2007 Gold Gloves Announced; Wright, Beltran Are Good

by Eric Simon on Nov 7, 2007 11:15 AM EST

The MLB Gold Glove winners have been announced, and David Wright has collected his first for his terrific season at third base. Most zone-based defensive metrics had him at or near the top of the league, and he was especially effective at getting to balls outside of his zone. Gold Gloves are extremely subjective and are often incorrectly awarded to the best offensive player at a position, but Wright has worked very hard over the last few years to bring his glove up to the level of his bat and most will agree he has accomplished just that. In case you needed yet another reason not to move the kid off of third base, there you go.

Carlos Beltran also collected some goodies, nabbing his second consecutive outfield Gold Glove with the Mets. There were actually four outfield Gold Gloves handed out in the NL; a tie for third place was announced, though we don't know the actual tabulated results.

The big news in the American League voting is Derek Jeter failing to win his fourth consecutive undeserved Gold Glove. Despite ranking at or near the bottom of the pack among AL shortstops year after year in virtually every metric aside from JTORP (Jump-Throws Over Replacement Player), Jeter skated by on his hitting prowess and awkwardly mediocre looks.

Jeter is actually something of a fielding paradox: If you can ignore all of the balls he doesn't get to, he actually looks rather smooth in the field. He has pretty good hands, a decent arm, and is quite good at chasing down pop flies. He makes the occasional highlight reel play, which only serve to perpetuate the baseball myth that he is actually helping his team with his glove.

The truth is that Jeter costs his team between two and three wins with the glove every year relative to an average shortstop. He provides far more than that at the plate, but his three Gold Gloves put him in fairly elite company among shortstops, whether he belongs there or not (read: not).

Only two winners of this year's Fielding Bible Awards took home actual MLB hardware: Andruw Jones and Johan Santana.

Here are the winners of the 2007 MLB Gold Gloves:

NATIONAL LEAGUE
C	Russell Martin, LAD
1B	Derrek Lee, CHC
2B	Orlando Hudson, ARI
3B	David Wright, NYM
SS	Jimmy Rollins, PHI
OF	Carlos Beltran, NYM
OF	Andruw Jones, ATL
OF	Jeff Francoeur, ATL
OF	Aaron Rowand, PHI
P	Greg Maddux, SD

AMERICAN LEAGUE
C	Ivan Rodriguez, DET
1B	Kevin Youkilis, BOS
2B	Placido Polanco, DET
3B	Adrian Beltre, SEA
SS	Orlando Cabrera, LAA
OF	Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
OF	Torii Hunter, MIN
OF	Grady Sizemore, CLE
P	Johan Santana, MIN

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Comments

My timing wasn't Wright?

I like my diary better (I realize it's a Met fan and stat geek staple to slam Jeter whenever possible, but "awkwardly mediocre looks"?), but hey, it's your site.
;)

by Tom @ Amazin' Avenue on Nov 7, 2007 11:57 AM EST reply actions

Jetes

If he were handsome I would say so. I think his attractiveness is exaggerated at least as much as his defense. I rag on Jetes neither because I'm a Met fan nor because I am a stat geek. He has been a terrific hitter for a long time and will retire as one of the most accomplished offensive shortstops the game has ever seen.

That said, his defense is shoddy and he isn't very good looking, in my opinion. My wife feels the same way (mostly about the looks; she is indifferent to his defense).

If any of the three ladies who read this site have an opinion on Jeter's looks, please feel free to chime in.

by Eric Simon on Nov 7, 2007 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

Jeter ...

I agree he's a terrific hitter, a sort of singles machine. (He may get plenty of extra base hits as well; didn't look up the numbers.) But mainly I think he doesn't try to do too much at the plate; he's focused on getting on base, and if that's via a (non-flashy) single, that's OK. I think Reyes could learn from that. (Let me make it clear before someone jumps on me -- I like Reyes much better than Jeter and think he'll improve.) I also agree that Jeter is lauded way too much for his defense, whereas Reyes deserves the praise he gets. In terms of Jeter's looks, he does nothing for me, but then that's very subjective. Grady Sizemore, Torii Hunter, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz -- these are guys I find handsome. David Wright is cute.

by Baseball Mom on Nov 7, 2007 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

a bit surprised

when I heard DW had won, but after thinking about other 3rd basemen in league, I think it was the right choice. He's basically pretty solid, but still makes the occasional bad throw.

As for Jeter, his fielding is overrated and my wife doesn't think he's particularly handsome. She is pretty hot for A-Rod so I'm hoping the Mets sign him for her sake.

Save America. Impeach Bush

by elifriedman on Nov 7, 2007 5:55 PM EST reply actions

It's because he's biracial and good-looking

My better half also doesn't think Jeter is exactly God's gift in the looks department; even if he were objectively attractive, he would have lost her with the vanity perfume ads.

Best-looking Met, 2007 edition? Shawn Green. (I'm just telling you what I'm hearing.)

by Simons on Nov 7, 2007 7:26 PM EST reply actions