This article was taken from the National League side of things, we have the article from the Phillies.com website. Congrats to the Phillies on the World Series, and to Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins for winning gold gloves.
Rollins, Victorino snare Gold Gloves
Shortstop wins second award; outfielder first-time recipient
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com
PHILADELPHIA -- The Oct. 10 box score shows Shane Victorino with two hits and four RBIs, a huge offensive contribution in Philadelphia's 8-5 win over Los Angeles in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series.
Ask Victorino about one of his prouder moments from that game, however, and he'll likely start with the "F8" that retired Casey Blake -- a leaping grab against the wall that preserved a lead, keeping the Phillies in control.
Gold Glove Awards
National League
P, Greg Maddux, LAD
C, Yadier Molina, STL
1B, Adrian Gonzalez, SD
2B, Brandon Phillips, CIN
3B, David Wright, NYM
SS, Jimmy Rollins, PHI
OF, Carlos Beltran, NYM
OF, Nate McLouth, PIT
OF, Shane Victorino, PHI
For efforts like that, which came with two outs and two on, Victorino earned his first of what could many Rawlings Gold Glove Awards. He and teammate Jimmy Rollins, who won his second straight and second overall, were named Wednesday among National League winners.
"Of course, you want to do well offensively, but I always take pride in my defense," Victorino told ESPNews. "There's times you're struggling at the plate, [but] there's never a time that you should struggle on defense. There's no time that you feel, 'Oh, my first step is not there, or my legs aren't feeling good.' At the plate, you fail more than you succeed in this game. When you go on defense, it's about helping your team win."
The switch-hitting Victorino was in center field for 134 of his 138 starts this season, after shifting from right to replace Aaron Rowand. He committed just two errors in 323 total chances in center field and had a .994 fielding percentage, third best after Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth and Milwaukee's Mike Cameron.
Victorino is the fourth Phillies outfielder to win the award, joining Rowand (2007), Bobby Abreu (2005) and Garry Maddox(1975-82). This season is the 10th time in franchise history the Phils have had multiple Gold Glove winners.
The winners were selected by managers and coaches from each NL team. Managers and coaches couldn't vote for their own players.
The rest of the NL winners were Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, Mets third baseman David Wright and outfielder Carlos Beltran, McLouth and Dodgers pitcher Greg Maddux.
One of the standard methods of constructing a winning baseball team is to secure adept defenders up the middle, typically at catcher, second base, shortstop and center field.
The World Series champions have two of those spots covered in Rollins and Victorino.
Despite missing 25 games with a sprained left ankle, Rollins paced NL shortstops in a league that contains sterling defenders Jose Reyes (Mets), J.J. Hardy (Brewers) and Miguel Tejada (Astros). This is his second successive and second overall Gold Glove.
Rollins led the NL with a .988 fielding percentage and a career-low seven errors in 593 total chances. Rollins is the first Phillies shortstop to win the award in consecutive seasons and first player to do so since Scott Rolen in 2000-01.
"It's an honor anytime you are recognized as one of the best defensive players in the league," Rollins said in a statement. "It's something I work very hard at and I understand the importance of playing on both sides of the ball. I would like to thank all the managers and coaches for believing I'm one of the best."
The 2008 season marked the 52nd year of the Gold Glove Award. The first were awarded in 1957 to one player at each position from both leagues, then expanded the next year to include a lineup of nine players, one from each league.
"It's an honor," Victorino said. "Growing up as a kid, you heard about guys winning Gold Gloves and being known as the best defensive player at their positions. To be awarded that is definitely a reward."
Showing posts with label Gold Glove. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gold Glove. Show all posts
November 7, 2008
November 6, 2008
American League Gold Glove Awards
Gold Glove awards were announced today, and here is the article that was seen on Yankees.com. Congrats Moose!
NEW YORK -- His future with the Yankees may remain uncertain, but his status within the baseball world is as clear as ever. Mike Mussina confirmed that much on Thursday, winning his seventh career Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Mussina bested every other American League pitcher to nab his first Gold Glove since 2003, his third with the Yankees, and his seventh overall since 1996. Now with more AL Gold Gloves than any pitcher other than Jim Kaat, who won 14 straight from 1962-75 and an additional two in the National League, Mussina has entered rarefied air among the top defensive pitchers in history.
Gold Glove Awards
American League
P, Mike Mussina, NYY
C, Joe Mauer, MIN
1B, Carlos Pena, TB
2B, Dustin Pedroia, BOS
3B, Adrian Beltre, SEA
SS, Michael Young, TEX
OF, Torii Hunter, LAA
OF, Grady Sizemore, CLE
OF, Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
And the fact that Mussina won this year for the first time in half a decade seems fitting. This season marked something of a renaissance for Mussina, who posted his lowest ERA since 2001 and won 20 games for the first time in his career.
"I was hoping that I'd be important to the club this year," Mussina said in August, after proving that importance time and again. "I was hoping I'd have a role like I've had in the past."
Mussina easily could have been referring to his role as a defensive asset, which he established in Baltimore last decade and carried with him to the Yankees. Mussina made just one error -- his first in three years -- in 200 1/3 innings this season, despite ranking 11th in the league with 42 total chances. His fielding percentage of .976 was sixth among pitchers with at least 200 innings, and more remarkably, he did it at the age of 39.
Mussina's award came one day after Greg Maddux, at age 42, won his record 18th Gold Glove Award in the NL. Among pitchers in both leagues, Mussina's seven Gold Gloves rank fifth in the 52-year-history of the award.
