Defense

Many people have written articles on the quote, "Offense wins games but defense wins championships." Some go as far as stating that the best offense is a good defense. I believe teams must have a balance of both in order to be successful, especially against teams of equal or better talent.

Success in the game of Baseball usually comes down to pitching and defense. It is not the 10 to 1 wins that will define a team, but the ability to win a 2 to1 game on the road. Having a team identity of, "being difficult to score on", can go along way in building respect for your program and confidence in your players for each other under pressure. Good defense can pick up a team and lead to an offensive explosion. However, poor defense can cause a let down and lead to an implosion with the inning running the wrong way.

Be careful to place a proper balance on both aspects of the game so as to send the right message to your players, supporters and opponents.