University of Minnesota Athletics
The Golden Decade of Gopher Defense
10/16/2019 9:30:00 AM | Baseball
In an age where power rules the plate and strikeouts tend to dictate pitching excellence, it can be easy to overlook the importance of defense in today's game. Yet, Minnesota Baseball is one such program that continues to place an emphasis on quality glovework, something that is made evident when looking deeper into fielding statistics from the last 40 years.
"Defensive fundamentals have long been one of our main staples of team play going back to the days of Dick Siebert," said head coach John Anderson. "As a coach, I believe strongly in defensive fundamentals and repetitions for our players on a daily basis to help promote good habits while working to make us as strong defensively as possible."
Dating back through the past four decades, 2010-19 was by far the most efficient in the field for the Gopher defense. From 2010-19, Minnesota averaged just 60.1 errors per season, equating to 1.1 errors per game. In the last decade, the Gophers own a collective .974 fielding percentage as a team.
Since the onset of the 1980's, these marks have been steadily improving. From 1980-89, Minnesota was making 81.17 errors per season and 1.41 errors per game. During the 1990's, the Gophers improved to 78.9 errors per season, with an average of 1.31 errors per game. Finally, during the 2000's, the U recorded 77.2 errors per season and 1.29 per game.
Using this data, Minnesota has improved their defense over the past 40 years by allowing 21 fewer errors per season from the 1980's to 2010's. This includes a net decrease of 0.31 errors per game, or roughly one less error committed every three games.
This culture of defensive excellence has been engrained in the program for years, but much of the improvement seen in recent memory can be attributed to former assistant coach Rob Fornasiere. Under Fornasiere's guidance, Minnesota grew into the defensive juggernaut the above statistics demonstrate.
From 2014-19 alone, the Gophers recorded a mere .97 errors per game. The program peaked in 2016, in which Minnesota made an aggregate of 0.74 errors – a miniscule number.
By far, the past decade represents the best defensive stretch in the history of the program. When Fornasiere retired in June 2018, he effectively handed the torch over to volunteer assistant coach Brandon Hunt, an expert of the glove in his own respect.
Now, under Hunt, the Minnesota program is taking yet another step forward on its .974 fielding percentage seen throughout the 2010's. Embracing Fornasiere's old-school, fundamental approach to defensive excellence, Hunt is now sprinkling in an increased use of technology and analytics to help the Gophers become the best of the best in the field.
"Today, with the use of analytics and advanced defensive metrics, we have a more in-depth knowledge of positioning, sprays and tendencies to put our defense in the best position possible to succeed," said Anderson. "We utilize each and every option we have, both in game and at practice, to help develop our players to their fullest."
With such a remarkable degree of success throughout the past 40 years and the resources committed to maintaining dominance in the future, the sky is the limit for Minnesota fielders out on the diamond.
"Defensive fundamentals have long been one of our main staples of team play going back to the days of Dick Siebert," said head coach John Anderson. "As a coach, I believe strongly in defensive fundamentals and repetitions for our players on a daily basis to help promote good habits while working to make us as strong defensively as possible."
Dating back through the past four decades, 2010-19 was by far the most efficient in the field for the Gopher defense. From 2010-19, Minnesota averaged just 60.1 errors per season, equating to 1.1 errors per game. In the last decade, the Gophers own a collective .974 fielding percentage as a team.
Since the onset of the 1980's, these marks have been steadily improving. From 1980-89, Minnesota was making 81.17 errors per season and 1.41 errors per game. During the 1990's, the Gophers improved to 78.9 errors per season, with an average of 1.31 errors per game. Finally, during the 2000's, the U recorded 77.2 errors per season and 1.29 per game.
Using this data, Minnesota has improved their defense over the past 40 years by allowing 21 fewer errors per season from the 1980's to 2010's. This includes a net decrease of 0.31 errors per game, or roughly one less error committed every three games.
This culture of defensive excellence has been engrained in the program for years, but much of the improvement seen in recent memory can be attributed to former assistant coach Rob Fornasiere. Under Fornasiere's guidance, Minnesota grew into the defensive juggernaut the above statistics demonstrate.
From 2014-19 alone, the Gophers recorded a mere .97 errors per game. The program peaked in 2016, in which Minnesota made an aggregate of 0.74 errors – a miniscule number.
By far, the past decade represents the best defensive stretch in the history of the program. When Fornasiere retired in June 2018, he effectively handed the torch over to volunteer assistant coach Brandon Hunt, an expert of the glove in his own respect.
Now, under Hunt, the Minnesota program is taking yet another step forward on its .974 fielding percentage seen throughout the 2010's. Embracing Fornasiere's old-school, fundamental approach to defensive excellence, Hunt is now sprinkling in an increased use of technology and analytics to help the Gophers become the best of the best in the field.
"Today, with the use of analytics and advanced defensive metrics, we have a more in-depth knowledge of positioning, sprays and tendencies to put our defense in the best position possible to succeed," said Anderson. "We utilize each and every option we have, both in game and at practice, to help develop our players to their fullest."
With such a remarkable degree of success throughout the past 40 years and the resources committed to maintaining dominance in the future, the sky is the limit for Minnesota fielders out on the diamond.
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