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Big League Stew

Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:25 pm EST

Derek Jeter wins Gold Glove, world continues to spin on axis

By 'Duk

There is only one thing in baseball that l hate more than Gold Glove awards and that is writing about Gold Glove awards.

So I'm going to make this quick.

The American League Gold Glove winners were announced today. You can find all the details here, but here is a quick summary:

Ichiro(notes) and Torii Hunter(notes) were each honored by the league's managers and coaches for the ninth time.

Evan Longoria(notes), Adam Jones(notes) and Mark Buehrle(notes) won their first gilded mitts.

For the second time, Joe Mauer(notes) and Placido Polanco(notes) were ruled the standards at catcher and second while Mark Teixeira(notes) was tops at first for the third occasion. 

Oh, and Derek Jeter(notes) won his first shortstop Gold Glove since 2006 and fourth award overall.

Considering Jeter's defense has been such a divisive topic that it even made its way into last weekend's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" episode, his win is sure to attract the most attention.

But while Elvis Andrus(notes) fans down in the Metroplex have a good argument, it's not as if Jeter won on the past numbers that earned him the title of baseball's most overrated shortstop. His numbers improved this season and his performance was regarded as above average. Throw in the fact he did all of this at 35 years old and it was an impressive effort.

I'm still sure those facts won't prevent those who now accept "Jeter sucks at defense" as gospel from harping on the honor, just as many close-minded people could never accept that he wasn't the gold standard for defensive shortstops in years past.

Also, it certainly won't prevent me from being annoyed at all of the goofy bickering that will ensue. Measuring fielding is such an inexact science and the Gold Glove award seems to be baseball's equivalent of Pro Bowl offensive linemen (ie: once you've got a rep, you've got a rep). Once someone tells me how you separate all the pitchers who can actually get over to cover first while not resembling a refrigerator with wheels, perhaps I might come around.

BTW, the NL winners will be announced on Wednesday. 


Related: Elvis Andrus, Evan Longoria, Joe Mauer, Mark Teixeira, Ichiro Suzuki, Torii Hunter, Derek Jeter

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59 Comments

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  1. Kb
    1. Posted by Kb Tue Nov 10, 2009 4:45 pm EST

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    scams
  2. Rob R
    2. Posted by Rob R Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:25 pm EST

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    Let me guess...The Yankees bought that too?
  3. Justin M
    3. Posted by Justin M Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:28 pm EST

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    /sarcasmed
  4. Bryan V
    4. Posted by Bryan V Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:31 pm EST

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    Cry for me, Jeter haters, CRY. He's better than anyone you'll see come up through your farm system in your pathetic lifetime. Chalk up another line on a first ballot hall of fame resume.
    CONGRATS JEET
  5. RaymondGuy
    5. Posted by RaymondGuy Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:38 pm EST

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    Jeter the best fielding AL SS? LOL!
    Another * Asterisk *
  6. Michael
    6. Posted by Michael Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:20 pm EST

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    ...except Jeter has zero range, and the few errors can't cover up the fact that he's always been on the bottom of shortstops when it comes to Range Factor.
  7. irma o
    7. Posted by irma o Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:45 pm EST

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    I can't believe Jeter haters exist. That makes me sad ;__;
  8. Jack M
    8. Posted by Jack M Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:38 pm EST

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    It's all really a big joke. Tori Hunter nine straight years?! So noone in nine years has played a better centerfield than him? Not one off year? Did anyone watch Granderson or Sizemore play? Obviously Hunter is very talented, but c'mon!
  9. theone6643
    9. Posted by theone6643 Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:41 pm EST

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    Jeter comes off to me as fake as A-Rod but he never gets called on it because he's been a Yankee forever and is a bit smarter to not get married before he was 35. Also because newspapers can't sell bad stories on Jeter because Yankee dans love him too much
  10. DuffyC
    10. Posted by DuffyC Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:24 pm EST

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    To everyone who posts that Jeter haters are the only one that call his winning of numerous Gold Gloves suspect, there is no way you can tell me that he has been the best fielding shortstop in any single year. If you truly believe that offense and being a past winner have nothing to do with being awarded the honor you are nuts. At this point, is getting a Gold Glove even an honor, I mean there is really no unbiased fan who can tell me that all of these guys that win multiple times for such long streaks of consecutive Gold Gloves won isn't ridiculous. Jeter is good and is probably slightly above average(fielding, which is what the basis for winning this award is supposed to be based on), but I could probably find at least 3 or 4 better fielders at his position every single year he has won the award.
  11. Steve
    11. Posted by Steve Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:59 pm EST

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    Jeter's UZR is actually pretty decent this year. He still has bad range, but it was overcome by his ability to turn 2 and avoid errors on reachable balls.
  12. TAR #3R
    12. Posted by TAR #3R Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:03 pm EST

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    Omar Vizquel best shortstop ever. 11 Gold Gloves but only an All-star 5 years. Even had a Gold Glove at the age of 39!
    Jeter = poo!
  13. TAR #3R
    13. Posted by TAR #3R Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:04 pm EST

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    check that only All-star 3 years...
  14. Rinski
    14. Posted by Rinski Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:30 pm EST

