Most notable among these is the value of defense, as applied by the Chicago White Sox in their run to a championship. The Sox had a so-so offense and a good pitching staff, but what turned them into a title team was a defense that never quit, turning batted balls into outs at an amazing rate. Even more than the ’02 Angels or ’03 Marlins, the 2005 White Sox were a team that played defense better than it did anything else, and by shutting down opposing teams with range, limited run scoring and built a championship-caliber team.

 

The lesson here is that defense can be a weapon. To apply that lesson, though, we’ll have to figure out how to better incorporate defensive evaluation on a team level to prognostication. When the Sox traded for Scott Podsednik, perhaps I should have considered the effect he would have on their outfield defense, giving them two center fielders.

 

Defense is still a challenge for performance analysts, but the White Sox reinforce the lessons of the early 21st century: that defense isn’t an afterthought, that it can have a massive impact on the course of a season. We have to find a way to not be surprised by the next White Sox, or for that matter, the next team that disappoints because it doesn’t play good defense

 

 

https://baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4685

 

You will have have a premium account to read most of it ($4.95 a month, or $33.95 a year)

 

Say what you will about sabremetrics (personally I love it), but don't ever say these guys can't admit a mistake. And why shouldn't they? Sabremetrics is about questioning everything you assume and always keeping in mind your own fallability gives you the ability to improve your knowledge. Contrary to what some people seem to believe, it isn't about "you're wrong, I'm right, nanananana". We don't care who is right, just that we can explain the reasons why we screwed up. This is the quest for knowledge at the heart of sabermetrics

and yet we didnt get 1 gg. Surprising a team that stressed defense and won by good defense couldnt even get 1.

and yet we didnt get 1 gg.  Surprising a team that stressed defense and won by good defense couldnt even get 1.

I'd take a ring over a gold glove anyday.

I'd take a ring over a gold glove anyday.

 

Alright thats good and all... when did I say I wouldnt... it still changes nothing from what I said.

the gg award is a joke that relies on reputation and market.

 

But by the most objective stat for overall team defense--% of balls in play turned into outs--the sox were second in the league at .715, behind only (surprise!) the "Billy Beane doesn't give a $#% about defense" Oakland A's. (They posted a .715) Other teams in the top 5 are Cleveland, Houston, and the Phillies.

 

The Red Sox and Yankees were 23, and 22 in MLB, respectively.

I'm glad he gives us props for defense, but to describe our pitching as "good" is like saying that Donald Trump lives "comfortably."