Is Defense in MLB Over Rated ?

I believe too much emphasis has been put on the defensive play of certain individuals from the day in which I was a part of. Brooks Robinson, the Wizard of Oz and (pardon me old timers) but even Willie Mays. Yeah, I said it and I stand behind it. Take a look at the back-to-the-plate catch he made at the Polo Grounds. Outstanding catch. If you would like more I could send you a highlight tape of Jim Edmonds. He made and still makes catches that good all the time.
If you watch Baseball Tonight on ESPN you see plays that Robinson and Ozzie Smith made every night on Web Gems. Many of the players featured there are barely recognizable names. The average fan wouldn't even know many of them. But, night after night plays are made showing shortstops diving and snagging the bouncer, standing up behind third base and throwing an off-balance ball that barely beats the runner. Amazing! Yes it is amazing. That is why I wonder why folk like Brooks Robinson and Ozzie are in the Hall of Fame. I mean, surely it wasn't their hitting prowess.
Again let me say that I am old school. I love Willie Mays, arguably the best center fielder (defensively) who ever laced up the shoes. He is the best offensively. I mean that. I say that with an asterisk that Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest if his body would have held up. He (Mays), like Edmonds, made those types of plays consistently. He even said on an interview that "the catch" wasn't his best one. It was the best caught on film, but he said he made better. I believe him! When Brooks and Ozzie played they filmed every game so what you saw was the best they did.
Did you ever wonder how today's best outfielders would have done playing the terrace in old Crosley Field? Remember? There was no warning track to remind the player he was nearing the wall. Just a grass incline of 6 or 7 feet, all the way to the wall, which provided the inspiration for the "hill" in Minute Maid Park. As I recall it didn't go all the way around. I believe it petered out somewhere in right or right center field. Left fielders had a real blast. Frank Robinson won gold gloves in '57 and '58 while playing half his games dealing with the "terrace". But I am starting to get off track here. Pardon me while I get out and throw the switch. There.
All I am trying to convey here is that all of the real good players had and have real good defensive ability. A player should not be called great because of good defensive work. I'm so glad I got this off my chest as it has been bugging me for years.