Michael Young and the gold glove awards

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 5, 2008 5:45 PM CST Comment 98 comments

Gold glove announcements are coming tomorrow, and both Evan Grant and Jeff Wilson seem to think Michael Young could win the gold glove for the shortstop position.

Yes, that would be an enormous joke, but Wilson points out that Young's fielding percentage is great. He also, however, acknowledge that "his range is lacking," and I'm not sure how it makes sense to give the award for best fielder at a position to a guy with no range.

Grant walks through the argument, as well:

SS Michael Young might have a case. He led the AL in fielding percentage (.984), which was second in the majors to Philadelphia's Rollins. Young ranked fifth of eight qualifying AL shortstops in zone rating (.818), but led the AL in revised zone rating (.850), which attempts to refine the original formula for interpreting fielding efficiency. Young ranked just ahead of Philadelphia's Rollins (.849). Realize that a lot of folks don't buy into fielding percentage. But it, zone rating and revised zone rating seem to be the three closest things out there to definitive statistical evaluation of fielding. I think Young gets more votes than ever before and I think this comes down to Young vs. Chicago's Orlando Cabrera.

Now, I may be a bit foggy on this, but I seem to recall that there is a segment of the readership that thinks Young may be just a tad below average as a fielder. What happens in the managers and coaches in the AL vote Young the best fielder at his position. Does it sway you at all?

Derek Jeter won a gold glove while being one of the worst defensive shortstops in baseball. Nate McLouth winning this year has been discussed in a FanPost. So Young winning a GG while being a bad defensive shortstop would be just another piece of evidence as to why the gold glove balloting is the biggest joke in baseball.

However, the other thing that this would end up doing is making it harder, one would think, to sell the idea of Young changing positions. I think most of us acknowledge he's a liability in the field at the position, and needs to move...but selling the idea of moving him, even next offseason, if he's just a year away from winning a gold glove, would seem to be even harder.

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Gold Glove

I hate this award.

I am the motherfucking shore patrol, motherfucker! I am the motherfucking shore patrol! Give this man a beer.

by TheBZA on Nov 5, 2008 5:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i stopped paying attention to Gold Gloves

when Palmeiro won one at DH.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Nov 5, 2008 5:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

An absolutely meaningless win.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 5, 2008 6:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by BuckyB on Nov 6, 2008 8:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ugh

this has got to be one of the most frustrating developments.

does any other sport have a similar parallel where you can’t convince someone that they actually suck at something that they think they’re actually good at?

I guess Roy Williams playing safety – but at least most people eventually came around to that idea.

""If they'd have told me you can make the team but you've got to shine the shoes, I'd have been there shining shoes." -Bradley

by ab03 on Nov 5, 2008 5:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Most Have

I think most people have come around to the idea that Young isn’t very good at short, but coaches are either a little ahead or behind of things. In this case, coaches have almost always been way behind in understanding how good fielders from other teams are.

Texas Rangers Analyst - Kea Kometani Profile,
TRA Newsletter

by Andy Seiler on Nov 5, 2008 8:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This would be hilarious.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Nov 5, 2008 5:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Heh ... couple of things

First, he hasn’t actually won it yet, right? Then, if he does, he could well consider it as having reached a goal of sorts, and actually ease the move to 3B rather than become a hurdle. Have to understand both takes, or rather mindsets.

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Nov 5, 2008 6:06 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Just something else...

MY could point to when approached to move to 3B.

Shitty.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 5, 2008 6:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Boy, EG

Really seems to be excited at the prospect of this happening. Snidely excited.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 5, 2008 6:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

MY >>>>>>>>>> BGL

for EG.

"He’s basically told himself unconsciously that he can’t be any good unless he catches 130 games a year. If he played with the baseball smarts of a guy like a David Eckstein, he’d maximize his talent and be an incredible player." - Andy Seiler, Texas Rangers Analyst

by Chase Irwin on Nov 5, 2008 9:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't mention the name BGL around Evan.

I’ve never seen hatred like that before. The way Evan hates Ceej chills my bones.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2008 11:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Moments of weakness overcome me

when I imagine how Evan must conceive of BGL.

by Chase Irwin on Nov 6, 2008 8:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

conceive?

