MARCH, 2010: Some things make no sense to me. Well, quite a few things actually don’t.

Statistics are not supposed to lie, but this did not add up. The Seattle Mariners hit .258 and scored 640 runs last year, both worst in the American League. They also ranked last in on-base percentage and next to last in slugging percentage.

In comparison, the Kansas City Royals hit .259 and scored 686 runs.

Yet, the Mariners won 85 games, 20 more than the Royals and 24 more games than Seattle won in 2008.

The big improvement in the Mariners win column could be traced to defense. The Mariners refer to as run prevention. And by preventing runs, the Mariners pitching staff led the American League with a 3.87 earned run average. Their staff is anchored by Felix Hernandez, who went 19-5 with a 2.49 ERA at the age of 23.

The Royals are using the Mariners’ blueprint in 2010. They already have the staff ace, Zack Greinke, but defense was a problem last year, a huge problem.

The Royals had the worst defense in the American League with a .981 fielding percentage in 2009. They committed the most errors, 116, and plus had 14 passed balls and a Major League high 89 wild pitches. The Royals permitted 77 unearned runs to cross the plate.
Not only was the defense porous, it lacked range. Balls that should have and could have been caught dropped. Outs turned into singles and
singles into doubles.

General manager Dayton Moore made shoring up the defense a high priority during the off-season.

“We like our defense a lot, potentially,” Moore said.

He traded for second baseman Chris Getz and signed free agent outfielders Rick Ankiel, Scott Podsednik and Brian Anderson. Plus, he signed catcher Jason Kendall to a two-year contract to limit balls from rolling to the back stop and to use his knowledge and vast experience to improve the game calling.

The projected outfield has Podsednik in left and Ankiel in center, with David DeJesus who was the Kansas City Opening Day center fielder in 2008 and its left fielder in 2009, shifting to right field. That gives the Royals three center fielders starting in the outfield.

More balls should be caught. “We definitely have speed” in the outfield Royals right-hander Gil Meche said. “Last year we let a lot of games go, as far as defense and it costs us some games. We’ve got some guys who can run around, some athletic guys. It is only going to help us, including having Kendall behind the plate and getting a good game plan for us and having confidence that our defense behind us is going to make some good plays for us.”

A sturdy airtight defense is a pitcher’s best friend. Not only does it foil runs, it keeps the pitch count down and allows a starter to work deeper into games. Would-be hits turn into outs.

In roomy Kauffman Stadium this becomes more important and defense should be a premium.

The Royals allowed catcher Miguel Olivo, who led the team with 23 home runs last year to walk as a free agent. Alberto Callaspo hit .300 with 414 doubles, eight triples and 11 home runs last year, but this spring he does not have a starting job. Instead, Getz, who has more range and softer hands, will start at second base.

Jose Guillen was bothered by a bad back, bad ankle, hip flexor tendon and right knee sprain last year that severely limited his movement in right field. He will move this year to be the primary designated hitter.

Hillman said the Royals are stressing pitching, defense and hitting in that order in spring training. The first two days of full-squad workouts the position players did not hit on the field, but instead the Royals worked on defensive fundamentals.

The Royals went from 75 victories in 2008 to 65 in 2009. Defense or the lack
of it was a major reason for the 10-game slide.

“It’s frustrating,” Moore said. “It’s frustrating when you don’t win, obviously, or you underachieve. That’s the frustrating part. We came into last year expecting our baseball team to realistically win 78 to 84 games. Obviously, it didn’t happen for a variety of reasons.

“You are always analyzing what you can do better. What adjustments you can make. The type of players that are available to you. Who you can potentially acquire in a deal? Who you can potentially acquire as a free agent?

“You look at the free agents that existed for the 2010 season and Rick Ankiel and Scott Podsednik are two of the better athletes in that group, period. That’s not debatable. They were two of the best athletes out there and we are fortunate to have them. You add a Chris Getz, who is another tremendous athlete, along with the group we have, and we like where we are. We’re proud where we are.”