Digging through the Subway receipts and old soy sauce packets in a drawer at DMBL headquarters, the 2010 Gold Glove Awards were unearthed as league executives this week presented the belated accolades. Fielding percentage isn't the only indicator of solid leather and to avoid making a mockery of the defensive awards (You listening, Rafael Palmeiro?), all stats were taken into account in the selection process.
PITCHER: Jason Marquis, Marietta
Marquis led all pitchers in assists per game (1.37) and total chances per game (2.10) in his 28 starts.
Honorable mentions to Newark rookie Brad Bergesen, who led all pitchers in total chances (45) and along with Sardine City's Josh Johnson led the league in assists (31). Philly's C.C. Sabathia led all pitchers with 18 putouts, along with Jordan Zimmermann of Sardine City and Carlos Zambrano, who did it despite being cut by Blue Ridge midseason and playing briefly for New Jersey.
CATCHER: Joe Mauer, Las Vegas
Mauer led the league in putouts per game (8.84) and total chances per game (9.17) while throwing out 20 would-be base-stealers for a .697 clip and just six passed balls in 106 starts.
Yadier Molina of Arkansas had impressive numbers as well, trailing only Mauer in most categories while putting up a 1.000 fielding percentage and less than six passed balls, but made fewer starts, despite appearing in 136 games for the Golden Falcons.
Honorable mention also goes to Marietta's Kurt Suzuki, who led the league in baserunners gunned down with 25 (.753); Philly's Victor Martinez, who was tops in putouts (1,122) and total chances (1,164).
FIRST BASE: Prince Fielder, Carolina
Another razor-thin race, Carolina's Prince Fielder edged Marietta's Adrian Gonzalez and Adam LaRoche of Amityville. Fielder led the league in total chances (1,478), chances per game (9.31), putouts (1,834) and putouts per game (8.72) while making 162 starts and sporting a .997 fielding percentage and being in on 162 double plays. Considering his reputation for his girth, you might be surprised that he was even in the running for Gold Glove. Or you might just say it was a long time coming for Prince.
Gonzalez was right behind him in most every category with 1,435 chances (8.95/game) and 1,337 putouts (8.34/game) and a .994 fielding percentage. LaRoche was tops in fielding percentage (.999) but appeared in only 134 games.
Honorable mention also goes to Kendry Morales, who split his year between Blue Ridge and Newark, led the league in assists (119) but also committed 11 errors for a .992 fielding percentage.
SECOND BASE: Dustin Pedroia, Carolina
Not quite the runaway race that shortstop was, but still a wide margin for Carolina's Dustin Pedroia as he led all second basemen in total chances (826/5.17), assists (524/3.28) and double plays (138) and fielding percentage (.995), all while starting 162 games for the Mudcats.
Honorable mentions go to Vancouver's Chase Utley, who was second in most categories including chances (825/5.09) and assists (503/3.10) and double plays (135), but also was second in errors (16), for a .981 fielding percentage. Robinson Cano of New Jersey and Marietta's Alberto Callaspo led the league in total putouts (312) and matched Hillsborough's Ben Zobrist for most putouts per game (2.03).
SHORTSTOP: Troy Tulowitzki, Carolina
This was probably the least suspenseful race because Tulowitzki led all shortstops in every major category: 795 total chances/5.0 per game; 224 putouts/1.41 per game, 559 assists/3.52 per game, and 118 double plays. He was among a number of iron men shortstops, making all 162 starts, while ranking third in fielding percentage (.985) with 12 errors.
Honorable mention: Hoboken's Hanley Ramirez finished second to Tulo is most every category but committed 21 errors, which isn't bad, especially when you look at league leader Miguel Tejada's 37 E's. Vancouver rookie Elvis Andrus also made 162 starts and was among the league leaders in this bunch.
THIRD BASE: Scott Rolen, Vancouver
This was the toughest race to call with Bridgewater's Ryan Zimmerman and Vancouver's Scott Rolen neck and neck in virtually every category. Zimmerman led the league in total chances (407/2.55), just ahead of Rolen (403/2.49), who was tops with 297 assists (1.84) to Zimm's 281 (1.76). Zimmerman also had the most errors (23) and double plays (40).
Evan Longoria of Sardine City and Alex Rodriguez of Las Vegas tied for the lead in putouts (109). Longoria also had the best fielding percentage (.969), just ahead of Rolen (.968). Then you had Adrien Beltre of Blue Ridge and Marietta's Chone Figgins, who got some consideration for their per-game averages but didn't quite make enough starts to warrant the hardware. Beltre qualified for a league-leading 2.62 total chances per game while Figgins was second in assists per game with 1.83.
LEFT FIELD: Franklin Gutierrez, New Jersey
Gutierrez only committed four errors for a .989 fielding percentage, led all left-fielders with 2.55 chances per game and trailed only Matt Holliday in total chances. His 10 assists were fourth-best and Gutierrez patroled New Jersey's left field in 158 games; only three left-fielders played all 162 games.
Honorable mention goes to Marietta's Jason Bay, who led all left-fielders with 16 assists and along with Ryan Braun of Sardine City and Newark's Manny Ramirez finished with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
CENTER FIELD: Denard Span, Hoboken
There's no shortage of speedy center fielders to choose from. New Jersey's Shane Victorino led the league with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage but it was Hoboken's Denard Span who led all centerfielders by a wide margin in total chances (510/3.22) and putouts (493/3.11) in 162 starts. Despite his 7 errors (third most), he had a .986 fielding percentage and was third with 10 assists.
Andrew McCutcheon of Blue Ridge had the high mark with 13 assists. Honorable mentions also go to Carlos Beltran of Bridgewater, who was second in total chances (420/2.98) and putouts (407/2.89) and Vancouver's Adam Jones and Hillsborough rookie Carlos Gonzalez.
RIGHT FIELD: Hunter Pence, Blue Ridge
Right field is where the arm is, so it would be easy to hand this year's Gold Glove to Nelson Cruz of Amityville, who led the league with 10 assists. You could also go with the wily veteran Ichiro Suzuki of Marietta, who was second in total chances per game (2.52) and putouts per game (2.42). But he made only 124 starts and committed seven errors for a .972 fielding percentage.
Meanwhile, New Jersey's Seth Smith was the only right fielder to start 162 games and he had a sterling 1.000 fielding percentage and was second in total chances (349/2.23), total putouts (340/2.17), and assists.
We went with Pence for his solid .990 fielding percentage (4 errors) while leading all right fielders in total chances (384/2.55) and putouts (378//2.51). Honorable mentions also go to Newark's J.D. Drew and Nick Markakis of Sardine City, who also sported 1.000 fielding percentages.
