The MLB Gold Gloves were given out Tuesday night, and while some stars' defensive seasons were properly recognized, others may have gotten the nod based on reputation. Below the winners at non-pitcher positions will be listed, with an alternate choice that either deserved consideration, or should have been chosen.
National League
Catcher: Yadier Molina
Alternate: Jonathan Lucroy
Yadier Molina's defensive chops are not to be questioned. He is an elite catcher at the plate and in the field, but this season's award seems reputation based. Yes he was worth more than 14 runs with his glove and arm, but he only played in 110 games. Why not reward Lucroy, who had something close to an MVP-caliber campaign, was worth 14.6 runs defensively, and played in 153 games?
First Base: Adrian Gonzalez
Alternate: Anthony Rizzo
According to Fangraphs.com, Gonzalez actually cost the Dodgers six runs with his glove. Realistically, the position could've been punted, but Rizzo may have been a better choice. Often Gold Gloves are influenced by bats, and Rizzo was one of the elites at his position this year. Either way, not a great year defensively at first.
Second Base: D.J LaMahieu
Alternate: Chase Utley
LaMahieu appears to be the right choice here, but choosing Utley would pretty much be a nod to his first healthy season in a long time. Utley played in 155 games this year, was worth 10 runs with his glove, and posted a WAR of 4.1 to LaMahieu's 0.8.
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons
Alternate: Jhonny Peralta
For years to come Andrelton Simmons will likely be the only choice for the Gold Glove, but Peralta is worth some consideration. For a guy known mostly for his bat, Peralta is a strong gloveman who was worth 18 runs at short, just four runs less than Simmons. Simmons made many more plays outside of his zone, and deserved the award, but Peralta earned a shout out.
Third Base: Nolan Arenado
Alternate: Anthony Rendon
Rendon was worth 9.2 runs defensively in 153 games, and did that when he was expected to be the team's starting second baseman. Manning the hot corner is a different animal, and he deserves credit for that. Arenado may have posted a higher UZR and saved a handful more runs than Rendon, but the latter should be rewarded for making the trek out onto the field more often.
Right Field: Jason Heyward
Alternate: Yasiel Puig
Heyward was the obvious choice in this category, but Puig gets a little love because he makes the spectacular plays. He was good enough in RF for the Dodgers to shift him over to center field, and he made 53 plays outside his zone while flashing arguably the league's top outfield arm.
Center Field: Juan Lagares
Alternate: Billy Hamilton
Billy Hamilton is faster than Juan Lagares and posted a higher UZR per Fangraphs, which are the only reasons to take him over the Mets center fielder. Lagares was a fine choice for this award as he led all his peers with 28 defensive runs saved in 945 innings. Hamilton saved 14 runs in 1,199 innings to put that in perspective. Long live Lagares.
Left Field: Christian Yelich
Alternate: Starling Marte
Marte spent a decent amount of time in center field, and he wasn't as effective with the glove out there. As a left fielder Marte posted a positive UZR, made 54 plays outside of his zone, and saved 10 runs. Yelich was the man for the job, but Marte isn't too far behind him.
American League
Catcher: Salvador Perez
Alternate: Brian McCann
Perez was a fine defender on a Royals team chock full of them, but the contributions of a supposedly over-the-hill Brian McCann shouldn't be ignored. McCann and Yan Gomes' contributions are close, but the nod goes to the veteran McCann, who is doing it at the age of 30.
First Base: Eric Hosmer
Alternate: Albert Pujols
Hosmer made some flashy plays this season on a team well known for its defensive prowess, but Pujols has been overlooked here. He finished 2014 with a 6.3 UZR in more than 1,000 innings; Hosmer was able to make a few more unlikely plays, but Pujols was essentially automatic when plays were more routine.
Second Base: Dustin Pedroia
Alternate: Ian Kinsler
Kinsler was as sure a bet as there was in the league on routine plays, and was comparable to Pedroia on plays outside of his zone per Fangraphs. Pedroia edged him out by being able to make plays requiring more range, so the award was correctly bestowed-but Kinsler's a heck of a player too.
Shortstop: J.J. Hardy
Alternate: Erick Aybar
This is a classic style over substance debate. Hardy is far more sure-handed than Aybar, and the metrics rate him superior by a healthy amount. He made no plays with a one to ten percent chance of success, and converted outs on just 25 percent of plays with a 10-40 percent chance of being made. Aybar had a bad habit of muffing some easy ones, but he showed the ability to make many plays Hardy couldn't.
Third Base: Kyle Seager
Alternate: Josh Donaldson
Looks like the voters whiffed on this one. Seager was a very good defensive third baseman, but the stats bear out Donaldson's superiority. He bested Seager in UZR, defensive runs saved, range, and showed a greater propensity to create outs on difficult plays.
Right Field: Nick Markakis
Alternate: Kole Calhoun
Neither of these guys will wind up on SportsCenter's Top Ten too often, but both are sure-handed guys who simply don't screw up the easy ones. Calhoun gets the nod from SWN for his 100 percent conversion rate on "likely" plays, instances in which a fielder is expected to make the out 60-90 percent of the time.
Center Field: Adam Jones
Alternate: Desmond Jennings
Jones makes some of the flashiest plays of any outfielder in the game, but Rays CF Desmond Jennings consistently showed better range, and was a surer bet to complete the easy plays.
Left Field: Alex Gordon
Alternate: No one
Alex Gordon is great at playing left field.
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