Mark Ellis: stranded at second
Mark Ellis is not clutch. He's often hurt during the season, was hurt this postseason, and hit a paltry .249 this year for the A's. He is, however, the best defensive second baseman in baseball, in part due to the excellent tutelage of Ron Washington (who I hope remains in Oakland next season).
So, I'm a bit miffed that Ellis did not win his first Gold Glove award for, statistically speaking, one of the best defensive season's ever for a second baseman. Dumbfounded as I was, I went into sabermetrics mode and investigated the stats for Ellis and 2006 Gold Glove winner Mark Grudzielanek of the Kansas City Royals. Let's have a look:
Grudzielanek played 41 more innings than Ellis, and made two more errors (Ellis made only two all season). Their total chances were even (Ellis 632, Grudzielanek 637). Grudzielanek turned 20 more double plays that Ellis, but you know that Kansas City sucks and probably allowed a lot more runners on base than Oakland. Their put-outs and assists are relatively even. Both players had their best years' ever defensively (and, as I mentioned earlier, Ellis' .997 fielding percentage was the best ever for an AL second baseman). Given the latter stat, wouldn't you think that the Golden Glove was Ellis' for the taking? I mean, c'mon: BEST FUCKING SEASON EVER BY A SECOND BASEMAN! Not only that, but when Ellis got hurt in game three of the ALDS and Jimenez came in for the ALCS, Jimenez made as many errors IN ONE GAME as Ellis did during the entire season! Ellis is a G, and he should have taken the GG.
But, Grudzielanek hit almost 50-points better than Ellis. I'm miffed, but the Grudz did have a good season. OK, I'll calm down now.
On the brighter side, Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez won his sixth Golden Glove. One more next season and he'll have won more than ANY American League third baseman ever.
I've abused the exclamation point in this post; it's pressing charges.
In other news, I've viewed over six hours of Beavis and Butt-head cartoons in the last 72 hours. That's almost 15 percent of my waking listening to "Cool." "Yeah, yeah." "Washing the dog! Washing the dog." "Nachos rule!" It's been a good few days.
5 comments:
"On the brighter side, Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez won his sixth Golden Glove. One more next season and he'll have won more than ANY American League third baseman ever."
That has to be wrong. Didn't Brooks Robinson win 10 to 15 Gold Gloves at that position?
buddy bell and brooks robinson have six GGs each.
Better do some more research next time, my friend - Brooks Robinson ACTUALLY won 16 Gold Gloves at 3rd base from 1960 to 1975.
Need proof?: http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/hofer_bios/Robinson_Brooks.htm
fuckin human vacuum!
i should know better than to rely on a blog for facts:
http://www.athleticsnation.com/story/2006/11/2/172757/640
You just misunderstood what he was saying. He says, "You have something to really shoot for next year, Chavy. You can leave no one between you and Brooks by winning a seventh." Buddy Bell and Chavez have 6 Gold Gloves and Brooks has 16, so Chavy will leave no one BETWEEN himself and Brooks if he wins a Gold Glove next year.
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