A-Rod Gold Glove -- an outrage.

[TheShrimp]

I'll get right to the point.

This year Mike Bordick set the all time major league record for consecutive chances without an error, and consecutive games without an error (both streaks still alive). Funny, on Sportscenter you didn't see any "countdowns" to the record. They were too busy showing A-rod picking up another couple of doubles while Texas lost their 8th straight game.

Bordick had a .998 fielding pct. He made ONE error all season.

This isn't like you could make a case for A-Rod over Tejada for MVP. This is like trying to make a case for Pujols over Bonds for MVP. A real atrocity.

Here's the rub. Bordick was hurt in the middle of the season and only played 117 games. He only had 367 AB which wouldn't qualify you for the batting title, if I'm not mistaken (don't you need 400 AB?).

But that said, this was still one of the greatest defensive seasons ever. Bordick gets to more balls (4.9 to 4.6 TC/game) and handles them more cleanly. He played 110 straight games without making an error at SHORT STOP. Even if he didn't miss those games, you would only expect him to make one more error.

I'll let Vizquel make the point for me. From cbs.sportsline.com:

"I know he [A-Rod] improved his defensive numbers. He had a good year. The voting could go either way," Vizquel said of Rodriguez. "He's on TV everyday. He's in the national papers everyday."

Vizquel said he thought Baltimore's Mike Bordick, who did not make an error in his final 110 games, was as deserving as Rodriguez.

"I don't know why he wasn't recognized as one of the best," Vizquel said.

 

[JT]

According to Baseball Prospectus statistical ratings Alex Rodriguez was rated at 44 runs better than the worst rated defensive shortstop if equal innings were played and 7 runs better than league average. Mike Bordick was rated at 56 runs better than the worst one and 26 runs above average. They back up your opinion TheShrimp, Alex is a very good defensive player but Mike Bordick was outstanding. Perhaps it was because of time lost of injury.

 

[ferdville]

shrimp - you are right on target. Bordick was robbed. The Gold Gloves are ludicrous in many cases.

 

[PUHD]

Just curious here, is there not a minimum on games played to win the gold glove? I can't remember. Anyhow, look at the games played by A-rod to Bordick. Had Bordick played the same amount of games or something more similar, then maybe. Call me a homer or whatever. Thinking that there has to be more rhyme or reason more so than who is more popular. JMO

 

[SingleMalt]

I do not think that there is a min. game factor as Palmero won the Glove a few years ago when he played only 25 games at first base and DHed the rest of the season. This award has become a joke and has become a popularity contest. A-Rod improved his defensive stats, the word was dispersed to the voters (I believe it is certain sportswriters)*(which makes this a bigger crime as the guys that are supposed to know the MLB for their jobs are the idiots who vote, but I digress), A-Rod gets the Glove.

This year Bordick deserves it. Omar would usually get it on reputation alone. A-Rod has not chance for the MVP because he is on the Oveners...I mean Rangers. Let's give him the Glove.

If I were to stand at the SS position and only field the ball hit directly at me, field at 1.000, should I get the glove??? Over Omar that has 6 errors covering 10 times as much area??? The answer is subjective, but Mike or Omar should have had it...Not the 25 million dollar man.

 

[PUHD]

You're right SM, i think i do remember something about Palmeiro. Thanks for the info. I could care less about the awards because the seasons over and its all a scham anyways. Bring on Spring training.