CJ I AM YOUR FATHER!

by bushe on Nov 6, 2008 8:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's nice seeing a writer cite Revised Zone Rating.

But I don’t think he bothered to pay attention to what it means, since he didn’t cite Outs Out of Zone. RZR isn’t just an improved version of ZR.

by philkid3 on Nov 5, 2008 6:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, yeah.

He’s going to cite stats that support his position. He didn’t mention +/-, for example, because his case falls down using that metric.

What made me kind of a sad panda was this:

Now, I may be a bit foggy on this, but I seem to recall that there is a segment of the readership that thinks Young may be just a tad below average as a fielder. What happens in the managers and coaches in the AL vote Young the best fielder at his position. Does it sway you at all?

The segment of his readers who believe Face is a poor fielder most likely know that Gold Gloves awards are an awful way to judge defensive ability.

by LiamP on Nov 5, 2008 6:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Glove*

by LiamP on Nov 5, 2008 7:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair (I don't know why). . .

. . . I cited RZR and OOZ for a couple years before I knew about plus/minus.

by philkid3 on Nov 5, 2008 7:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Coupla things ...

When have you ever been fazed in the slightest about what MY would think of a forced move to 3rd?

And what do you think of the opinion JN had in the podcast that the assumed difficulty of a mid-season move by MY to 3rd might mean Elvis is seriously considered as a candidate to break camp as the Rangers SS in 2009?

by shroomer on Nov 5, 2008 6:30 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Re: Elvis breaking camp with the Rangers in '09

I don’t think that will happen even if Elvis hits .600 for the entirety of spring training. If Elvis where to get a midseason call my guess is he’d wind up getting the short and of a platoon at short with MY for the rest of of the season while also playing the role of defensive sub/UT guy.

But really, I don’t think I see Elvis getting a midseason callup at all unless Young gets hurt – I think the organization is really afraid to uproot their glorified “Face” right now, regardless of the actual defensive ramifacations. I don’t think Elvis will get the call until Sept. ‘09, and I don’t think he’ll get a shot at the full-time shortstop job until spring 2010.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 5, 2008 6:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

elvis at ss

isnt a Young at 3B and Andrus at SS a better choice than Young at SS and Metcalf at 3B. it seems Young/Andrus is better both defensively and offensively. You might lose a little bit of power that metcalf has but that would be it. the Rangers would make up for that with the runs they save. Seems like the move should be made now. unless Andrus ends up being traded.

by Chow Time on Nov 5, 2008 7:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree completely

Heck, I’d like to see MY moved to third even if we have to sign a stopgap shortstop to start the ‘09 season. I’m just saying I don’t think that will happen because of Young’s popularity.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 5, 2008 7:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It seems obvious

so can you call JD and tell him. He doesnt return my calls, I must not have his right number. I keep getting the ticket office.

by Chow Time on Nov 5, 2008 8:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Co-Sign

Especially when there are a handful of stopgaps I’d like.

As stopgaps.

by philkid3 on Nov 5, 2008 9:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt Young/Andrus would be better than Young/Metcalf offensively

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 5, 2008 8:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Either one would be batting 9th. And i think the speed of andrus alone would be better than having metcalf. I think he would have a higher OBP than metcalf. just because of bunting for hits and being able to beat out the infield hits.

by Chow Time on Nov 5, 2008 8:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nope...

Andrus isn’t ready yet. No need to rush the kid.

2010 at the earliest.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 5, 2008 8:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you don't hear

in the off-season that MY is working out like crazy at 3rd base then the idea of him playing anywhere near avg defense at 3B would seem to be a pipe dream to me. MY isn’t going to get moved to 3rd during Spring Training and carry his defensive weight during the ensuing season. He needs to arrive in camp sick of taking balls at 3rd during the run-up Winter.

