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Are the same pitchers who win the Gold Glove year after year deserving?
Posted by John Dewan on Dec 16th 2015
May 12, 2006
Greg Maddux has won the Gold Glove for the best fielding pitcher in the National League in 15 of the last 16 years. In the American League, Kenny Rogers has won the last two Gold Gloves. In the last ten years, Rogers has won the AL award four times while Mike Mussina has taken home six Gold Gloves.
Given how other awards, Gold Glove and otherwise, have a longer list than three guys in the last ten years who have won it, it makes you wonder whether the voting becomes more of a tradition for some of the voters rather than a consideration.
In my book, The Fielding Bible, I analyzed players at each defensive position on the field utilizing my new plus/minus system, but I ran out of time before I could get to pitchers. Dave Lawson, a consultant who does statistical analysis for several major league teams, suggested that I tackle pitchers. So I did -- thanks, Dave! Here's a summary of the the best fielding pitchers in Major League Baseball over the last three years based on the plus/minus system:
| Rank | Player | Plus/Minus |
| 1 | Livan Hernandez | +23 |
| 2 | Kenny Rogers | +21 |
| 3 | Greg Maddux | +20 |
| 4 | Jake Westbrook | +19 |
| 5 | Tom Glavine | +16 |
| 6 | Mike Mussina | +14 |
| 7 | Woody Williams | +11 |
| 8 | Cory Lidle | +9 |
| 9 | Andy Pettitte | +9 |
| 10 | Dontrelle Willis | +9 |
Note: the plus/minus number is for groundballs only
Here's how you interpret the plus/minus number: Kenny Rogers stands at +21 meaning that he handled 21 more plays than would be expected from an average fielding pitcher if the exact same groundballs that Rogers had were hit towards the pitcher position for that average pitcher.
The two regular Gold Glove winners at pitcher, Rogers and Maddux, come out number two and number three in the plus/minus system ranking. And the other recent regular Gold Glove winner, Mussina, comes out at number six. I have to give credit where credit is due and say that, despite my skepticism, the voters have done a nice job "electing" the proper Gold Glove winners at pitcher.
And, I take comfort that the plus/minus system seems to also have done a nice job "electing" winners by dove-tailing well with the actual Gold Glove winners.
Livan Hernandez -- the heir apparent to Greg Maddux?