The first Gold Gloves were awarded in 1957 to one player at each position from both leagues, then expanded the next year to include a lineup of nine players, one from each league.
The winners are selected by AL managers and coaches, who can't vote for their own players. Johan Santana won last year's AL Gold Glove for pitchers, then moved to the NL this season and lost out to Maddux.
Joining Mussina on the AL team was catcher Joe Mauer of the Twins, first baseman Carlos Pena of the Rays, second baseman Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, third baseman Adrian Beltre of the Mariners, shortstop Michael Young of the Rangers and outfielders Torii Hunter of the Angels, Grady Sizemore of the Indians and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners. Hunter and Suzuki each won their eighth straight awards, joining a Gold Glove team that included four first-time winners.
And accolades, most will admit, are nice -- but they can't erase the uncertainty that has surrounded Mussina since last season ended. Mussina filed for free agency on Wednesday, and he has not yet informed the Yankees whether he will pitch next year.
Originally thought to be playing out the final contract of his career, Mussina opened the door for a return after enjoying one of his most successful seasons. He now stands merely 30 wins shy of 300 -- a number that traditionally begs Hall of Fame consideration, and that could entice him to return.
"I'm not sure what he is going to do," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said at season's end. "Whatever Mike Mussina does, he has had a wonderful career up until this point, and I believe that he is a Hall of Famer."
"I don't know what the future holds," Mussina said after winning his 20th game of the season in his final start. "It could be my last year, it may not be my last year. When you get to your 18th season, it could always be your last season."
But if he does return, it's a near certainty that he'll do so with his defensive prowess intact. Mussina has made just 11 errors over his past 11 seasons, and he certainly does not plan on making many more.
"You make adjustments or they find someone else to get the job done -- it's that simple," Mussina said in July. "Fortunately, I've been able to make changes for quite a few years, and that's why I'm still out there."
NEW YORK -- His future with the Yankees may remain uncertain, but his status within the baseball world is as clear as ever. Mike Mussina confirmed that much on Thursday, winning his seventh career Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Mussina bested every other American League pitcher to nab his first Gold Glove since 2003, his third with the Yankees, and his seventh overall since 1996. Now with more AL Gold Gloves than any pitcher other than Jim Kaat, who won 14 straight from 1962-75 and an additional two in the National League, Mussina has entered rarefied air among the top defensive pitchers in history.
Gold Glove Awards
American League
P, Mike Mussina, NYY
C, Joe Mauer, MIN
1B, Carlos Pena, TB
2B, Dustin Pedroia, BOS
3B, Adrian Beltre, SEA
SS, Michael Young, TEX
OF, Torii Hunter, LAA
OF, Grady Sizemore, CLE
OF, Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
And the fact that Mussina won this year for the first time in half a decade seems fitting. This season marked something of a renaissance for Mussina, who posted his lowest ERA since 2001 and won 20 games for the first time in his career.
"I was hoping that I'd be important to the club this year," Mussina said in August, after proving that importance time and again. "I was hoping I'd have a role like I've had in the past."
Mussina easily could have been referring to his role as a defensive asset, which he established in Baltimore last decade and carried with him to the Yankees. Mussina made just one error -- his first in three years -- in 200 1/3 innings this season, despite ranking 11th in the league with 42 total chances. His fielding percentage of .976 was sixth among pitchers with at least 200 innings, and more remarkably, he did it at the age of 39.
Mussina's award came one day after Greg Maddux, at age 42, won his record 18th Gold Glove Award in the NL. Among pitchers in both leagues, Mussina's seven Gold Gloves rank fifth in the 52-year-history of the award.
The first Gold Gloves were awarded in 1957 to one player at each position from both leagues, then expanded the next year to include a lineup of nine players, one from each league.
The winners are selected by AL managers and coaches, who can't vote for their own players. Johan Santana won last year's AL Gold Glove for pitchers, then moved to the NL this season and lost out to Maddux.
Joining Mussina on the AL team was catcher Joe Mauer of the Twins, first baseman Carlos Pena of the Rays, second baseman Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox, third baseman Adrian Beltre of the Mariners, shortstop Michael Young of the Rangers and outfielders Torii Hunter of the Angels, Grady Sizemore of the Indians and Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners. Hunter and Suzuki each won their eighth straight awards, joining a Gold Glove team that included four first-time winners.
And accolades, most will admit, are nice -- but they can't erase the uncertainty that has surrounded Mussina since last season ended. Mussina filed for free agency on Wednesday, and he has not yet informed the Yankees whether he will pitch next year.
Originally thought to be playing out the final contract of his career, Mussina opened the door for a return after enjoying one of his most successful seasons. He now stands merely 30 wins shy of 300 -- a number that traditionally begs Hall of Fame consideration, and that could entice him to return.
"I'm not sure what he is going to do," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said at season's end. "Whatever Mike Mussina does, he has had a wonderful career up until this point, and I believe that he is a Hall of Famer."
"I don't know what the future holds," Mussina said after winning his 20th game of the season in his final start. "It could be my last year, it may not be my last year. When you get to your 18th season, it could always be your last season."
But if he does return, it's a near certainty that he'll do so with his defensive prowess intact. Mussina has made just 11 errors over his past 11 seasons, and he certainly does not plan on making many more.
"You make adjustments or they find someone else to get the job done -- it's that simple," Mussina said in July. "Fortunately, I've been able to make changes for quite a few years, and that's why I'm still out there."
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