So, we’re not hearing anything like that this season. Maybe we’ll hear it next season – and maybe he’ll play a near avg 3rd base in 2010. By 2011 he’ll be 62 years old and in [even more] noticeable physical decline. Great – about the time he possibly gets proficient at 3rd base his body starts to race into the arms of decrepitude – and away from defensive competence.

by shroomer on Nov 5, 2008 8:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and away from offensive competence as well

pretty much negating any reason to move him to 3rd, and relegating him to full time DH/bench duty.

so 2009 at SS, 2010 at 3B, 2011 at 3B, 2012 and 2013 at DH for $75 million.

Now I’m beginning to realize why the contract looks so bad…but I still think we kept the right guy (as opposed to Tex) as far as leadership and team comfort go, which could be pretty huge down the road when we have a very young team full of talent that needs to be steered in the right direction.

I wonder what other teams would have payed him, and for how long?

"Calmer than you are... "

by Walter Sobchak on Nov 6, 2008 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't see why you'd think they'd need to move him to DH in '12 and '13.

He has the skillset to be pretty good defensively at 3rd.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 6, 2008 10:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can definitely see it happening

because of the state of the AL shortstop position.

Were they any legitimately good fielding shortstops in the AL the past couple years that were also popular? It seems pretty established you need to be fairly well known to win a gold glove, and hopefully the best fielding of those players will get it. When there are only a few well known shortstops in the AL and they are all bad fielders… you get a Jeter gold glove.

And maybe a Michael Young gold glove.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DSheppard on Nov 5, 2008 6:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

it's going to suck even worse when he moves to 3rd

Jindal '12

by Longhorn on Nov 5, 2008 6:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

How so?

I mean, Chris Davis played there this year and the world didn’t end. I should think if Davis can look passable at third, MY will be able to play there full time. Furthermore, by the time MY is playing third, Elvis should be playing short – and that’s going to more than make up for any suckyness MY might endure at third.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 5, 2008 6:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In what crazy mixed-up circus of a world was Chris Davis passable at 3rd?

He seemed to get most of the balls hit right at him, and he did show off a man-cannon when he threw, but in the games I saw anything more than a few feet away from him was a hit.

And that ain’t passable.

Not to this guy.

Oh no.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2008 7:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

honestly

I watched the great majority of his games at 3rd and I didnt notice anything huge like I do with MY. He didnt seem to be costing the team a lot of outs over there. Its 3rd base, you are close to the plate.. isnt it more about reaction time than making rangey plays towards short?

Not that Im a trained defensive expert or anything. And I do think he needs to end up at 1b in the longrun.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DSheppard on Nov 5, 2008 7:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

it did look like he has a pretty strong arm, but yeah I would say defensively he needs to be at 1B in ’09.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 5, 2008 7:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I did say "look" passable

I didn’t really mean he was passable long term. The point is, if the Rangers are willing to play Davis there, by comparison MY should be more than passable enough to live out the remainder of his days at third.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 5, 2008 7:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

davis at third

i saw him play 3b at frisco before he moved to first and watched him play 3rd with the rangers, he’s by no means a defensive wizard but can be passable at third. he’s probably no worse than blalock.

note, this is in no way advocating he play third. i’d much rather see him at first.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Nov 5, 2008 7:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

why?

he fields everything at him and has a cannon of an arm.

by SteveP on Nov 5, 2008 7:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

because he has huge problems with hotshots to SS

imagine the number he will get at 3B. His technique is horrible at SS, and it will be worse for his defense at a position like 3B…

Jindal '12

by Longhorn on Nov 5, 2008 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Truer words have never been spoken...

I totally agree and have said it here before!!

I’m very worried that MY will be worse at 3B.

i like baseball too

by bspate on Nov 6, 2008 8:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not.

At worst I think he’ll be league average at the hot corner once he gets all nice and settled and certainly he has the tools to be better than that.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 6, 2008 10:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is not necessarily enough to be passable.

by philkid3 on Nov 5, 2008 7:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FFace for Gold Glove will be a classic move.

I’m all for it.

I’ll be chuckling for days reading all the articles and hearing all the quotes about him.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2008 7:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

wooooo Golden Face!!!

See with Obama winning and MY winning a gold glove. EVERYTHING is possible in America!!!!

