One Down, One to Go

Dustin Pedroia, 2008 Gold Glove winner 

Comments

[Brad]

Sweet.

He's definitely deserving of the vote - his range isn't great, but he fields nearly all that he gets to.

[Atheose]

Victory! Well deserved by the little guy. Hopefully his defense will factor into the MVP votes next week.

[YF]

Congrats also to Moose!

[Paul SF]

Depending on the Varitek situation, the Sox could open 2009 with four Gold Glove winners on their staff -- including three of four infielders. Of course, it doesn't mean much, but as far as it goes, it's hard to believe, given the bash-n-bash teams of the past.

[dw (sf)]

Paul - you really don't think Varitek's defense is nearly as good as it once was do you? But, I can see your point of a balanced team - pitching defense, and hitting

[Paul SF]

No, just saying there was a time not long ago when the only Red sox Gold Glover in a decade was Tony Pena. Tony Pena.

I'm not even saying Gold Gloves are a measure of good defense (they're not). It's just amazing that the Sox have four players now who at least have recently been thought of as good defenders.

[dw (sf)]

recently though of as good defenders, recent string of excellent seasons... seem to go hand in hand, no? :)

[dc]

i seem to remember not too long ago seeing a discussion here about how meaningless the gold glove award was...times have changed

[Paul SF]

dc, you must have missed this line:

I'm not even saying Gold Gloves are a measure of good defense (they're not).

Thought I'd point that out to you. Thanks.

[J (yf)]

Seriously...Pedroia MVP? I don't think A-Rod should get MVP but his stats were better than Ped's. So were Youk's.

[dc]

but you also said this paul, you must have missed this line:

"...It's just amazing that the Sox have four players now who at least have recently been thought of as good defenders...."

it's a yfsf first i suppose...selective memory of your own comments...thought i'd point that out to you...yeah, thanks...

[Paul SF]

Dc, stop pulling this crap, OK?. DW already addressed this question, I've already addressed it, and I'm not going to again.

[dc]

"crap"...?...huh?
you sir, were the one who devoted a whole post to an award that supposedly doesn't matter because of its severely flawed, or lack thereof, selection criteria...or, does it make a difference when your guy wins?....now that's crap...if you don't want a little push-back about such blatant hypocrisy, then stop posting...

[walein]

dc-

It seems pretty clear that Paul put the post up to point out that the Red Sox have players on their team who are "considered" good defenders. Winning Gold Gloves doesn't make you the best defender at your position but it does mean that people (writers in this case) at least believe you to be a good defender.
The larger theme that Paul is potentially pointing out (I'm inferring) is a shift in management philosophy. Something much discussed in baseball circles: the prioritizing of defense above or inside of power hitting/power pitching.
Us Yankee fans think about it quite a bit--would any of us YFs have a second thought about resigning Bobby Abreu to a small multi-year contract if his movements back to the wall in right field weren't such a horror show?

[attackgerbil]

> writers in this case

managers and coaches

[YF]

DC: Just because the award is deeply flawed, doesn't mean we shouldn't post about it! Heck, if we didn't post about things that are flawed we'd have no blog at all.

[dc]

i hear what you are saying walein and yf, but i think my point was that paul is attempting now to legitimize an award that was roundly criticized here just a short year ago...remember, his caption was "one down, one to go"...i'm assuming that was in expectation of the well deserved mvp for ped...he later backpedals, perhaps in anticipation of a reaction like mine, to agree that the gg is no indication of defensive prowess...so why glorify it with a post devoted to one guy?...thankfully, ag corrected that little oversight with his subsequent post...and yes yf, you are right on with your observation, and pointing out the flaws with posts and inconsistent arguments like paul's is what keeps the discussion lively...

[Paul SF]

I would be angry and frustrated by your continued obtuseness, dc, if I thought 1. that you believed it, and 2. that anyone actually bought it. As it is, I chuckle and move on...

[SF]

Jeez, Paul's "post" is about the most innocuous thing one might ask for. Even the title is only laudatory w/r/t the Gold Glove if you choose to read it that way. Regardless of what one thinks of the Gold Glove (or the MVP), there has been a good deal of discussion in Boston and amongst Sox fans about Pedroia's candidacy for these two awards, the only two that he might win in the offseason. In those terms, "one down, one to go" makes perfect, uncontroversial sense. I think your contrarianism is fine, dc, but in this case I think you are way off base, it is coming off as nasty towards Paul, not critical.

[dc]

well sf, "obtuseness" essentially means that paul thinks i am lacking intellect, pointless, unclear in point, or in its basest form, 'stupid'...and you think i'm contrarian, off base and nasty, all because i reminded you guys of your prior disdain for this particular award...so, exactly who is being "nasty"?...this wasn't personal sf, but thanks for reminding me who you and paul really are...in case you missed it, i said i liked your player, and acknowledged that he deserves any accolades he receives, even this meaningless one...i'd want him on my team...and, don't get me wrong, i expect you to defend your buddy paul, but exactly what is so objectionable about me pointing out the hypocrisy for his attempting to legitimize an award that was denigrated by many of you just one short year ago?...his backtrack was the part that i found the funniest...frankly, i expected this reaction when i commented...you guys are so predictable...as it is, i chuckle and move on...