Postseason baseball puts spotlight on Wingnuts’ defense

The Wingnuts have spent most of the season addressing an inconsistent offense, but almost all of their transactions have had an equal or greater impact on the defense.

Wichita’s moves have caused a drastic shift. The Wingnuts’ infield defense was a strength for the first half of the season and the outfield was a weak spot.

Those have reversed over the last two months as the Wingnuts have acquired experienced hitters for corner spots and been forced to play rookies Taylor Smart and Leo Vargas at second base and shortstop.

Playing first-year players at important positions isn’t what Wichita manager Kevin Hooper is used to, but it hasn’t kept the Wingnuts from reaching the postseason. They begin a best-of-five American Association first-round series Wednesday night in Laredo, Texas.

“It’s tough sometimes to get used to a guy that you’re just getting to know, and a lot of moving pieces sometimes,” Wingnuts manager Kevin Hooper said. “Obviously, our defense hasn’t been anywhere near what we’ve wanted it to be or what it’s been in the past.”

The alignment of the Wingnuts’ defense was in the wheelhouse of Hooper, a former shortstop, when the season began. An improvement upon the sure-handedness of middle-infield duo Jake Kahaulelio and Ryan Khoury didn’t seem likely, but the Wingnuts found it in former major leaguers Alberto Gonzalez and Luis Hernandez.

Gonzalez was sold to the Detroit Tigers organization after 30 errorless games at shortstop and Hernandez was put on the inactive list after the Wingnuts went over their limit for veteran players. With other options exhausted, Wichita stayed with Smart and Vargas, who don’t possess the natural abilities of their predecessors.

“It’s been nerve-wracking at times, no doubt,” Hooper said. “There’s a lot of times where I want to pull my hair out with some of the stuff that I see, but that goes with the territory. They are two rookies, and you can’t teach experience. Instead of being negative about it, I’m going to be positive about it and get them out there and work on things.”

While the infield defense has regressed, Wichita’s outfield has become a far less comfortable place for balls in play. For much of the season, the Wingnuts’ alignment included Joash Brodin in left, Jayce Ray in center and David Espinosa in right. None of them possess superior arm strength or range.

Revamping the lineup has resulted in a drastic change to the outfield defense, which now goes Harrison Kain, Nick Van Stratten and Brent Clevlen left to right. Their speed and throwing capabilities have helped save the Wingnuts from a weaker infield.

“Three center fielders,” Hooper said. “To add Harrison and Van Stratten is two strong defenders, no doubt about it. It’s become a pretty potent outfield.”

Through all of the personnel changes, the two Wingnuts mainstays have provided perhaps the team’s most valuable defense. Third baseman T.J. Mittelstaedt and catcher John Nester have stabilized a frequently changing group, providing run prevention at two important positions.

“Nester’s been tremendous, arguably the best defensive catcher in the league, which I feel we’ve had throughout many of the years,” Hooper said. “He’s just been huge. He’s one of the toughest guys you’re going to find. T.J. has been a mainstay at third base. We’ve moved him around a little bit to play some second, play some outfield, but he’s been great over there.

“We hope it can all come together. We’re going to play defense. We’re going to go with Smart and Vargas up the middle, pitch and play defense, and try to cross that plate any chance we get.”

This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Postseason baseball puts spotlight on Wingnuts’ defense."