Steal Home R.I.P. 9/10/08

by LAMuscleFag on Nov 5, 2008 7:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'll believe that...

if my Utes beat the Frogs and Cougs and go to the Sugar Bowl to play Florida.

’Til then I have my doubts.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 5, 2008 7:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

everything is possible??

so unt can win a national championship??

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Nov 5, 2008 7:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

In what sport?

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2008 7:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

sport

football of course, no one cares about basketball

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Nov 5, 2008 7:31 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

anything within reason*..

I didn’t say I was a miracle worker.

Steal Home R.I.P. 9/10/08

by LAMuscleFag on Nov 5, 2008 7:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

of course..some may say...

MY winning a gold glove is not within reason.

Steal Home R.I.P. 9/10/08

by LAMuscleFag on Nov 5, 2008 7:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rice won a baseball championship

I’ve used up my college sports miracles for the decade.

by JBImaknee on Nov 5, 2008 7:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fresno State this year was way more impressive than Rice

Rice had a really good pitching staff when they won

by CRUSHDAVIS on Nov 5, 2008 8:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you

obviously know who every good fielder is and who every bad fielder is

by Save us on Nov 5, 2008 9:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'd want him to win

if only to make up for when he didn’t at 2nd base when Boone got it instead.

I would hate for him to use it as leverage as not to move from SS later though, and I personally don’t really want to here Grieve and Lewin and such continuously refer to him as GG shortstop. heh.

by Mike E on Nov 5, 2008 9:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

oh crap....

I didn’t even think about Grieve and Lewin. They will definitely be cramming this down our throats on every occasion.

It’s gonna make me sick…..

i like baseball too

by bspate on Nov 6, 2008 8:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

By the way

Dave Pinto’s Probabilistic Model of Range is out for SS in 2008.

Face is in the middle of the pack (slightly above average actually). For comparison, he was horrible in 2005 and 2007, while slightly below average in 2006 according to PMR.

by Telegraph on Nov 5, 2008 9:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Couple of brief hits

Marco Scutaro invented defense (SSS at SS, but he’s good anyway)

Mike Aviles is pretty good

Jeter was actually not too horrible this year

by Telegraph on Nov 5, 2008 9:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I heart Marco Scutaro very, very hard.

I was so excited for a little when I thought he was a FA this year.

Alas…

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2008 11:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

ARod moved from SS to 3rd right after winning 2 Gold Gloves.

"Colt mccoy sucks, mack brown needs to be fired." - Longhorn

by DaheelzCM on Nov 5, 2008 10:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well,

Arod is a team player.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 6, 2008 4:01 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Well played.

by Chase Irwin on Nov 6, 2008 8:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sickels observation of Borbon from 'Zona

Julio Borbon, OF, Texas Rangers: Showing much improved plate discipline and surprising power so far in Arizona. His athleticism and speed are obvious, and he has enough pop in his bat to avoid Gathrightdom. I’m not sure I totally buy into the improved plate discipline yet. I want to see how that holds up against more consistent pitching than he is seeing here.

Jindal '12

by Longhorn on Nov 5, 2008 10:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

oh

and this guy likes Bill James (who doesn’t?) and numbers…

2009 projections for our 2 most talked about catchers:

Taylor Teagarden: .239 AVG, 25 HR, 61 RBI, .772 OPS
Jarrod Saltalamacchia: .262, 11, 46, .773

Jindal '12

by Longhorn on Nov 5, 2008 11:02 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

With those OPS numbers

I’ll take Tea’s defense every time.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Nov 5, 2008 11:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What does the great and semi-honorable t ball think Jumpstain's realistic offensive ceiling is?

Say two or three seasons down the line when he starts to enter his “prime” (25-30) years.

And how does that compare to where you see T-Tea?

Just wondering what your opinion is.

Anyone else feel free to chime in as well.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 5, 2008 11:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Salt Stain's ceiling

is more like an .850 OPS, but I’m a lot less sure he’ll reach it than I am with Max, who I think has a similar offensive ceiling. There were some encouraging signs at times this year, though. I think Salty is one who thinks too much, tries too hard and gets in his own way. I think Teagarden is more like .800 OPS tops, with a good spread between avg. and obp, but a low avg and lots of K’s.

