Halos Heaven

Good point.

A gold glove first baseman makes everyone else look better. And who did they have before? Giambi?

Relax.

There is still time for more Jeter love. Cy Young, maybe. And ROY.

Perhaps not, though, AL Manager Of The Year. Stiff competition, there

Great for Torii

Torii Hunter won his 9th Golden Glove award.

But what about the snubbing of Aybar and Figgins. Jeter plays some pretty good D at short, but I don’t think he played better than Aybar. And was there any better 3rd base play from anyone other than Figgins?

Jay Cal - November 10, 2009 reply

Are you really surprised Jeter won it?

Higz - November 10, 2009 reply

No, there was nobody better than Figgins at third base.

But heaven forbid the Angels get two GG winners. That’s reserved for the Yankees.

Meh, it's possible Longoria also deserved one.

How many of these guys get GG bonuses?

Longoria did have a good year

linkbruin - November 10, 2009 reply

I thought...

It should have been Figgy or Young but not Longoria…that’s just my opinion.

angelsfan777 - November 10, 2009 reply

I guess not

But its kind of sad.

He played well, but he wasn’t better than Aybar.

Jay Cal - November 10, 2009 reply

He just gets more instant replays.

Everytime Jeter makes a decent play, they show it four times from four different angles, and gush about how he has a sixth sense.

SocalAngelFaninOC - November 10, 2009 reply

Just wait 'til Jeter retires and Aybar becomes a Yankee

THEN he’ll get the love he deserves.

Clutch - November 10, 2009 reply

He doesn't have to be better....

just anywhere in the general range of good. The “NYY” moniker does the rest.
I would agree, though, that Tex deserved it.

Teix deserved his, Jeter did not

I still do not understand how that guy wins a gold glove every year for playing below average defense. Not even average.

linkbruin - November 10, 2009 reply

CONGRATS Torii

You deserve it.

angelsfan777 - November 10, 2009 reply

Even Hunter

winning was borderline, but I support it. He did play great but missed some time. F Gutierez probably should have been in there. but I am pretty sure that Aybar should have beaten out Jeter and Andrus should be with him
Figgins has been robbed, but I agree with Rev I can stomach that because Longoria won it.

Funny…
Look at the award winners from the last few years. Draw a line from Texas up to Chicago, everyone east of that wins the awards, gets the accolades, and the attention. West of that we get patronized by the national announcers and broadcasters call it “a nice story” as in Erick Aybars defense has been a SURPRISE, what a NICE STORY for the Anaheim Angels (because they still get the name wrong)

And people wonder why these FA always bolt for the East Coast teams.

Sinatrasratpack - November 10, 2009 reply

Vic Power played 60 games at 1B in the American League in 1964

That’s nearly Raffyesque!

Also, Gutierrez was totally robbed, Figgy was deserving, and Jeter is a joke. Congrats to Torii.

mattwelch - November 10, 2009 reply

Agree...

Nothing against Torii, I love the guy, but he wasn’t the best defensive CF this year…

Figgy should have won, Jeter winning for SS has got to be the biggest laugh of the season, kind of like voting for Veritek for catcher…

Jietoh - November 10, 2009 reply

Gold glove votes are usually based on precedent.

The incumbent usually gets voted in again, barring a horrible drop off in production. Torii won it because Torii always wins it, and the next best guy wasn’t so much better that it was obviously right to take it away from Torii. This, however, doesn’t explain why Jeter got it. He hadn’t gotten it for a few years.

Precedence is a horrible way of voting.

The award should go to the best defensive player at that position.

I’m trying not to be so upset over this, but Gutierrez put in such an amazing defensive year that this vote just comes off as a complete travesty to me. Hell, Gutierrez should’ve had the nod over Ichiro. I guess I should just be happy that the Mariners have the best defensive CF in the game today.

JLProck - November 10, 2009 reply

So sad.

I can see how the GG awards would be such a big deal to a Mariners fan. That’s all you had to look forward to after September. But really, it’s not that important. Flying flags is more important. Our center fielder definitely helped his team fly a flag this year, and Gutierrez didn’t.

And even though precedence is a horrible way to vote, it’s a cold, hard fact. Ichiro has gotten his GG’s the same way. Not that he isn’t great, but he also keeps getting it because he’s the incumbent.

Rally Manatee - November 11, 2009 reply

Agreed on Ichiro.

And helping to fly flags is great, but that should be considered when voting for MVP, not for who played the best defense at a certain position.

