Nice fantasy to read. Since when are facts of any value in something like the Gold Glove? You’re preaching to a jaded crowd after Molina got robbed last year. Isn’t David Wright guaranteed the Gold Glove at third for the next several years, as long as he’s with the Mets? Most people say Yadi has had an off year a bit, though he’s still probably the best in the NL, so I wouldn’t be surprised that that’s enough of a reason to deny him the GG again. There will probably be a Cub-centric awards tsunami that gives the Gold Gloves to Soto and Lee over Molina and Albert. I could actually imagine Ankiel as the mostly likely of the Cardinals to get a Gold Glove, though he probably deserves it less than the others. Those highlight-reel throws have gotten a lot of play from ESPN, which is rare from something that doesn’t involve the Mets, Phils, Cubs or Dodgers in the NL.

Lately I’ve been reading people dissing the range factor as a stat? Can you give us some background? I’ve also read some comments that seem to knock Pujols for straying too far from first base. Is there some legit criticism there?

“Tsunami”? Fuhrig. I’m afraid that word is trademarked elsewhere.

David Wright will win the NL Gold Glove at 3d this year. When you pick up the trophy and read what’s engraved on the underside, it will say “complements of the New York media.”

How did Scott Rolen’s numbers compare in his best years? Certainly Glaus doesn’t have the highlight reel resume that Rolen did but his numbers are impressive.

Sadly, record-breaking fielding seasons haven’t worked out all that well for the Cardinals. Reitz was denied a Gold Glove in BOTH of his sub-ten-error seasons, as it was given to Mike Schmidt (that era’s David Wright) each year. Even worse, Jose Oquendo made but three errors at second base in 1990, only to see the Gold Glove, by default, handed to Ryne Sandberg. After last season’s atrocity, in which the NL catcher with the MOST errors received the Gold Glove, I honestly don’t pay the honor the same attention I once did.

Compare these NL 3B lines from the same season some years ago:

1296 1-3 inn, 457 total chances, 23 E, 28 DP, .950 PCT, 56.36 Innings per Error (35HR)
1172 1-3 inn, 368 TC, 11 E, 19 DP, .970 PCT 106.58 I/E (5HR at 3b, rookie)
1133 1-3 inn, 393 TC, 11 E, 23 DP, .972 PCT 103.03 I/E (2HR, division title)

The year was 1982; the fielders were, in order presented, Schmidt, Sandberg, and Oberkfell. Schmidt won the award for the seventh straight year and would win the next two as well. Schmidt led the league in assists and double plays.

It seems to me that the GG has become an award that if you win one then you’ve probably won three, four, or more. Greg Maddux has won 17 GG, maybe he deserved all 17 of them maybe there were other pitchers deserving of the award as well? Some one mentioned Oquendo and Sandberg in 1990. The 1990 award was Sandberg’s 9th straight, Sandberg was in a big market and had proven in previous seasons that he had a good glove. It seems to me that with the GG we consider more of what you have done in the past, than what the players play and stats mean for the current season.

As for the GG deserving Cards. I’d say Pujols for sure, and I don’t think Ank will win it or should win it. He is a superb defense OF’er, and he has an amazing arm. But he still has some work to do, lets not forget Ank has not been a major league OF’er for very long. He still has some stuff to work on as far as taking better routes to the ball. Glaus definitely, but my guess is that Wright will win, because he plays in the city of New York and because he has already won it once. Molina is interesting and he has the fact that Soto has had a great year in Chicago, working agaist him, I think that Yadi deserves it, but will be robbed again.

Great points, my fellow posters. I’d also like to add that this coverage about Glaus, while well-written, probably is about 6 weeks too early. Of course, by pointing out all these numbers to No. 8, by Murphy’s Law he unwittingly will probably boot 4 or 5 balls the rest of the way and his name will be completely, and unfairly, out of the GG conversation as Wright will win it in his sleep.

The problem is that Glaus and Molina play in St. Louis and not on the left or right coast. If you look at the stats there are many present and former Cardinal playeres that rank with the great ons but are never mentioned or at least very seldom. The one that comes to mind is one of the gratestest left handed hitters, Stan Musial other people that deserve recognition and played in St. Louis, Joe Torre, Curt Flood, Lou Brock, Marty Marion, Red Scheindost. And remeber the Cardinals have one more World Series than any other NL team and have appeared in mor post season play than any other NL Team. Not bad for a \”small market\”, plus St. Louis wil alway put over 2 million in the seats consistently. I hope that Yadi and Troy get what they deserve but I don\’t think it will happen.

Troy Glaus has exceeded my expecations at third. The balls he gets to he does not miss and coming in on the ball he is one of the best. We should not expect him to be Rolen in his prime as not many are but I am pleased with his fielding and his bat. A major plus for Mo in that trade…

Bill,

Point of order: The Gold Gloves are not compliment any media. Those awards are voted on by managers and coaches. The writers have no part, save for their role in the coverage of defensive play in the league.

dg

DG,
Lately I’ve been reading people dissing the range factor as a stat? Can you give us some background? I’ve also read some comments that seem to knock Pujols for straying too far from first base. Is there some legit criticism there?
Thanks and regards.

Hi DG;
I just wanted to drop by the ‘Bird Land’ - ‘blog zone’ to say I really enjoy your read and the comments that all the wonderfully colored birds that land here have to chirp about and to chirp some myself.

I have enjoyed watching Troy Glaus this year. Whether he is slumping or on a roll he seems to be a steady guy. This has not been more epitomizing than in his glove work at 3b, as you have very well pointed out here in your write up on the matter. He has played a great 3b. I hope his efforts are recognized when the awards for gold gloves are handed out.

Well, I gotta fly…Thanks for entertaining me. God bless..

Thanks, drelboc. As for the Fuhrig’s question about range factor … That stat is not, say, independent of other factors. It comes loaded with context. Look back a few years — if possible — to the entries about David Eckstein coming over to the Cardinals and how his “RF” wasn’t representative because he was playing behind a strikeout-flyball staff in Anaheim. Same thing, other side of the spectrum, when it comes to an infielder on a groundball-heavy team. It also rates the number of grounders a guy gets, too, but not where they were located.

A much better way, in my opinion, to use “RF” is to get it as a slice of balls put in play for an entire team. That allows you to compare apples to apples — and also move those apples from orchard to orchard, so to speak, for a real valuable comparison.

dg

What about Pineiro? Seems he has made a number of really slick plays this season. I’m sure it will go to Maddux again, though.

Excellent point on Pineiro. Probably true about Maddux. Incumbency has its privileges.