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    Jeter is a clutch hitter and good guy, but he is far from a golden glover any more.
  15. Ricky S
    15. Posted by Ricky S Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:38 pm EST

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    You guys are retarded. The award is for this year. Jeter had 8 errors, which was less than any other short stop in the AL this year with as many games played as he had. Get off your thumb and start paying attention to the game. Stop thinking about the "Yankees" for a moment, and start thinking about the actual player. Jeter deserves it this year. He worked his ass off in the off season because everyone was on him for his range. He watched videos of himself, and admittingly changed his training regimen to help him defensively. It worked! So shut up all you Yankee and Jeter haters. Learn something for once.
  16. michael
    16. Posted by michael Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:40 pm EST

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    Suck it, Yankee haters...you are all jealous of what we have. Don't let it blind you.
  17. Boogie
    17. Posted by Boogie Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:43 pm EST

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    Right on Ricky S.
  18. Jordan
    18. Posted by Jordan Tue Nov 10, 2009 10:53 pm EST

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    i consider jeter a legend but he didnt deserve this award. if anyone watched erick aybar they would realize who was most deserving
  19. Juzer
    19. Posted by Juzer Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:04 pm EST

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    Derek Jeter is a great leadoff hitter.
    He is a good hitter, good runner, average power, and most of all, hes all clutch.
    He's also a good fielder.
    But he's still overrated because he's a yankee. I mean people say hes really good like he is an Albert Pujols, or a Joe Mauer, or even A-Rod.
    Jeter deserves the award; he had an outstanding fielding season. But he is not a great hitter in the cleanup spot like Pujols.
    When you go up to somebody who knows nothing about baseball, or even just a little, and you ask him if he knows some players, he'll say people like A-Rod, Jeter, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds etc. You get the point. But hello? Why is Jeter among them. I mean he's a great player, but he's not that good. Its just because he's in a big market club with New York. I mean if this guy was a Florida Marlin, or A Minnesota Twin, he wouldn't be known as much. People who know nothing about baseball wouldn't know him. Just look at the All Star Starters. Jason Bartlett was having a career year and he had better numbers than jeter, yet jeter was the starter. On the other hand, Justin Morneau was on a tear in the first half. He should've been the starter, but he was still the third backup behind Kevin youkilis and Mark texiera (who is a yankee). He had better numbers than youkilis and texierea. He still though one of the best leadoff hitters in the game. Hes also a good fielder. I dont know why people are saying hes one of the worst fielders. Those are just haters.
  20. Fourfingered McGee
    20. Posted by Fourfingered McGee Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:09 pm EST

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    Where's FJM when you need them......? This article, Jeter with a Gold Glove...irony is dead.
  21. AnGeL~FaN
    21. Posted by AnGeL~FaN Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:41 pm EST

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    No Chone Figgins and erick aybar?? Come on!!! :( i'm bummed
  22. AnGeL~FaN
    22. Posted by AnGeL~FaN Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:42 pm EST

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    **I love torii and ichiro but it seems like people are so in love with them that they don't realize that there are other centerfielders and right fielders in this great game of baseball. Like I said before I love those two for real their defense is GOLDEN but seriously.. it seems unfair its been 9 years!
  23. TK
    23. Posted by TK Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:30 am EST

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    Sure, Jeter made only 8 errors this year. FACT
    What's also a FACT is that he's reached more balls in play than only ONE other SS in the AL (O. Cabrera), which means there are TWELVE other SS that had more chances and reached more balls than Jeter did.
    FACT - he's been better this year... when compared to his sub-average/poor defensive years.
    Sure, he makes his patented Jeterian play of skip, leap, turn and throw over to 1st better than anyone else, but a superior SS with superior range would get to those same balls easily and would only be a plant and throw play. To the point, he makes those Sportscenter type highlights out of regular routine plays.
  24. Cotton Piquer
    24. Posted by Cotton Piquer Wed Nov 11, 2009 1:43 am EST

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    Bryan V
    A-Roid won two Gold Gloves & then moved to 3rd. Renteria moved back & forth from AL to NL. Michael Young replaced A-Roid @ 3rd in Texas. Cabrera is better than Jeter, everyone knows it. Garciaparra moved to the NL & became injury prone. Jeter wins Gold Gloves because those that are better than he is move to 3B or to the National League. The same goes for those SS that are better than Jeter offensively.
  25. LuvSummerLuvBaseball
    25. Posted by LuvSummerLuvBaseball Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:29 am EST

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    i'm not saying jeter didn't deserve it... i've seen him play some good shortstop defense this summer... but elvis andrus deserves it more. i've seen him make plays on balls no other shortstop would have gotten to. he didn't always get the outs but they were balls that normally would have been fielded by whichever outfielder is closer. yeah, elvis made errors but he's 20 years old and never played a day in aaa. i'm not saying he should have gotten it because he's young but come on! he pulls a web gem in any and every game he plays. he doesn't always get credit for it and he should.
    p.s. michael young moved to 3rd for elvis.... not to replace alex rodriguez who had been gone for years before michael moved this year.

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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