11/10/10 MLB News and Notes: NL Gold Glove Awards

1. National League Gold Glove Awards: The National League Gold Glove Awards were announced today, a day after the American League Gold Glove Awards were announced. At catcher, Yadier Molina wins his third.. I would agree with the voters there as he was better than three other possible candidates. At first base, Albert Pujols won his second award. I would agree with that as well as the only other first baseman that I could see winning is Loney, but Pujols is still better than him in all categories. At second base, Brandon Phillips won his second award. I would agree as he was the only real candidate for the Gold Glove Award at second base as all the other comparable players had way less innings/games played. Troy Tulowitzki won his first Gold Glove Award at shortstop. He had the best fielding percentage of shortstops, but Stephen Drew had the same fielding percentage with the same amount of errors, more innings and games played as well as a better zone rating (by almost 1 full rating — 4.887 for Tulowitzki, 5.827 for Drew). So far, we’re 3 for 4 in agreement. At third base, Scott Rolen won his eighth Gold Glove. I think Placido Polanco was more deserving as he had 1 more inning played in the field with a better fielding percentage, 3 less errors as well as a better range factor and a slim difference in zone rating. Polanco deserves it over Rolen. For the outfield, Shane Victorino won his third Gold Glove, Michael Bourn won his second Gold Glove and Carlos Gonzalez won his first Gold Glove Award. Instead of giving the award to Bourn, I would have given it to a more deserving candidate in Marlon Byrd. Byrd had more innings played in the field with less errors and a better zone rating. Byrd is more deserving of the Gold Glove Award and should have won it. Bronson Arroyo won his first Gold Glove Award at pitcher. Really, it does not matter here so I’m not going debate this award.

2. Oakland Acquires David DeJesus: The Oakland Atheltics received outfielder David DeJesus from Kansas City today in exchange for right-handed pitcher Vin Mazzaro and left-handed pitcher Justin Marks. Mazzaro posted a 4.27 ERA in 122 1/3 innings pitched this year for Oakland. He became tradeable when the Oakland Athletics won the bidding for right handed pitcher out of Japan, Hisashi Iwakuma who would end up taking up the fifth rotation spot that Mazzaro held last year. Mazzaro had an ERA+ of 97 last year shows that he is an average pitcher and can improve the Kansas City Royals’ pitching rotation as a whole for next season. Last season was his second season in the MLB so he still has some time to develop yet. Justin Marks is a minor league pitcher who has posted not so impressive numbers last year while playing in low single-A and high single-A. He had a 4.87 ERA with a 1.353 WHIP with 9.5 strikeouts per 9 innings as well as having a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.78. He is going to need a lot of time to develop. David DeJesus had a solid season last year in 91 games played as he posted a .318 batting average with an on-base percentage of .384. He had an OPS+ of 127 which is very good. He hit 5 home runs as well as driving in 37 runs. Over his career, he has played eight seasons and has a career batting average of .289, a career on-base percentage of .360 and has a career OPS+ of 108 meaning that he is an above average player and is a solid option for the Athletics. Good trade by Oakland, in my opinion.

3. Dave Niehaus died at age 75: Just a couple years older than my grandparents, Dave Niehaus has died today at the age of 75 due to a heart attack. He has called every game of the Mariners since they started as an expansion franchise back in 1977. He is known as one of the best announcers due to his story telling as well as “My oh my!” and “It will fly away!” calls. In 2008, he won the Ford C. Frick award and was inducted into the broadcaster’s wing of the Hall of Fame. He was never affected by the Mariners’ record or how well they were playing each night; he still brought enthusiasm as well as drama to enlighten the fans. One of his most well known calls was this one right here: ”Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball, they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior’s speed. The stretch … and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martinez, swung on and LINED DOWN THE LEFT-FIELD LINE FOR A BASE HIT! HERE COMES JOEY, HERE IS JUNIOR TO THIRD BASE, THEY’RE GOING TO WAVE HIM IN! THE THROW TO THE PLATE WILL BE … LATE! THE MARINERS ARE GOING TO PLAY FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP! I DON’T BELIEVE IT! IT JUST CONTINUES! MY OH MY!” which was back in 1995. In the 1960s and 1970s, he called California Angels and UCLA Bruins’ football games for the local Los Angeles market. He has had a great broadcasting career and has seen a lot. Rest in peace, Dave Niehaus!