I’m guessing you think Max has a higher ceiling with the bat? His age dampens my enthusiasm slightly on his ceiling.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Nov 5, 2008 11:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Is it just me, or does Salty remind you of Mike Stanley?

No so much their approach at the plate (I get that Salty is a switch hitter, and Stanley was a righty), but the overall consensus about the bat and the defensive shortcomings keeps bringing me to that comp. If that comparison rings true, then one should remember that Stanley left the Rangers as a free agent…after he posted obscene numbers in OKC, and landed at 1b/dh with NY and Boston…might be another reason to sell high on him (or as high as he is right now). I struggled with it for awhile, because I’m not sold on Teagarden (he reminds me a lot of Ron Karkovice)..

by Forstall on Nov 5, 2008 11:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tea

nowhere near as ugly as Karkovice.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Nov 6, 2008 12:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Theres no way TT hits 25 HR next season

His power in the bigs was a fluke IMO.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 6, 2008 9:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think it's impossible

it might come along with a ton of strikeouts, but it’s possible. I think something more like 15 is more likely.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Nov 6, 2008 9:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, he did hit 27 HR's in 110 games between Bakersfield and Frisco in '07

Although it is worth noting the first 20 of those came in Bakersfield and the hitter-friendly cal-league.

Tea’s power is actually the one thing I’m hoping will carry his offense, because I don’t think he’s going to have that much in the way of on-base or contact skills. Basically, if his power isn’t there I don’t know what he’ll really have to offer in the way of offense that would justify starting him over a producing Max or Salty.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 6, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I seriously doubt his power was a fluke.

Also doubt he’ll hit 25 as a rookie, but I’ll bet a ton his power wasn’t a fluke.

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 4:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's pretty TTO so I could see it.

He’s like Adam Dunn minus 20-25 hrs.

The real question ain’t the power and it certainly ain’t the glove.

It’s the DL time.

If he stays healthy I could totally see him going .235/.340/.435 with a ton of K’s and 20-25 dongs.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 6, 2008 10:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Someone at BtB just posted this link.

Which would suggest that, yes, indeed, MY is somehow a Gold Glove winner.

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 12:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

lookout landing weeps.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DSheppard on Nov 6, 2008 12:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's more hysterical laughter, actually.

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/11/5/654936/gold-glove-voters-are-occa

J.K.L.

by acblue on Nov 6, 2008 12:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jeff having

a little fun of his own with the new title function-

Lookout Landing
If You Think Adrian Beltre Is Bad And/Or Overrated, I Hate You And Find You Stupid

Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. But in the mean time, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-8 baby!

by sprite on Nov 6, 2008 1:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It isn't new...

and Jeff has been using it for a while now.

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 6, 2008 4:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Woops. Guess I never read the title all the way through.

I’m ashamed for my family, my friends,my one sponsor that’s stuck with me through thick and thin (Sprite) and most importantly, “I’d like to apologize to all my fans out there.”

Fire Todd Dodge. Seriously. But in the mean time, SUCK IT WESTERN KENTUCKY! 1-8 baby!

by sprite on Nov 6, 2008 9:53 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah gosh sprite

get more familiar with LL.

You’re falling behind.

by Chase Irwin on Nov 6, 2008 8:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That is very true...

however, I recommend everyone stay far away from Halo Heaven. You’ll be popping your collars in no time.

by ghostofErikThompson on Nov 6, 2008 5:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Every time Rev pops his collar, an Angel gets Rick Rolled.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

Rule 5? No…talk to the hand.

by thedirkatron on Nov 6, 2008 10:54 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

Rec

by philkid3 on Nov 7, 2008 3:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That URL doesn't look particularly reputable

Are you actually telling me sportsgoodsnewswire.com is going to break the Gold Glove awards?

Baseball Time in Arlington

by Joey Matschulat on Nov 6, 2008 12:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lets hope not

Or we’re going to be in for a long 2009 season of hearing about “gold glove shortstop Michael Young” from the media every time Elvis Andrus’ name is mentioned.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 6, 2008 2:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh god.

