Just was looking at the finalists for the Golden glove awards, and was a bit surprised... No doubt Beltre and Andrus should be there for their respective positions, but I was a little shocked to see Murphy... The eyeball test all summer made me think he wasn't good at all, in fact, a liability. I know he doesn't have a chance to win it, but is he really that good? Better than Hamilton?

Also got me thinking, if LF in the AL is really just that weak (presumably), I wonder if someone more SABR-savvy than I could use UZR at each position across MLB and find the cumulatively strongest position in baseball right now. I don't think that it would have any purposeful use other than being really interesting to see where the strongest defensive position in depth and talent is in baseball. Perhaps just the top 10 at each position. Anyone else curious?

And back to your BBTIA regularly scheduled programming: may the insults, name calling, and otherwise general riff raff proceed...

"may the insults, name calling, and otherwise general riff raff proceed..."

You called for me and one of my usual demonstrations of my only area of expertise!?!?

I think the GG is the top three defensive outfielders... And, if I remember correctly, it usually goes to 3 centerfielders - Ichiro has routinely stuck his nose in, but, usually doesn't go to COFs...

Do feel free to correct me if I'm wrong...

Do feel free to correct me if YOU'RE wrong...

lol

You are wrong, as of 2011 a Gold Glove is given to one player at each position in the OF. Prior to that though it was the 3 best, and was generally CF besides Ichiro.

"The eyeball test all summer made me think he wasn't good at all, in fact, a liability."

You may need to go see the eye doctor because Murphy was excellant in LF this year (1 error all year); I don't think he will win it either but he was very much improved over past seasons.

Errors are not the best stat to use to judge if someone is good defensively. It is definitely not a good stat for OF's.

Well God, what in your opinion makes him good or bad defensively in your eyes.

My eyeballs remember Murphy having some early season struggles in left field. Then I would find myself shielding my eyes when the ball came his direction. Then after the ASB I was saying "Murph's got this" when the ball was hit his way. I think he improved dramatically and quickly from some early season issues.

Is it Gold Glove worthy defense? That I don't know, but when I look at a list of Gold Glove winners it makes me wonder whether they're looking at defense prowess at all. So, congrats to Murphy!

I don't see how he beats out Gordon. Murph played solid defense in left field, but his lack of arm and range do not make him GG worthy.

I agree with Rev's assessment. Murphy made some outstanding catches in LF this year. He's not a better defensive LF than Gordon, I haven't seen enough Dez Jennings to know how he stacks up there.

Yeah I was only able to watch this season until may, and then the last coupe weeks, so my eye test is a SSS, but I remember cringing when he was hit the ball early on. You can't measure an OF defense by errors committed... Range is the #1 factor there, and I didnt think Murphy's was that good. Looking at 2012 UZR, I see Murphy posted a respectable 9.4, while Gordon posted a 14.1... I think we have a winner...

And for the record Des Jennings posted a UZR this year of 10.7.

Also, let me say that I don't put much value in the GG awards, as players and coaches vote for who they think is the best... They don't look at SABR numbers to decide this, so perhaps the guy they see diving for everything (Murphy) they may think is better than Gordon or Jennings, who have the range to make those same plays easier? I dunno, but in my mind, I may erroneously think the guy diving is better if he's making all the noteworthy plays that stick in your mind as a player or coach. We'll see!

Hot off the press - MLB voids 2012 playoffs because SABR says Angels should have won the WS (Best team WAR). There was a conspiracy to put Tigers in WS (only 21.1. WAR good for 16th in majors).

Just remember Face and Derek Jeter have won a GG

D1k2s3, you mean to tell me that was not a computer generated simulation? Real live humans actually do still play the game. Did the manager of the Giants use SABR metrics to fill out his line-up card?

@D1k2s3

Thank you for being a moron when discussing SABR. I don't think any of us who study the SABR world claim WAR should anoint the champion every year. Maybe you should look at pitching WAR, then you'd see the Angels didn't exactly stack up.

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, Gold Gloves don't mean jack shit.