Disgusting. They should not be allowed to vote anymore. That’s it, Managers and coaches, you got it wrong 2 years in a row, you’re done. Last year even ESPN Molina should have gotten the Gold.
Very well written blog. I have argued about the more CS’s than stolen bases all year, and the fact that teams completely change their game for Molina.
I will say it again, disgusting.

I pretty much took it as a foregone conclusion that such a glaring mistake could not be repeated this year. This isn’t even debatable; the numbers are overwhelmingly in Yadi’s favor. Based on the 46 attempts against him, it’s clear that Yadi is no secret, so this result is completely incomprehensible. Something needs to be done about this process. I suggest a quick competency quiz incorporated into the ballot to ensure that those voting understand there is a separate award for offensive prowess. Perhaps more effective would be a requisite (ideally brief) justification for each selection. Any generic or inaccurate comments would disqualify the selection. Obviously this would never fly, but I really don’t understand voting on the Gold Glove award, or even having the award at all if this can happen. Twice.. Unreal.

Perhaps I’ve missed this, but are the Gold Glove voters just managers, or also coaches? Do they vote for their respective leagues, or do they for both leagues?

Here’s a theory I haven’t yet heard: Could anybody have been confusing young Yadi with one or more of the older Molina brothers? (Particularly if any AL people are contributing to the NL awards.) Getting Yadi mixed up with his brothers would represent abject incompetence, equal to Connie Mack’s senile late years managing with the Philadelphia A’s. Of course, it’s an inconceivable mistake two years running. Who says jocks aren’t dumb?

Who votes for the Silver Slugger? Maybe voters will subconsciously take Yadi’s defense into account and give him the Silver Slugger by mistake. Then, Yadi and Martin can trade trophies. The balance is restored. All is right with the world.

While the Molina snub upsets me I am more disgusted by Lee winning at 1B. I think Helton or AP had a much better season defensively.
I am ripping these off a poster at Vivaelbirdos (thanks stl tyler) but:
D. Lee
FPct .994
RZR .724
OOZ 24

Helton
FPct .999
RZR .808
OOZ 42

Pujols
FPct .995
RZR .843
OOZ 51

I just can’t see how Lee wins that over Helton with only 2 stinking errors. Sorry but that is worse then Molina not winning to me. I think the managers balked at the passed balls more then anything, the steal game is overrated to a lot of them now (think TLR) so they just don’t see that as important as blocking balls in the dirt and Martin played more yet allowed less PBs. I still think Molina should win but I think that is how they will justify it.

The managers should look to their own scouting reports when they vote. Molina not only threw out nearly 50% of would be stealers, but he had the fewest attempts. .44 runners per game would attempt to steal on Yadi, the lowest in the league. .55 attempted on Ausmus, the 2nd lowest. Martin was tied with Paul Lo Duca, .82 tied for 2nd most behind Josh Bard of the Padres, who was awful- 1.25 per game, and he only caught 6!

So it’s not just the steals Yadi guns out, it’s that teams rarely even try. It’s a travashamockery! I say.

Something more than offensive stats are involved. Mike Matheny had several Gold Gloves, and his soft bat didn’t matter.

One passed ball is like one stolen base. A passed ball basically gives up the equivalent of a stolen base. Of course, if two runners are on, it’s two stolen bases, etc. The other differences are that a PB might be giving up third or home, which is worth more than the second base that is usually stolen; a PB might give a base to a slow or poor runner who would otherwise struggle to advance without a hit, so a passed ball with a Molina brother on third is worse than letting Jose Reyes steal second.

So, for argument’s sake, let’s say a passed ball is worth TWO steals. Add passed balls times 2 to both Molina’s and Martin’s stolen bases allowed, and there’s still no contest.

There’s no argument about Molina’s ability to shut down the running game, plus his pickoffs at first. (Can anybody quantify the comparative rate at which Yadi opponents go first to third on singles or first to home on doubles, given that runners have to take shorter leads and break with the pitch more cautiously due to the pickoff threat? Calling all statisticians!) And Cardinal fans are used to hearing LaRussa and Duncan praise Molina’s handling of pitchers. But is that legit, and how is his game calling viewed around the league? And is the rest of Molina’s game as a receiver and plate blocker a weakness? Somebody suggested that Tuesday, maybe it was in Bernie’s blog.

What a frigging joke - infuriating.

Some answers and comments to questions and comments I saw posted here:

– Gold Gloves are voted on by managers and coaches, yes.
– Silver Sluggers are also voted on by managers and coaches.
– Todd Helton is a fair choice and there’s an argument to be hard there, but Derrek Lee, all things being equal, is the most gifted defensive first baseman in the league. Others may have better seasons, but no one is better.
– An excellent point on Matheny. The former Cardinals catcher — and future Cardinals’ employee? — had a record-setting error-less streak to sweeten his bid and then he had incumbency on his side. Incumbency is a big part of the Gold Glove, which should concern folks who hope Molina gets a Gold Glove eventually. Russell Martin’s going to be around awhile …
– By “friggin joke” and “infuriating” do you mean the award voting … or the blog?

dg

P.S. Remind me never to write a Mizzou schedule story. Strauss has had to enter the CPP — Columnists Protection Program. He’s going under an assumed name and everything.

-30-

Hey DG, Pulling again from VEB discussions here but this article was posted over there a few days ago:
http://www.actasports.com/sow.php?id=85

In that article the author looks at the 2005 season and how firstbasemen handle bad throws, who saves the most bad throws in a season type thing. He finds that most save around 19 (DLee saved 23, Teixeira 19, etc.) but there was one extreme on his list 42 bad throws saved by Mr. Pujols. I actually think we should throw out Lee as the premier first base fielder now since he has been replaced. This season though Helton did it better then either one IMO.

I am worried about Molina not getting his due but I hope the national media picks up on this more and causes an out cry since that might help.

As for Silver Sluggers, those come out tomorrow, I see Wainwright and Wells as runners for Pitcher though I expect the DBacks slugging pitcher to get it. Fielder will probably get 1B, Martin or McCann at C, 3B probably Braun, 2B Utley no question, SS probably Rollins, OF Holliday, Lee and Dunn/Beltran/Soriano would be my picks.