2005 Gold Glove Analysis

 

By Keith Glab, 11/11/05

 

          As usual, this years Gold Glove selections come with a bevy of controversy.  While the selections are not great overall, they do display signs of improvement over previous selection philosophies.

 

First Base: AL-Mark Teixeira; NL-Derek Lee

 

          Okay, this isn’t the best example of voter improvement.  Teixeira did lead all first basemen in fielding percentage with a .998 mark, but he and Lee are both the product of first basemen having breakout offensive years and getting recognized for that on defense.  Lee’s defense doesn’t look good statistically, and he doesn’t stretch as far as he can for most throws to first base, but he did make a lot of spectacular plays on the year.  So neither selection marked an impressive evolution in the selection process, but both players are at least good defensively if not great, and the selection is an improvement over the oft-cited Palmeiro/DH fiasco a few years back.

 

Second Base: AL-Orlando Hudson; NL-Luis Castillo

 

          Hudson is the most impressive Gold Glove selection in a very long time.  He has led the AL in David Gassko’s Range metric in each of the last two seasons.  He also led his position in Range Factor (5.84) and was second in F% to Placido Polanco, who spent tie in both leagues.  Hudson was somewhat disappointing with the bat last year, adding to the excellence of this pick.

            The only superstar second baseman in the NL is Jeff Kent, and anyone who has seen him knows just how non-existent his range is.  There’s know consensus defensive wizard either, so Castillo, who finished just behind Craig Counsell in terms of Range is a good pick.

 

Shortstop: AL-Derek Jeter; NL-Omar Vizquel

 

          Jeter continues to be overrated on defense.  While his numbers have improved over the past two seasons, he remains, at best, below average defensively.

          Vizquel is past his prime, but still led all shortstops with a .988 F%.  Trouble is Rafael Furcal led all players in Range save Coco Crisp.  He also led by a lot in Range factor at 5.23.  Jack Wilson would have also been a worthy selection, as he led all shortstops in Zone Range (.884) and Double Plays (A Mazeroskiesque 126).

 

Third Base: AL-Eric Chavez; NL- Mike Lowell

 

          Chavez is a staple now, and since he’s pretty good (ZR leader- .817) and since there are no other standout choices, it’s a quality pick.

          Lowell, however, is a surprising pick because of his nearly unprecedented offensive crash this year.  He did lead all 3B in F% at .983, but that rarely supersedes a moderate offensive tumble, mush less this disaster.  Lowell doesn’t look great in any Sabermetric stats, so I think he is the poster boy for where Gold Glove voting is right now:  around the same place that defensive statistical analysis was 10 years ago.  That wasn’t a shot; I’m impressed that voter awareness has progressed that far.

 

Catcher: AL-Jason Varitek; NL-Mike Matheny

 

          Oh no!  Jason Varitek, one of the worst offensive catchers in baseball today, gets the award based on his offensive dominance combined with his “leadership” of the Red Sox.  Ivan Rodriguez was the obvious choice, as usual, with his .515 CS% and 4.44 CERA compared to Varitek’s marks of .244 and 5.02.  The worst part about his CERA is that teammate Doug Mirabelli’s was 3.73!  Varitek: “The most important job I have is to work with the pitchers to help them be the best that they can be.”  And if Jason is so solid defensively, then why isn’t he able to catch Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball?  Ridiculous!

          Matheny had a comeback year defensively, but he can’t compare to Yadier Molina and his incredible .641 CS%.  One possibility is that Yadier’s 959 Innings Caught wasn’t enough to give him a Gold Glove.  We’ll see what happens next year.

 

Outfielders:

AL-Ichiro Suzuki, Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells

NL-Jim Edmonds, Andruw Jones, Bobby Abreu

 

          Suzuki, Hunter, Edmonds, and Jones are staples.  Few would argue with those selections.  Vernon Wells is on his way to stapledom with an impressive 12 assists this year and speed enough to track down much in center.

          The upset is Abreu, who probably deserved a Gold Glove in a few of his six double-digit-assist seasons, but only gunned seven baserunners this season, and is declining in terms of Range.  I’d like to see this as a makeup award, like Clemens’ 2001 Cy Young (for 1990), but it’s far more likely that it’s a response to Abreu’s dominance and prominence in the Home Run Derby.

 

Pitchers: AL-Kenny Rogers; NL-Greg Maddux

 

          This is king of a nothing award, as the average starting pitcher is fortunate to amass 50 Total Chances in a season.  But that is precisely why Jake Westbrook deserves the award for his 82 errorless chances last year.  Horacio Ramierez should have gotten in in the senior circuit, due to his position-leading 8 double plays.  Rogers and Maddux are okay picks for their high DP totals, but they were easy picks rather than informed ones.

 

          Again, this is the sort of nitpicking that I’m discouraging…we should be happy to see the process improving, not moaning about its imperfections.