Matthew Taylor: How much defense makes up for a lack of offense?

Would I appreciate Mark Belanger today? That's the question that's been on my mind lately as I watch Jonathan Schoop try to find his way a the plate, Manny Machado struggle to return to the preternatural form he displayed on offense last season or Ryan Flaherty serve as a jack-of-all-trades on defense while mastering none on offense. How much defense makes up for lousy offense?

Let me state unequivocally that I'm not putting Schoop or Flaherty in the same category defensively as Belanger, and I recognize that not one member of the trio I just mentioned is playing the same position as him. I'm simply curious as to whether the game, and fans' expectations, have changed such that defensive wizardry is no longer enough to cast a spell over many followers of the game. Would we give Belanger a chance today?

Belanger was an eight-time Gold Glove winner at shortstop for the Orioles and served as a key member of some of the powerhouse O's teams. His lone All-Star appearance came in 1976, following a rare quick start at the plate in the season's first half. I never saw Belanger play, but if you grew up around O's fans, chances are you've heard plenty of fond mentions of "The Blade." Unless the subject was the 1970 American League Championship Series, during which he batted .333 and had a .385 on-base percentage, or his 1969 ALCS home run, those mentions weren't about his offense.

In 1970, Belanger finished last in average, home runs and RBIs. In other words, he ended up on the wrong end of the Triple Crown. The 333 times he was pinch-hit for is an American League career record, and he established an Orioles record in 1975 with a league-leading 23 sacrifices. His career average of .228 in 18 seasons is a tick above the .221 mark that Flaherty has posted in just 196 career games.

Now let's talk about that defense. For stats fans, Belanger led the American League in defensive WAR from 1973 through 1978. His dWAR in five of those six seasons was equal to or better than Cal Ripken Jr.'s career-best dWAR of 3.5. Belanger's 1975 dWAR of 4.9 is the fourth-best in baseball history.

That's not to say things got off to a perfect start. Belanger dropped a Luis Aparicio feed to second base during his rookie season that produced an unearned run and a loss during a game in which Steve Barber and Stu Miller combined for a no-hitter. Belanger had entered the game at second baseman in the ninth inning.

Picture a guy whose error as a rookie contributed to the Orioles losing a game that they were not only winning, but also one where they also hadn't allowed a hit. He bats .174 in 69 games. The following year, in a full season of play, he bats .208 with 22 errors. Would you have given him a chance? Would I? Baseball rewards patience. I only hope I would have had enough to appreciate Belanger myself.

Matthew Taylor blogs about the Orioles at Roar from 34. Follow him on Twitter: @RoarFrom34. His ruminations about the Birds appear as part of MASNsports.com's season-long initiative of welcoming guest bloggers to our site. All opinions expressed are those of the guest bloggers, who are not employed by MASNsports.com but are just as passionate about their baseball as our roster of writers.