Rob Neyer on the Young/GG situation

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 6, 2008 3:44 PM CST Comment 21 comments

Michael Young and Derek Jeter are two of the worst everyday shortstops in recent history. And yet, Young and Jeter have now captured four of the last five American League Gold Gloves. Honestly, this is pretty mind-blowing (unless you've been paying attention to the Gold Glove results for the last few years, in which case it should be pretty hard to blow your mind). From 2004 through 2007, Young was roughly the 30th best shortstop in the majors. Over those four years, he was roughly 100 plays worse than the average major league shortstop. This year he improved some, and might have cost his team only 10 hits rather than 20 or 30.

Sure, it might have been a one-season fluke, but you have to give the guy credit for doing better. You don't have to give him an award suggesting he's the top defensive shortstop in the American League.

* * *

As for Young, it's actually not hard to figure out how he won. He had another big year with the bat (which voters like) and he led the American League in fielding percentage (which they absolutely love). My friends, I give you the American League's Nate McLouth.

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You missed this part of his post

Sure, it might have been a one-season fluke, but you have to give the guy credit for doing better. You don’t have to give him an award suggesting he’s the top defensive shortstop in the American League. Look, it’s not just me and a bunch of sabermetric whack jobs. Here’s a bit of Lone Star Ball’s Adam Morris on Young’s new-found honor:

by gr7070 on Nov 6, 2008 3:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Congrats

on the Neyer reference.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Nov 6, 2008 3:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

BTW

I agree with AJM that GG winner Young will be less likely to move to any position in the future. My initial reaction was speculation that this might raise his trade value now that he is superficially considered to be a good defensive shortstop. Then I remembered his contract and that thought died a mercifully quick death.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Nov 6, 2008 3:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Neyer's assessment

is ridiculous. He’s simply not that bad of a shortstop. I’m sorry. Is he a Gold Glove caliber player? No. But he’s not that freakin bad.

by SteveP on Nov 6, 2008 3:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmm...

The most comprehensive analysis on the subject I’ve ever seen was the “Spatial Aggregate Fielding Evaluation” done by members of the Statistics Department at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The study covered the years 2002-2005—remember that Michael Young became a shortstop after the Rangers traded Alex Rodriguez following the 2003 season— and looked at all defensive positions other than catcher and pitcher. According to their results (see here), Young the shortstop cost the Rangers 13.29 runs per year. The only shortstop worse was Derek Jeter, who cost the Yankees 13.81 runs per year.

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 4:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Based on what?

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 4:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Another big year with the bat?

He’s kidding, right?

by Athos on Nov 6, 2008 4:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

relative to other AL SS he was pretty good at least.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DSheppard on Nov 6, 2008 4:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

he was before he broke his fingers

but it definitely is strange to say that he had a big year with the bat.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 6, 2008 6:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

i have been ranger-less for a few weeks, but just received an e-mail from DMN on the gold glove.

unbelievable.

by sam in so cal on Nov 6, 2008 4:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Are we

Through yet with pulling up any and every reference to how awful MY is at shortstop, how terrible his contract is, what an injustice it is for his garnering any honors whatsoever, mocking the face of the franchise moniker, or periodically testing his deodorant for failure? Somebody please send me an email when the pejoratives are over.

Oh, J.J. Hardy should have won the AL Gold Glove at short. On that, I’d agree.

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

by Ed Coffin on Nov 6, 2008 4:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

How would Hardy win the AL Gold Glove?

Or is that a joke.

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 4:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Hardy may have been a slightly better candidate than Rollins. He was good enough Adam suggested trading for him (agreed), so lacking a legit AL candidate, just write in Hardy. Heh ..

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

by Ed Coffin on Nov 6, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I see.

I actually disagree with him having had a better season than Rollins, but I would like to trade for him if it’s reasonable.

I’d vote for either Aviles or Scutaro, though. MAYBE Cabrera if you want someone who spent a full season at short.

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 4:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He's

a NLer

Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.

"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 6, 2008 4:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No way is MY the AL's Nate McLouth.

It’s not even close. McLouth was probably the most counter-productive outfielder in baseball this year. And there were guys like Chris Young and Willie Harris who had godly seasons.

No one had a very good season at shortstop among those who played a full season of shortstop, and, while MY was bad, he was, like, 6-ish runs bad. Not 30-ish runs bad.

by philkid3 on Nov 6, 2008 4:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I like this line:

The Yankees have been stuck with the same petard.

Michael Young is no longer the FOTF, he is the Petard of the Franchise.

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

by t ball on Nov 6, 2008 5:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The French meaning?

The French used pétard, “a loud discharge of intestinal gas,” for a kind of infernal engine for blasting through the gates of a city.

That’s mean!

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Nov 7, 2008 8:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

c'est la vie,

non?

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

by t ball on Nov 7, 2008 8:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Je ne sais pas ce que ce signifie...

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Nov 7, 2008 8:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs