type vs. Andruw Jones.

 

The amount of singles that are just out of the reach of a SS are much greater than a double/triple in the gap. Of course, the impact of range of the LF/RF will come into play than a 2B/3B.

[CuseCubFan69]

Any ball a SS doesn't get to is a single. Any ball that a CF can't get to is usually an extra base hit. The difference between a mediocre SS and a really good one is not as great as the difference between a Rosie Brown type vs. Andruw Jones.

 

The amount of singles that are just out of the reach of a SS are much greater than a double/triple in the gap. Of course, the impact of range of the LF/RF will come into play than a 2B/3B.

 

Wouldn't that be like the difference between a power and a singles hitter?

[UK1679666180]

Cuse, I fail to follow your comparison.

[CuseCubFan69]

Cuse, I fail to follow your comparison.

 

Like a hitters slugging percentage, could there be a fielders defensive slugging percentage? Say the SS misses 3 grounders that turn into singles while the OF misses 1 ball that turns into a triple. Could that even it up? Did that make sense?

[UK1679666180]

There could, but that would be dependent on the hitter's running speed and other runners on base.

 

That wouldn't be a stat I'd like to see given the judgement it would take to determine whther a diff. CF'er would've caught it.

[CuseCubFan69]

I agree that defensive metrics are very tough to judge but there has to be some kind of measuring system done by GM's or managers to determine defensive worth other than relying on scorekeepers and ESPN.

[UK1679666180]

They do, it's all done by play by play data. There are probablistic models of range done by Pinto that is based off of PBP data as well as Dewan's fielding bible book, if I recall.

[CuseCubFan69]

They do, it's all done by play by play data. There are probablistic models of range done by Pinto that is based off of PBP data as well as Dewan's fielding bible book, if I recall.

 

Play by play...what a novel idea! I'm curious on he breaks that down.

[frostwyrm]

CF defense is important but a CF doesn't have to turn a double play.

[bhogg]

I have personally watched short stops and center fielders. Therefore, power hitting left handed right fielders is the correct answer. That and Geovany Soto.

 

Seriously, my vote is for the SS --- gets more balls hit to him and is generally more involved in the game.