JLProck - November 11, 2009 reply

Couldn't agree more on Gutierrez...

…and in the interest of spreading some love across our AL West rivals, I thought Andrus might have had a shot too at SS were it actually a meritocracy (though in retrospect Jeter’s is among the least surprising GGs of all time)

The Limey - November 10, 2009 reply

problem with gutierrez

his statistical lead is pretty hairsplitting and Torii’s glove was more entertaining. There is some subjectivity built into these awards.

Sure, no argument that there is subjectivity.

And I don’t hold it against you guys for being glad that Torii got his GG (heck, we were happy Ichiro got his, and both of them are debatable)…but

Honestly, do you really think that it was “statistical hairsplitting” separating Gutierrez and Hunter?
By the measures I’ve seen, Gutz was the best OF this year, and it wasn’t even close…

No, his stat lead is HUGE, not hairsplitting

Least among the things I recall looking at, he was the Most Valuable Defender in the American League this year.

mattwelch - November 10, 2009 reply

oh alright

it wasn’t hairsplitting … he was a great boring defender instead of the most exciting defender in the sport today. Frankie goes to Microsoft no film at 11…

But, but...

Jeter is exciting, because he jumps and spins! Surely that means that his excitement-factor, like Torii’s, puts him ahead of the statistical leader! (I kid)

Really though, while I see your point that flashy plays/excitement will sway the voters, the statistical difference between Gutz and the rest of the field really made his non-selection indefensible. I guess that if you had to criticize Gutz, it would be because he made it look too easy being the best defender in the league?

One of the three most exciting plays I've seen in my life. He doesn't make as many exciting plays as Torri because his range is light years better and he makes things look easy.

Tyler - November 10, 2009 reply

Same with Garrett Anderson

Garrett was too lazy to win the award

ryanfea - November 10, 2009 reply

If he wasn't so lazy,

GA would have won ALL the Gold Gloves this year. By himself.

Clutch - November 10, 2009 reply

So what you're saying is...

That if GA wasn’t so lazy there would be no need for gold gloves?

halofan4life - November 10, 2009 reply

Instead of giving out G.G. awards

They would just have the GA.

eyespy - November 11, 2009 reply

Hairsplitting?

Hunter’s UZR was -1.4 this season in center. Gutierrez’ UZR was 29.1.

That’s not hairsplitting, that’s huge. Gutierrez was 30 runs better on defense than Hunter, and Hunter’s GG selection is indefensible by itself, let alone over Gut.

Humongo - November 10, 2009 reply

UZR doesn't matter

The people who vote on these awards don’t look at it.

ryanfea - November 10, 2009 reply

i said it was not hairsplitting

and the real bummer for Franky GoesToEriz is that the voters only look at highlights on espn not fsn-redmond

Huh?

his statistical lead is pretty hairsplitting and Torii’s glove was more entertaining

I mean, I know you changed your mind...

after people pointed out that you were completely wrong, but your homerism is showing a bit ;)

Face it, none of the three winners deserved it over Gutierrez…including Hunter.

Face it

Beethoven, let alone a pussy a like Liszt, rocked the shit out of Rachmaninoff.

You forgot Mozart.

opiejeanne - November 11, 2009 reply

not a fan

of the Salzburg Sissie

Rev Halofan - November 11, 2009 reply

Too much time spent in elevators will do that.

Mozart is trivial.

Beethoven rocks, and Tchaikovsky rocks almost as much

That said,

JSBach is the greatest composer that ever lived.

Almost as great as McCartney/Lennon.

Philistine

Elitist

Namby-Pamby

Pfffft!

Fan Since 1981 - November 12, 2009 reply

All of the above mentioned composers are second-rate

Morali was the best, bar none.

UZR isn't the ultimate factor.

I think the SBN Seattle page summed it up perfectly.

Link?

ryanfea - November 10, 2009 reply

My apologies.

My apologies again.

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2009/11/10/1124884/al-gold-gloves-announced

My apologies once more.

It only took me 3 tries to post that...

Congrats to Torii. Makes me happy.

opiejeanne - November 10, 2009 reply

Jeter

Jeter had 8 errors to Aybar’s 11, and started 150 times to Aybar’s 135. Tell me again why it’s ridiculous for Jeter to have beaten him?

Andrus and his 22 errors should not be in contention.

Angels95 - November 10, 2009 reply

you have pretty simplistic judging criteria

Jeter has no range and also gets a lot of non-calls on errors.

