AL Gold Glove Winners Announced

[DoubleX]

The 2006 AL Gold Glove Winners were just announced. Here's a link to the MLB.com article.

The winners are (with their total Glove Glove wins in parentheses):

C: Ivan Rodriguez (12)
1B: Mark Teixeira (2)
2B: Mark Grudielanek (1)
SS: Derek Jeter (3)
3B: Eric Chavez (6)
OF: Torii Hunter (6)
OF: Ichiro Suzuki (6)
OF: Vernon Wells (3)
P: Kenny Rogers (5)

So let the debates begin. I'm sure the biggest will probably be about Derek Jeter. I was surprised Jeter won this year because there has been so much talk out there about how he's overrated defensively, and I believe defensive metrics are started to take hold a little bit more and filtering in the main stream. I thought by now, the discussion of Jeter being overrated defensively had become too big to igore. Nevertheless, the writers went for him again.

[Zito75]

As much as I hate Jeter, I'd give it to him over Tejada.

[Waitinfor27]

I agree with all but two. Chien-Ming Wang had as good a year as any defensively on the mound, and Mike Lowell and Joe Crede were both incredible at third base, much better than Chavez. The problem is, after you give a player a Gold Glove for several years in a row, it looks weird when you don't see their name next to it anymore.

[AznInvasion]

Gary Matthews Jr. is snubbed in my opinion although the 3 up there are very good as well. He doesn't deserve to be left out though.

[Evangelion]

Chavez was good, even though his offensive totals were awful. It was a toss up between Chavez, Lowell and Crede, either won it, it was well deserved.

I would get into the Jeter debate, but I'll do that in a topic in the Yankee forum instead of making this "Why Jeter won?" topic. A-Gone was by far the best SS in MLB.

[rockin500]

The 2006 AL Gold Glove Winners were just announced. Here's a link to the MLB.com article.

The winners are (with their total Glove Glove wins in parentheses):

C: Ivan Rodriguez (12)
1B: Mark Teixeira (2)
2B: Mark Grudielanek (1)
SS: Derek Jeter (3)
3B: Eric Chavez (6)
OF: Torii Hunter (6)
OF: Ichiro Suzuki (6)
OF: Vernon Wells (3)
P: Kenny Rogers (5)

So let the debates begin. I'm sure the biggest will probably be about Derek Jeter. I was surprised Jeter won this year because there has been so much talk out there about how he's overrated defensively, and I believe defensive metrics are started to take hold a little bit more and filtering in the main stream. I thought by now, the discussion of Jeter being overrated defensively had become too big to igore. Nevertheless, the writers went for him again.

arent gold gloves decided by coaches and managers? because i remember hearing that ozzie would vote for alex rodriguez in order for crede to win.

[mwiggins]

How did Hunter win again? Mostly due to injuries he was almost a defensive liability for a good part of the year. He was no where near the fielder he was in 2000-2003.

[Evangelion]

I'm shocked Hunter played 147 games. I thought he missed more time. Hunter won the award due to his name, like most people won the GG.

While I thought I could agrue Jeter for the award, I can't. Just look at all the SS this season and you'll understand. A-Gone missed 51 games last season, but I still would have gave him the award myself since SS of this crop were not that good and A-Gone was just that much better than the next SS.

[Mattingly]

While I thought I could agrue Jeter for the award, I can't. Just look at all the SS this season and you'll understand. A-Gone missed 51 games last season, but I still would have gave him the award myself since SS of this crop were not that good and A-Gone was just that much better than the next SS.

Playing Devil's Advocate here (or whatever it is they call it), even if Alex Gonzalez is, as many believe, a better fielding SS, what's the likelihood he'll actually get this over a bigger name SS? What I'm asking is, does this seem like a popularity contest, like how some view the MVP?

[EvanAparra]

Playing Devil's Advocate here (or whatever it is they call it), even if Alex Gonzalez is, as many believe, a better fielding SS, what's the likelihood he'll actually get this over a bigger name SS? What I'm asking is, does this seem like a popularity contest, like how some view the MVP?

It seems to be turning more and more into a popularity contest. Although MOST of the time, the deserving players do win.

[Evangelion]

GG been a popularity contest. Palmeiro?

A-Gone still played in a big market. In this regard, Jeter played most of the season and had an "MVP" season, which likely helped since people likely think he's playing the field well, even though most inform people know that's not true and he's slighty better than average. Jeter win the award when he's slighty worst, even or slighty better than the next person who should win the award.

If A-Gone played the entire season and Jeter still won, I won't have been surprised, but people that voted for Jeter can't justify his selection if A-Gone did play the entire season and had 7-8 errors at SS, which was completely possible for him.

Popularity contest? You could say that, but when human beings are involved, bias is unavoidable. Even the person that feel he's the most unbias person in the world will show some form of bias toward the team or player he or she cheer and root for.

