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Are the same who win
the Gold Glove year after year deserving?
John Dewan's Stat of
the Week™
May 12, 2006
Greg Maddux has won the Gold Glove
for the best fielding pitcher in the National League in 15 of
the last 16 years. In the American League, Kenny Rogers has won
the last two Gold Gloves. In the last ten years, Rogers has
won the AL award four times while Mike Mussina has taken home
six Gold Gloves.
Given how other awards, Gold Glove and
otherwise, have a longer list than three guys in the last ten years
who have won it, it makes you wonder whether the voting becomes more
of a tradition for some of the voters rather than a consideration.
In my book,
The Fielding Bible, I analyzed players at each defensive
position on the field utilizing my new plus/minus system, but I ran
out of time before I could get to pitchers. Dave Lawson, a
consultant who does statistical analysis for several major league
teams, suggested that I tackle pitchers. So I did -- thanks, Dave!
Here's a summary of the the best fielding pitchers in Major League
Baseball over the last three years based on the plus/minus system:
| Rank |
Player |
Plus/Minus |
| 1 |
Livan Hernandez |
+23 |
| 2 |
Kenny Rogers |
+21 |
| 3 |
Greg Maddux |
+20 |
| 4 |
Jake Westbrook |
+19 |
| 5 |
Tom Glavine |
+16 |
| 6 |
Mike Mussina |
+14 |
| 7 |
Woody Williams |
+11 |
| 8 |
Cory Lidle |
+9 |
| 9 |
Andy Pettitte |
+9 |
| 10 |
Dontrelle Willis |
+9 |
Note: the plus/minus number is for
groundballs only
Here's how you interpret the plus/minus
number: Kenny Rogers stands at +21 meaning that he handled 21 more
plays than would be expected from an average fielding pitcher if the
exact same groundballs that Rogers had were hit towards the pitcher
position for that average pitcher.
The two regular Gold Glove winners at
pitcher, Rogers and Maddux, come out number two and number three in
the plus/minus system ranking. And the other recent regular Gold
Glove winner, Mussina, comes out at number six. I have to give
credit where credit is due and say that, despite my skepticism, the
voters have done a nice job "electing" the proper Gold Glove winners
at pitcher.
And, I take comfort that the plus/minus
system seems to also have done a nice job "electing" winners by
dove-tailing well with the actual Gold Glove winners.
Livan Hernandez -- the heir apparent to
Greg Maddux?
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