Last week we looked at the top contenders for post-season defensive awards among catchers and infielders. This week let’s take a look at outfielders and pitchers. Again, there are many considerations that go into who I put on my Fielding Bible Award ballot, but one of the important considerations is Defensive Runs Saved, which is the number you will see listed next to each player's name in the charts below.
Left Fielders: Last year Brett Gardner won his first Fielding Bible Award, swiping the title away from three-time winner Carl Crawford in a close race. This year, things aren't so close. Gardner has run away from the pack while Crawford has slumped, which should put Gardner in line for his second consecutive award.
Despite the historic rarity of a non-center fielder winning a Gold Glove, Gardner may actually have a chance at winning one this year. It wasn't rare last year as two left fielders won, Crawford in the AL and Carlos Gonzalez in the NL.
CarGo is a bit of an enigma. When you watch him play, he shows off a ton of defensive skills. But the numbers don’t show it. Last year when he won the Gold Glove, he cost the Rockies four runs, by our estimation, across the three outfield positions. This year, he has saved a total of six runs (-1 in left, 3 in center, 4 in right). A better showing, but not the kind of Runs Saved totals you like to see from an award winner. He might win a Gold Glove again, but I probably wouldn’t vote for him.
Visual observation is important in determining a player's defensive ability, but to be elite, I want to see good evidence of defense in both areas, visual observation and analytical metrics. I’d like to see Gerardo Parra win an NL Gold Glove, but I think CarGo is more likely to sway the votes of the managers and coaches.
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Favorite
|
Other Contenders |
| Fielding Bible Award |
Brett Gardner (22) |
Gerardo Parra (13) |
| AL Gold Glove |
Brett Gardner (22) |
Sam Fuld (9)
|
| NL Gold Glove |
Carlos Gonzalez (-1)
|
Gerardo Parra (13) |
*Data through games of Tuesday, 9/20/11
Center Fielders: In 2010 Austin Jackson led all outfielders (not just center fielders) with 21 Runs Saved. This year he has saved 20 runs, leading all center fielders again and topped only by Gardner among outfielders. He didn't win a Fielding Bible Award or a Gold Glove in his rookie year last year, but he is certainly a leading contender for both this year.
A couple of other tremendous center fielders in the American League may have something to say about that, though -- Peter Bourjos and Jacoby Ellsbury. Bourjos has gotten more attention than Jackson for his defense this year. That probably makes Bourjos the favorite for the Gold Glove in the AL. But if Gold Glove voters (managers and coaches) lean toward a player that is also attracting a lot of attention as a MVP candidate, Jacoby Ellsbury might end up with a defensive trophy for his case.
In the NL, Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn, three- and two-time defending Gold Glovers respectively, have dropped off. Victorino has only saved an estimated five runs for the Phillies this year, and he has yet to record a baserunner kill after averaging seven per year over the last three years. Bourn’s numbers are worse. After 16 Runs Saved last year, he is exactly average this year with zero. But will voters be sufficiently persuaded by the more impressive performances of lower profile players (and in some instances part-time players) like Carlos Gomez, Rick Ankiel, or Cameron Maybin? The best center fielder in the National League is the tandem of Carlos Gomez and Nyjer Morgan for Milwaukee. Between them they have saved 28 runs in center field for the Brewers, an incredible total.
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Favorite
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Other Contenders |
| Fielding Bible Award |
Austin Jackson (20) |
Carlos Gomez (18)
Peter Bourjos (17) |
| AL Gold Glove |
Peter Bourjos (17) |
Austin Jackson (20)
Jacoby Ellsbury (12)
|
| NL Gold Glove |
Shane Victorino (5) |
Carlos Gomez (18)
Rick Ankiel (18)
Cameron Maybin (11)
Nyjer Morgan (10)
Michael Bourn (0)
|
*Data through games of Tuesday, 9/20/11
Right Fielders: Torii Hunter's streak of nine consecutive AL Gold Glove Awards ended last year as his ability to perform defensively as one of the best in the game in center field eroded. He slid over to right field, and has seen his defensive value return to elite levels. He is currently the leader among all right fielders, having saved an estimated 15 runs for the Angels. With Hunter's reputation and resurgent defensive performance, he may once again find himself chosen as a Gold Glove winner in the AL.
However, in order for that to happen, it might have to come at the expense of three-time Fielding Bible Award winner and ten-time defending AL Gold Glove Award winner Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro has had an incredible run, but this year he has fallen well short of his typically high levels of performance.
In the NL, two young studs have emerged as the best defensive right fielders. Jason Heyward and Mike Stanton excelled in their rookie years last year, and are doing it again this year. Heyward has 14 Runs Saved this year after 10 last year, and Stanton has 13 this year after saving an outstanding 17 runs for his team last year. Unfortunately, I think the managers and coaches are more likely to repeat with Michael Bourn as a Gold Glover than they are to recognize either Heyward or Stanton.
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Favorite
|
Other Contenders |
| Fielding Bible Award |
Torii Hunter (15) |
Jason Heyward (14)
Mike Stanton (13)
|
| AL Gold Glove |
Torii Hunter (15) |
Ichiro Suzuki (2)
|
| NL Gold Glove |
-
|
Jason Heyward (14)
Mike Stanton (13) |
*Data through games of Tuesday, 9/20/11
Pitchers: Our defensive metrics have done a very good job recognizing the best defensive pitchers over the years. A few years back, Kenny Rogers and Greg Maddux excelled defensively in our metrics year after year. And they won Gold Gloves and Fielding Bible Awards year after year. Now it’s Mark Buehrle’s turn as he continues to demonstrate his defensive excellence. He tops the list again this year with an estimated nine runs saved for his team, and looks to be a sure thing to three-peat as the Fielding Bible Award winner and AL Gold Glove Award winner.
In the NL, last year's Gold Glove winner, Bronson Arroyo, has dropped a bit with only two runs saved, making way for Jhoulys Chacin, R.A. Dickey, and Jake Westbrook to battle it out. Chacin leads the league with nine Runs Saved, while Dickey and Westbrook trail with eight and six Runs Saved respectively. However, if past performance affects voting at all, Westbrook's nine Runs Saved and Dickey's five Runs Saved from last year may suggest that one of them has the leg up.
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Favorite
|
Other Contenders |
| Fielding Bible Award |
Mark Buehrle (9) |
Jhoulys Chacin (9)
R.A. Dickey (8)
|
| AL Gold Glove |
Mark Buehrle (9) |
James Shields (7) |
| NL Gold Glove |
Jake Westbrook (6) |
Jhoulys Chacin (9)
R.A. Dickey (8) |
*Data through games of Tuesday, 9/20/11