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But yes, you are 100% right - I am presuming that this pitching staff is inherently a real good one.
The M's have tremendous SS's at *two* MI positions and Chone Figgins at 3rd. They've got Ichiro in right. You are correct: whatever the early stats say, I don't read this defense as being below average.
If you had nine Ozzie Smiths and their 15-games stats were poor, I'd still call it a good defense.
..........
But yeah. In the first 15 games, their defense has hurt them. Point cheerfully conceded.
Who knows - maybe they can tighten it up (glovework, RISP etc) and that will make a big difference.