The Beauty of Defense

Defense is sports can be a beautiful thing if done properly. There is just something inherently beautiful about defense. When a defensive play is executed it's like listening to Beethoven for the first time. It's exciting, exhilarating, name whatever adjective you want to use. I'll watch a well executed defensive play any time over an well executed offensive play.

On the flip side of this equation, defense can be painful to watch. The New Jersey Devils neutral zone trap in the mid-90's was awfully boring to watch and probably damaged the NHL to a certain degree because it worked and was used by other teams at the same time it drove fans away from the NHL. The San Antonio Spurs were also another team that was great defensively, but awfully boring to watch. Tim Duncan might be the greatest power forward ever, but he was never flashy like Hakeem Olajuwon. When Hakeem "The Dream" blocked a shot it was breathtaking. Like watching a bolt of lightning strike down a shot. Tim Duncan and the Spurs didn't bring any of that to their games.

So yes I appreciate good defense that is fun to watch. It's beautiful and breathtaking and I refuse to apologize for my loves.

I bring this all up because the Colonel and I have argued the merits whether defense is really that important in baseball. Would you rather have an offensive player playing everyday but he can't field a lick? Or would you rather have a great defensive player who can't either hit a lick or can barely hit?


Interesting debate especially when considering there are so few players who are both outstanding playing defense and offense in baseball. Players who were great on both sides are usually hall of fame players like Willie Mays or Mike Schmidt. It's hard for a player to be great on both sides.

I wouldn't want to sacrifice the entire team just for defense, but I do want my shortstop and right fielder to be the best defensive players on the field no matter how they perform on offense. The Colonel disagrees.

"I'd rather have nine average to below average defensive players who can hit than a single good to great defensive player who can't hit," says the Colonel.

"What happens though when your average to below average defensive players have games when they don't hit and commit a couple of errors?" I ask.

"I can expect a couple of games where this scenario happens," says the Colonel.

"What happens if this scenario happens more than a couple of times? What happens if this scenario hurts your team down the stretch of the season when they cannot lose games because of defensive breakdowns?" I ask.

"That's a risk you have to take. Great offenses will make up for mistakes in the field. If the entire purpose of baseball is too score runs to win, then I'd rather have great offensive players who are below average on defense. They can make up for their mistakes in the field," says the Colonel.

That's just one topic we disagree on. Just wait until we discuss the downfall of the Ottoman Empire!

For the third night in a row the Padres are just owning the Giants. Flat out owning them. I'm surprised the Padres haven't brought the gimp out of the closet, tied up all the Giants players and shoved red balls down their mouths and ass rapped every single Giants player. They might as well.

I would discuss more about this game but I just threw up in my mouth. Maybe it would be better if I just continued with my drinking at the Mos Eisley Cantina instead of talking about the Padres.