[RuthMayBond]

Popularity contest? You could say that, but when human beings are involved, bias is unavoidable. Even the person that feel he's the most unbias person in the world will show some form of bias toward the team or player he or she cheer and root for.

I didn't vote for any Indians.

[Mattingly]

It seems to be turning more and more into a popularity contest. Although MOST of the time, the deserving players do win.

I'll just outright ask the silly question that's on my mind. Thump me upside the head if it's too silly.

If a higher-profile player who's also a much better hitter (Jeter) plays about the same number of games (say 150-155) than the slicker fielder (Gonzalez), do you think that the voters would still most likely give the higher profile player the award mostly based upon name recognition?

As to Raffy, that thing was an absolute farce, as he'd played 135 games as a DH, only about 28 as a 1Bman.

[EvanAparra]

I'll just outright ask the silly question that's on my mind. Thump me upside the head if it's too silly.

If a higher-profile player who's also a much better hitter (Jeter) plays about the same number of games (say 150-155) than the slicker fielder (Gonzalez), do you think that the voters would still most likely give the higher profile player the award mostly based upon name recognition?

As to Raffy, that thing was an absolute farce, as he'd played 135 games as a DH, only about 28 as a 1Bman.

Probably, and unfortunately. If people still want to call Jeter UNDERrated after these two awards (hank aaron) they are just going to look silly. Gonzalez was a better fielder, but Jeter has the bigger name, plays for the Yanks, and has a great bat. So he wins.

[The Kid]

It seems to be turning more and more into a popularity contest. Although MOST of the time, the deserving players do win.

Not this time. Alex Gonzalez deserved the glove way more than Jeter. I look at this year's gold glove infeild, and i just have one word: Bullcrap.

[Evangelion]

Not this time. Alex Gonzalez deserved the glove way more than Jeter. I look at this year's gold glove infeild, and i just have one word: Bullcrap.

Yes, A-Gone did miss 51 games of 162 game season. He played well enough to deserve it, but didn't play enough games. I'm not sure how you or any Sox fan can argue this point.

[DoubleX]

Yes, A-Gone did miss 51 games of 162 game season. He played well enough to deserve it, but didn't play enough games. I'm not sure how you or any Sox fan can argue this point.

You could argue the Palmeiro precedent in which he won the '99 Gold Glove despite just 28 games at 1B.

Couple of questions for everyone. I may have been mistaken in attributing the Gold Glove to the writers. How are the Gold Gloves determined? Players and coaches? Writers? Some combination?

Also, anyone think that Mauer deserved the award of Ivan Rodriguez? Mauer had a good case last year as well (and likely much better than the winner, Jason Varitek).

[cardsfanatic]

Nevertheless, the writers went for him again.

The writers do not vote for gold glove awards. Players and Managers vote on them.

[Chisox73]

Personally,I thought Joe Crede should have gotten the nod at 3rd base.But 3rd base was a tough call with Crede,Chavez,Mike Lowell,and Brandon Inge.

[IAmSmarterThanYou]

Well, Ichiro is 6-6 now winning every year he played. (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006.)

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Jeter has the worst range of any shortstop in the AL, and you can look it up:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/...mn=rangeFactor

Brandon Inge had the most TC and highest RF AND most defensive innings of any third basemen. Wan't even on the fan ballot.

Vernon Wells? What a joke.

Jeter ... sheesh. It'll look good on his mantle next to his Silver Slugger and MVP awards.

What a terrible joke.

[Knick9]

I have a feeling that Jeter is going to keep winning more gold gloves until he retires. Don't know why, but he will.

[Rapmaster]

Jeter has the worst range of any shortstop in the AL, and you can look it up:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/...mn=rangeFactor

Brandon Inge had the most TC and highest RF AND most defensive innings of any third basemen. Wan't even on the fan ballot.

Vernon Wells? What a joke.

Jeter ... sheesh. It'll look good on his mantle next to his Silver Slugger and MVP awards.

What a terrible joke.

I happen to think vernon Wells is great defensively, what makes you disagree so strongly?

[Skin & Bones]

I happen to think vernon Wells is great defensively, what makes you disagree so strongly?

According to Defensive WS, he was tied this year for the lead in the AL with Curtis Granderson. So if you put any stock into Defensive WS, he was a deserving Pick.

Jeter on the other hand wasn't deserving, but has actually improved drastically over the years. He has gone from historically bad to above average.

[Ytown Tribe fan]

Wells: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/...mn=rangeFactor

Wells wasn't making plays that every other centerfielder was. He wasn't getting to balls and catching them. That's what range factor measures ... how many defensive plays you make per 9 defensive innings.

Vernon Wells made fewer defensive plays per inning than any other AL centerfielder.

Similarly, Jeter was dead last in the AL among shortstops in defensive plays made per inning.

Maybe they vote based on character or hitting or something else that has nothing to do with what a fielder is supposed to do, which is make defensive plays.