And would have had far more "must call" errors with a less-than-Tex first baseman.

Wait, you give Aybar credit for having more range than Jeter, yet...

Gutierrez has twice the range of Torii Hunter and put forth possibly the greatest defensive year in CF ever. I get that you’re allowed some homerism, but I don’t see the sense in saying Hunter deserved it more than Franklin.

JLProck - November 10, 2009 reply

S E N S E ?

you want me to operate with sense? whoah stop right there, that is just asking too much.

Greatest defensive year in CF ever?

As in no one has ever had a better year than Gutierrez or this was Gutierrez’s best year?

It's the best season in the UZR era. And it will almost certainly be the best season he ever has.

Being a +30 defender isn’t really sustainable no matter how talented you are.

Tyler - November 10, 2009 reply

sounds like

magic … has he been observing pagan solstice rituals?

Gozer the Gozerian… good evening. As a duly designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension.

Stirrups - November 10, 2009 reply

If someone asks if you are a god, you say, “yes!”

WiHaloFan - November 11, 2009 reply

This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.

Dogs and cats... living together!

Okay

I read “the greatest defensive year in CF ever” to mean that no one has ever had the defensive year he’s had. Just making sure.

Fan Since 1981 - November 11, 2009 reply

It'd be impossible to tell for sure...

but I don’t think saying “Franklin Gutierrez, during the 2009 season, played defense in CF as good as or better than anyone ever has before” would be outlandish. That’s how good he was this year. Ask Jarrod Washburn.

JLProck - November 10, 2009 reply

"Hey Jarrod, how good was this Gutierrez guy?"

“He was good”

“Okay, thanks Jarrod”

Glad we got that cleared up.

WiHaloFan - November 11, 2009 reply

Best ever? Based on what evidence?

It would be nice to have UZR and OOZ stats for CFs like Gary Pettis and Devon White during their prime before declaring Guty as good or better than anyone ever.

Hence the "it'd be impossible to tell."

All I’m saying is DFT played the best CF defense we’ve seen since Andruw Jones was good, and that his defense in 2009 would probably be mentioned in the discussion of the top defensive single seasons of all time.

JLProck - November 11, 2009 reply

I thought Paul Blair should have won

Angel Aviator - November 11, 2009 reply

"DFT" is a registered trademark

Any unauthorized usage of “DFT” without the expressed written consent of the Ultimate Snark Squad is prohibited. ;)

Fan Since 1981 - November 12, 2009 reply

When you can't get to the ball...

It’s a lot harder to make errors.

This was one of Jeter’s best years. But all the jump and spin throws in the world can’t make up for that he’s not a standout defensive SS.

on this one we agree

Big Game Hunter - November 10, 2009 reply

TheAntiSox - November 10, 2009 reply

+1,000,000,000

Figgi4life - November 10, 2009 via mobile reply

Wow.

What a joke. Jeter. What a joke. Longoria I can understand. He’s good. Gotta give em that

But congrants to torii.

Figgi4life - November 10, 2009 via mobile reply

Gold Glove != Gold GLOVE

I’ll never get it when they have a Silver Slugger award, but Gold Glove always seems to be heavily based on offensive performance. Maybe b/c Gold Glove is more prestigious or well-known?

Neo8234 - November 10, 2009 reply

Torii did not deserve this award

Neither did Jeter, Jones, Ichiro, or Doucheira. Who the hell decides these awards? Drayton McClane?

The awards should have gone to Andrus/Aybar, Crawford, Gutierrez, Sweeney, and Kendry.

blochead - November 10, 2009 reply

ESPN Headline "Jeter, Teixeira earn AL Gold Gloves"

Nevermind anybody else. The world loves to hear about the Yanks.

Ridiculous

Easily the most overrated player of this generation. He is actually a pretty decent player, but he has officially now been overrated to astronomical levels.

Wytelitning - November 10, 2009 reply

T O R I I ?

Jeter, I think

jjackflash - November 10, 2009 reply

Jeter!

I thought it was obvious.

Wytelitning - November 11, 2009 reply

Didn't you know that

if Jeter went to Afghanistan, he’d single-handedly catch Osama in 3 days?

Ill buy him a tix

its a win win there!!

Angel Aviator - November 11, 2009 reply

I thought that was chuck norris

halofan4life - November 13, 2009 reply

Next year...

I can’t wait for Morales to take the Gold away from that money grubbing asshat Teixeira. Also, I think the MLB is still in talks with the Vatican to venerate Derek Jeter as a saint.