When you factor in his multiple gold gloves he is.
His average year is 25-94 .273, batting average is OK, not great, but he averages 17 swipes a year as well.
We are talking position players here, who in MLB has been a better defensive center fielder in the past ten years?
You can argue Sizemore, and Edmunds, but that's it.
His average year is 25-94 .273, batting average is OK, not great, but he averages 17 swipes a year as well.
We are talking position players here, who in MLB has been a better defensive center fielder in the past ten years?
You can argue Sizemore, and Edmunds, but that's it.
At the corners, I agree defense is overrated, up the middle, underrated, a terrific up the middle (C,2B,SS,CF) makes a decent pitcher good, and a good pitcher great.
Case in point, Does Dan Petry win 18 and Milt Wilcox win 17 in 1984 without the DP combo of Trammel/Whittaker turning two, or Chet Lemon running down balls in CF, or Parrish gunning down would be stealers?
No freaking way.
World Champs 1984 Tigers were one of the best up the middle defensive teams in the modern era, along with the 1975 Reds with Morgan/Concecpcion/Geronimo/Bench.
That Red team was also World Champs, up the middle defense again was a huge part of that success.
Same can be said about the Orioles in the mid to late 60's with Blair and Belanger.
Belanger could barely hit .230, but ask Cuellar and McNally how many runs he saved them.
Man, Belanger could pick.
Oh, and to answer your question, right now I would pick Mauer to start catching for me, Sizemore (because he is much younger) in CF, Albert at first, Utley at 2B
Case in point, Does Dan Petry win 18 and Milt Wilcox win 17 in 1984 without the DP combo of Trammel/Whittaker turning two, or Chet Lemon running down balls in CF, or Parrish gunning down would be stealers?
No freaking way.
World Champs 1984 Tigers were one of the best up the middle defensive teams in the modern era, along with the 1975 Reds with Morgan/Concecpcion/Geronimo/Bench.
That Red team was also World Champs, up the middle defense again was a huge part of that success.
Same can be said about the Orioles in the mid to late 60's with Blair and Belanger.
Belanger could barely hit .230, but ask Cuellar and McNally how many runs he saved them.
Man, Belanger could pick.
Oh, and to answer your question, right now I would pick Mauer to start catching for me, Sizemore (because he is much younger) in CF, Albert at first, Utley at 2B