Josh and TAG talking about his Gold Glove every time he makes a may will make me kill myself (if I get to watch them next year, of course).

Didn’t think about that.

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 3:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Puts two fingers down throat

by Chase Irwin on Nov 6, 2008 8:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably should ask this in tomorrow's morning thread...

Does anyone know about the Rangers’ recent re-signings? It sounds like A.J. Murray, along with fellow minor league free agents Joselo Diaz, Adalberto Flores, Alfredo Gonzalez and Kevin Richardson are staying in the Texas Organization.

Can you believe it? They're bringing back the Five Dollar Footlong. That's right, the Legendary Depression-Era Porn Star is back!!!

by YourNameHere on Nov 6, 2008 12:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Awww

Poor AJM crying cus he hates MIchael Young LOL

Seems the statistics are clearly against AJM on this. Young is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league. A well deserved Gold Glove it will be.

by Sharky on Nov 6, 2008 6:45 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Seems the statistics are clearly against AJM on this.

Which are those?

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 7:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Have your money

to pay off your bet yet?

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 6, 2008 7:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's gotta pay off that mortgage first.

Then the car, then the bet …

by Chase Irwin on Nov 6, 2008 8:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Klaw

Greg (KC): Hello Keith, I just read that Joe Posnanski said Micheal Young won the GG at SS, this is a joke along with McLouth…why even pay attention to the GG awards?

SportsNation Keith Law: (2:50 PM ET ) I don’t. Nor should you.

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Nov 6, 2008 1:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

of all the postseason awards, the GGs have always been the biggest joke. Palmeiro winning it for 28 days at 1B was the ultimate.

"Oh well, McCain is pretty communist anyway,... we can be 70% communist with McCain,"-Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 6, 2008 1:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Here is posnanski has to say on his blog:

OK, so all along I thought that the reason Derek Jeter kept getting Gold Gloves, against pretty much all logic, was because of his name, his charisma, his batting average, his ability to make that cool-looking jump throw.

But, apparently, it has nothing to do with that. Apparently the reason Derek Jeter kept winning Gold Gloves is … American League managers and coaches have absolutely NO IDEA what a good defensive shortstop looks like.

I say this because they just gave Texas’ Michael Young a Gold Glove. That’s not a misprint. Michael Young.

Here are Michael Young’s Dewan plus/minus numbers the last three years:

2006: -10 (28th in baseball)
2007: -15 (32nd in baseball)
2008: -7 (27th in baseball).

So, according to those numbers, Michael Young has pretty consistently been a well below average defensive shortstop. And that certainly has been his reputation. There are, to be fair, other defensive numbers where Young performs better — his 4.59 range factor this year was fourth among everyday shortstops and he only made 11 errors.

But the reason this one is so shocking is that, as far as I can tell, NOBODY EVER THOUGHT he was a good defensive shortstop. I’m not even considering numbers. That’s based on old-fashioned baseball scouting. The best thing I’ve ever heard a scout say about him is that he’s average defensively. That’s the best thing. Most scouts I’ve talked to think he’s a second baseman masquerading as a shortstop, he doesn’t have the arm for the position, he can’t go to his left at all, he’s shaky going back on pop-ups and so on.

The interesting thing — and the reason that the AL shortstop Gold Glove is such a cluster every year — is that no shortstop in the American League has grabbed the title as a great defensive shortstop. Bill James ranked Erick Aybar as the best defensive shortstop in all of baseball, but he only played 96 games last year. Orlando Cabrera still plays it pretty well, though he’s aging. Do you know who led all American League shortstops in Dewan plus/minus last year? That would be Kansas City’s rookie Mike Aviles.*

*That probably shows there’s a kink in the system — Aviles is adequate at short, I think, because he has a good arm and positions himself pretty well. But I don’t think anyone, including Aviles himself, thinks he’s special defensively.

So, yes, AL Gold Glove at shortstop is definitely a vacant title … but Michael Young? Really?*

*And I should add here that Young did not even have a good offensive season. He hit .284/.339/.402 in a great hitters park.