ABSTRACT

In baseball, defense, also known as fielding (technically, defense can include pitching), is one of the most controversial aspects of player evaluation. In this chapter, we will discuss exactly what we are attempting to measure when constructing a defensive metric, why it is important to any player or team evaluation system, and just how difficult it is to measure and quantify defense. We will also talk about why even the most robust modern metrics garner so little respect among some analysts and stat-friendly fans and commentators.