It's that time of year again- awards season (one of my favorite times on the WPK calendar)- and let's get things started with the Gold Glove award winners in each league.
SJL:
For the great Curtis Horah, this is his 11th Gold Glove of his career. And hey, let's not mince words, he is the greatest defensive player of his era at any position and his 25.8 ZR was once again the best in baseball.
Rookie second baseman (who would probably be a Gold Glove shortstop if that position on his team wasn't already occupied by Bud Lindsay) John Mussaw was second best in ZR at an impressive 24.3 and he earns his first, likely of many, Gold Glove honor. His teammate Bud Lindsay gets number 3 of his career.
Juan Mendoza is pretty clearly the most gifted defensive third baseman in the game these days and he picks up his 5th GG.
The same could likely be said of catcher Elvis Iniguez at his position and this is his 2nd award but surely not his last.
For Curt Carroll and Anthony Schaer this is also their 2nd GG and it is the first for light-hitting, defensively-gifted veteran center fielder Omar Trujillo and pitcher Scott Bunton.
MGL:
The Denver Brewers led all teams in the WPK in most defensive categories, including Zone Rating with a team mark of +52.7.
And yet, somehow, they were shut out in this year's Gold Glove awards voting.
(The two I thought most likely to get one were shortstop
Rich White, who was fairly beaten out by the only real competitor for him at his position in the MGL, and
Zacarias Martell, who had the numbers in several categories that could have earned him this award, likely for the only time in his career.
Josh Schaeffer in right field also had a chance.)
For Greg Alwardt this is his 5th Gold Glove award, though his first one was as second base much earlier in his career.
Former Brewer great Ryan Rodgers won his 4th Gold Glove at the age of 40, having last won one in 1967, and as a center fielder. Had Rodgers retired a few years ago he would have been a likely, but perhaps not sure, Hall of Famer. This late career push though has him moving well into sure thing HOF territory.
It is also the 4th GG for L.A. second baseman Bryan Perry.
Baltimore center fielder Mike Schimmel wins his 2nd Gold Glove.
For all other MGL GG winners it is their first time.