Rollins, Victorino Win Gold Gloves

by Bill Baer on November 11th, 2009
Posted in MLB, Philadelphia Phillies | Print | 6 Comments »

Per Memories of Kevin Malone, a premature (and hopefully accurate) list of National League Gold Glove winners.

Update: It’s official.

P – Adam Wainwright
C – Yadier Molina
1B – Adrian Gonzalez
2B – Orlando Hudson
3B – Ryan Zimmerman
SS – Jimmy Rollins
OF – Shane Victorino
OF – Matt Kemp
OF – Michael Bourn

The results, at least on the Phillies side of things, are funny to say the least. Rollins and Victorino were among the poorer fielders on the team (2.9 and -4.2 UZR/150 respectively) and neither was the best at his position:

  • NL SS best by UZR/150: Rafael Furcal, 8.5
  • Rollins UZR/150: 2.9
  • NL SS best by Dewan +/-: Brendan Ryan, +24
  • Rollins +/-: -3
  • NL CF best by UZR/150: Colby Rasmus, 13.4
  • Victorino UZR/150: -4.2
  • NL CF best by Dewan +/-: Tony Gwynn, +23
  • Victorino +/-: -14

The glaring omission is Chase Utley, who tied with Freddy Sanchez for the best UZR/150 by a NL second baseman and led the NL in +/- at +14. Orlando Hudson had a -3.7 UZR/150 and +8 in Dewan.

An argument could also have been made for Jayson Werth in right field, though because the Gold Glove only recognizes outfielders as outfielders and not as left, center, or right fielders, there were certainly more than enough candidates ahead of him that an omission here is not so glaring.

Potential free agent signees Adrian Beltre (21.0 UZR/150, +27 Dewan) and Chone Figgins (18.8, +40) ranked highly defensively in the AL but the award was given to a just-as-deserving Evan Longoria (19.2, +21).

  1. 6 Responses to “Rollins, Victorino Win Gold Gloves”

  2. By PhillyFriar on Nov 11, 2009

    Ahhh, the old “good offense + good defensive reputation = Gold Glove” formula.

    The only thing that makes me mad with respect to Utley’s omission — and this is probably an irrational fear, but oh well — is that when he’s up for HOF consideration years from now, plenty of voters will fail to understand how the GG process works, and will think of him as Jeff Kent lite.

    At the very least, I’m happy for Ryan Zimmerman, whose glove work at the hot corner has gone unnoticed for far too long.

  3. By Richard on Nov 12, 2009

    These fielding stats are new to me, so I’m a little confused. This UZR/150 represents the rate of available balls the fielder actually handled? Is that right? How is such a figure determined?

  4. By Bill Baer on Nov 12, 2009

    Richard, these links may help you:

    UZR Part 1

    UZR Part 2

    UZR from FanGraphs, is expressed in Runs Above Average (RAA) and UZR/150 is based on a rate of 150 defensive games. A poorer fielder might have a higher UZR than a good fielder simply because he’s had more opportunities. Converting UZR into a rate stat (i.e. per 150 games) makes the comparisons more informing.

  5. By e on Nov 12, 2009

    Bill-

    How commonplace are UZR/150 and +/- within the front office people sans amaro? Do you know.

  6. By Richard on Nov 12, 2009

    Thanks!

  7. By Bill Baer on Nov 12, 2009

    E, I couldn’t begin to tell you. I’d imagine they are aware of it but don’t put all their eggs in one basket, so to speak. They have to be aware of its limitations.

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