Brewers' defense has improved, Yost contends
MILWAUKEE -- The numbers say the Milwaukee Brewers' defense isn't much different than last year. But Ned Yost's eyes know better.
Statistically, the Brewers' .982 team fielding percentage is identical to their stats from a year ago when they were among the worst defensive teams in the major leagues. Much of the team's off-season energy was spent on fixing the defense, with Mike Cameron brought in to play center field, Bill Hall shifted from center to third base, Ryan Braun moved from third to left field and Jason Kendall signed to take the place of Johnny Estrada at catcher.
Mission accomplished, according to Yost, notwithstanding Friday night's defensive debacle against the Cincinnati Reds.
"It's been a lot better," Yost said of his team's defense through the first 93 games. "We're catching more balls, not allowing as many baserunners."
Last year the Brewers committed 109 errors, the fourth most in the National League. They have made 62 errors so far this season.
But the biggest difference, Yost said, is that this year's reconfigured outfield is getting to more balls than last year when Geoff Jenkins and Kevin Mench platooned in left field, Hall played center and Corey Hart was in right.
"It wasn't errors killing us in the outfield before," Yost said. "It was balls hit in the gap. We've got a lot of those covered now. We've got range out there between Braun, Cameron and Corey Hart. We're catching a lot of balls that used to fall in. And those weren't showing up in the defensive measures because they were base hits."
Despite a critical misplay in Friday's 6-5 loss when he lost a ball in the lights -- the play was originally ruled an error but changed to a hit on Saturday -- Cameron has been everything Yost expected in center. Yost said the only center fielder he has seen with better instincts is Andruw Jones, a perennial Gold Glove winner with the Atlanta Braves, now in his first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Brewers' biggest defensive problem last year was Braun, who committed 26 errors in just 112 games at third base for a historically bad .895 fielding percentage. He has yet to make an error in left field.
"I see the development of a guy who's going to be an above-average left fielder," Yost said. "He's an average left fielder now and he's never played there. He works at it every day. He's got an above-average arm, very accurate, he has great speed, gets to a lot of balls and he's smart. He knows already when to throw to a base and when not to. He's just a good athlete."
Yost also is pleased with the defensive progress of Rickie Weeks at second base. Weeks committed his seventh error on Friday and has a .980 fielding percentage. Last year he had 13 errors and a .976 percentage.
"He's gotten better and better every year," Yost said. "He's making plays now he wasn't even thinking about making a few years ago. His backhand is really starting to develop. He's worked really hard at becoming a better defender. We said three years ago he'd get better and better and better. That's been the case."
The Brewers still haven't quite fixed the third base problem. Hall, playing his third position in three years, has committed a team-high 15 errors and has a .913 fielding percentage. The only third baseman with more errors is Arizona's Mark Reynolds with 18. Hall's current platoon-mate Russell Branyan has committed two errors.
Shortstop J.J. Hardy has six errors (.982) this year, compared to 13 errors (.978) last season. First baseman Prince Fielder's .989 percentage this season matches last year.
Morry Gash/Associated Press
Center fielder Mike Cameron is part of what Brewers manager Ned Yost considers to be an improved defense.
