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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Steve Cameron: Alex Gordon deserves to win Gold Glove

Now seriously, shouldn’t Alex win a Gold Glove by a country mile here?

Let’s see, why not start with those 20 assists, which lead all major league outfielders?

Or the fact that Alex has committed only three errors and has a fielding percentage of .991?

How about all the diving catches, the wall-scrapers, the leaps for balls headed into the left-center gap?

The fact is that Alex Gordon has had a magnificent season – from Opening Day through the twilight of September – and there’s no way managers and coaches throughout the league can ignore it.

Try this: Name another contender for the Gold Glove in left field.

OH…WADDA PLAY BY GARDNER! (re-seals Sona Hot Mustard packet for later use)

Repoz Posted: September 21, 2011 at 01:18 PM | 26 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: awards, projections, royals, sabermetrics

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1. catseyepub Posted: September 21, 2011 at 01:43 PM (#3931783)

Try this: Name another contender for the Gold Glove in left field.

Brett Gardner

2. Accent Shallow Posted: September 21, 2011 at 01:49 PM (#3931790)

Wasn't the book on Gordon as a prospect that he'd win a Gold Glove someday?

I just didn't think it would be in LF.

3. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:00 PM (#3931799)

Its funny he thinks Carl Crawford is the only competition. Gardner seems like the obvious choice. And I love Gordon...some might say I'm his #1 fan.

4. PreservedFish Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:09 PM (#3931807)

When did they start awarding a Gold Glove for left field?

5. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:09 PM (#3931809)

Not that I don't think Gordon merits consideration, but Gold gloves are a joke.

6. SoSH U at work Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:11 PM (#3931811)

When did they start awarding a Gold Glove for left field?

A little over a month from now, to be completely accurate.

As for the subject at hand, led by Alex Gordon's league-leading 20, the Royals already have the most assists from their starting outfielders in 30 years (the 1980 Padres had more). But even with a big last week, they have absolutely no chance at the most outfield assists in the last 40. Any idea which outfield holds that distinction?

7. Mike Webber Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:11 PM (#3931812)

When did they start awarding a Gold Glove for left field?

This year. They are going to give one to each position rather than just lump the OFers all together.

8. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:17 PM (#3931821)

Brett Gardner

Gardner's the choice, lapping the field. He's an excellent CF playing LF.

9. Greg (U)K Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:24 PM (#3931827)

As for the subject at hand, the Royals already have the most assists from their starting outfielders in 30 years (the 1980 Padres had more). But even with a big last week, they have absolutely no chance at the most outfield assists in the last 40. Any idea which outfield holds that distinction?

I'm going to guess a Pirates team? 1970 let's say.

10. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:28 PM (#3931832)

It would have to be a Pirates team, Parker had some big years.

Sorry Greg, but 1970 was more than 40 years ago, and Clemente's last season was '71 so he wouldn't have contributed much.

11. Greg (U)K Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:41 PM (#3931848)

Bummer, foiled by math again!

12. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:49 PM (#3931852)

I guess Clemente's last season was 1972, I was thinking he died in January '72, not December. And he won a GG that year.

13. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:55 PM (#3931855)

Yaz/Lynn/Evans in Boston?

14. willcarrolldoesnotsuk Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:56 PM (#3931858)

I hadn't heard about the change where they'll be awarding GGs to individual OF positions. That's great. It's always seemed silly that they lump outfielders together.

I mean, sure, generally speaking the reason that the left fielder is in left field is because he's not a center fielder. But if that's why you lump them together, then why not lump together middle infielders? That second baseman is a second baseman because he's not a shortstop.

15. SoSH U at work Posted: September 21, 2011 at 02:56 PM (#3931859)

Not the Pirates of the early 70s or any of the Red Sox outfields of the later 70s.

16. Sweatpants Posted: September 21, 2011 at 03:04 PM (#3931867)

'78 Expos?

17. SoSH U at work Posted: September 21, 2011 at 03:10 PM (#3931873)

'78 Expos?

Bingo. Cromartie and Valentine co-led the league with 24, while Hawk added 17.

18. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 21, 2011 at 05:17 PM (#3931982)

Gardner's the choice, lapping the field. He's an excellent CF playing LF.

He's the deserving gold glove LF, sure, but he's really an excellent CF and yet Curtis "around average in CF" Granderson plays CF over him?

19. SG Posted: September 21, 2011 at 05:24 PM (#3931990)

He's the deserving gold glove LF, sure, but he's really an excellent CF and yet Curtis "around average in CF" Granderson plays CF over him?

Is there a reason to think that a team that put their best shortstop option at 3B for political reasons deploys their defenders in ways are going to be optimal?

Probably doesn't matter that much anyway. Might be a run or two over the course of a season.

20. Famous Original Joe C Posted: September 21, 2011 at 05:32 PM (#3931995)

Is there a reason to think that a team that put their best shortstop option at 3B for political reasons deploys their defenders in ways are going to be optimal?

Fair point, but says nothing about whether Gardner is an "excellent CF", which was what I was questioning.

Doesn't matter much anyway.

21. SG Posted: September 21, 2011 at 05:39 PM (#3932005)

He's probably not as good as Franklin Gutierrez, but I think you can make a case that he'd be at least as good as anyone else. Whether that's excellent or very good is certainly up for debate.

22. Gaelan Posted: September 21, 2011 at 05:47 PM (#3932015)

I mean, sure, generally speaking the reason that the left fielder is in left field is because he's not a center fielder. But if that's why you lump them together, then why not lump together middle infielders? That second baseman is a second baseman because he's not a shortstop.

This is a false analogy. LF and CF are far more interchangeable than SS and 2B. It was better the old way.

23. Shock Posted: September 21, 2011 at 06:32 PM (#3932063)

Scanning thread.....complete.
deteting consensus....complete.
formulating counter-consensus post....complete.
posting.....complete.

24. Greg (U)K Posted: September 21, 2011 at 06:45 PM (#3932073)

This is a false analogy. LF and CF are far more interchangeable than SS and 2B. It was better the old way.

I think I can follow your logic to a point. But if we're giving out an award for which all outfielders are eligible why not just have one winner?

Regardless of whether a bunch of CFers would be better at his job than he is, there's some aesthetically pleasing about having a "best fielder" at each position.

25. MM1f Posted: September 21, 2011 at 10:57 PM (#3932399)

Wasn't the book on Gordon as a prospect that he'd win a Gold Glove someday?

No.

26. Ron J Posted: September 22, 2011 at 08:22 AM (#3932881)

#19 Was listening to the Yankee game this afternoon and they discussed this.

Almost word for word, "They kept Granderson in center for his own comfort"

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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Steve Cameron: Alex Gordon deserves to win Gold Glove

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