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The problem with your statement is that it is very difficult to separate defense from pitching. The two facets of the game are synergistic.


I realize that my claim is merely my opinion, and I have absolutely no facts to back it up. However, I still beleive it to be so, mainly because in my experience, great pitchers are usually great, even when they change teams. Since I assume that some of the teams the pitchers pitched great for were below average defensively, and yet the pitcher was still great, I conclude that pitching is far more valuable than defensive ability. In other words, if I'm a GM and my goal is to decrease total runs scored against my team, I can get much more benefit by aquiring great pitchers, then I can by acquiring great fielders.