Dewan: Michael Young, Gold Glove shortstop?

Michael Young, Armour Plating short term?

Three years ago he was one of the worst shortstops in baseball. Has he improved to the point where he’s the best in the American League?

Well, he is better. But frankly, that’s not saying much. His 2003 and 2004 plus/minus figures were -34 and -39. He has “improved” to -10, -15, and -7 over the last three years. And he still had problems going to his left.

...One of the key reasons Young won the American League award was lack of competition. In the voting for the Fielding Bible Awards, eight of the top ten shortstops in baseball were from the National League. Young, in fact, came in 11th in the voting. But the guy that should have beaten him for the AL Gold Glove came in fourth in the Fielding Bible Awards voting (the other American Leaguer was White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who came in sixth). The fourth place finisher was Erick Aybar of the Los Angeles Angels. The key reason that Aybar didn’t win a Gold Glove is that he only played in 98 games. Nevertheless, his plus/minus was +7 and he turned in more Good Fielding Plays than Young (55 to 51) and had fewer Defensive Misplays (35 to Young’s 41).