Gold Glove on the pitcher’s mound: a new era begins

For the first time since 1990, both the American and National Leagues saw first-time Gold Glove winners on the pitcher’s mound.  It is no coincidence that 2009 is the first year that Greg Maddux, Mike Mussina, and Kenny Rogers aren’t eligible, each having retired following the 2008 season.  From 1990 through 2008 – his final year in the big leagues – Greg Maddux was named the National League’s Gold Glove pitcher every year but one – 2003, when teammate Mike Hampton won.  From 1996 through 2008, the American League saw two pitchers – Mike Mussina and Kenny Rogers – win all but one Gold Glove.  (Johan Santana received the award in 2007.)

If history is getting ready to repeat itself, 2009 winners Mark Buehrle and Adam Wainwright could both be on their way to collecting a dozen Gold Gloves.

How ‘bout that?

How about Zack Greinke?  Though he won only 16 games, Greinke led A.L. Cy Young Award challenger Felix Hernandez in E.R.A. (2.16 to 2.49) and WHIP (1.073 to 1.271).  He was also second in the majors (to perennial Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay) with six complete games and three shutouts.  In 33 starts, Greinke surrendered 11 home runs – the same number as allowed by Yankee pitchers in the six games of the World Series.  The Royals tied the Indians for last-place in the A.L. Central, winning 65 games, but on a first-place team, Greinke would likely have been a 20 game winner.

How about Andrew Bailey?  The A’s rookie right-hander boasted a 1.84 E.R.A. to go with his 6-3 record, 26 saves, and most impressive of all, a 0.876 WHIP.  Among American League closers, not one had a lower WHIP, and only Mariano Rivera bested Bailey’s Earned Run Average.  Bailey was without question the right choice for A.L. Rookie of the Year.

How about the N.L. Cy Young Award voting?  The top three candidates gave each other a run for their money, with 2008 winner Tim Lincecum of the Giants barely edging Cardinal teammates Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.  Not only did each receive at least nine first-place votes (out of a possible 32), but only two other pitchers got a vote of any kind – Javier Vazquez (one 2^nd) and Dan Haren (one 3^rd).  The third-place finisher, Wainwright, actually received more first-place votes (12) than the guys ahead of him, but his low total of second-place votes (5) kept him from claiming his first Cy Young Award.

Cardinals’ selection of new hitting coach an interesting one

Mark McGwire was a slugger – perhaps THE slugger – of the 90’s, but I was surprised to read last month that he was named hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals.  A threat to hit the ball out of the park every time he came to bat, Big Mac hit 583 career home runs and posted a .588 career slugging percentage, but his batting average of .263 was unspectacular.  Moreover, in 10 different seasons, McGwire struck out more than 100 times, including a high of 159 in 1997.  He hit .300 or better in only one full season (.312 in 1996, though he did finish at .299 in his 70-homer season of ’98).  When I think of a major league hitting coach, I think of former players who were the purest hitters of their time; guys like Paul Molitor and Tony Gwynn come to mind.  I don’t mean to take away from Mark McGwire’s accomplishments; I’m just not sure he would be my top choice.