Here Are Your National League Gold Glove Nominees And My Picks To Win
You just read the American League Gold Glove nominees, now I present to you the National League nominees and my picks.
Catcher- Jonathan Lucroy (Milwaukee/Texas), Buster Posey (San Francisco), Yadier Molina (St. Louis)
Molina has won this award for the last eight seasons, the guy is just a stud behind the dish. I’d say that it seems like Posey is playing less behind the plate, but he actually played the most games ever in his career, 123, behind the plate. Only three errors for Buster this season, two passes balls, and he threw out 28 runners. Lucroy only played in 82 games for Milwaukee, but still threw out 32 runners before heading to Texas. Good year for him, but I don’t think he’ll get the votes because he left the league. Yadi goes for nine in a row.
First Base- Paul Goldschmidt (Arizona), Wil Myers (San Diego), Anthony Rizzo (Chicago)
Quite a list here, these guys could be the three finalists at this position for the next five years in the NL. Goldschmidt has won this award in 2013 and 2015, but I don’t think he wins it this year. His stats are insane, four errors in 157 games, but no one ever talks about him, which is a shame. This was Myers’ first year playing primarily first, and he did a good job, not enough to beat out these guys though. I think Anthony Rizzo wins it this year, we’ve seen the tarp catches, the stretches, the guy can do it all with the glove.
Second Base- DJ LeMahieu (Colorado), Jean Segura (Arizona), Joe Panik (San Francisco)
This award was probably Dee Gordon’s to win at the beginning of the season, until he got popped for roids. Segura had a great overall bounce back year after his terrible situation last year. DJ LeMahieu swooped in to win the batting title, and looks to add another Gold Glove to his 2016 season. Joe Panik is my pick to win this award though, Panik had five errors in 126 games, and had some of the sweetest double plays with Brandon Crawford this season, I see a few more Gold Gloves in his future.
Shortstop- Brandon Crawford (San Francisco), Addison Russell (Chicago), Freddy Galvis (Philadelphia)
How happy are these guys that Andrelton Simmons is out of the National League? Now someone else has a chance to win it. Russell has made the switch to SS very nicely, looks very fluid, has a good arm, and can get to every ball. He may have a GG in his future, but not this season. Freddy Galvis was a nice surprise to this list, I think. Only eight errors in almost 160 games really jumps out at you, especially after you see he had 17 last season. My winner here has to be Brandon Crawford. He and Russell both had 19 runs saved per fangraphs. Crawford is so damn smooth, and much like Cano in the AL, makes every play look insanely easy.
Third Base- Nolan Arenado (Colorado), Justin Turner (Los Angeles), Anthony Rendon (Washington)
This one really isn’t a contest. Don’t get me wrong, Turner and Rendon are fantastic players. But Turner (7) and Rendon (8) can’t touch Arenado when it comes to his defensives runs saved, Nolan had 20. Yeah, Arenado had 13 errors while the other two had nine each, but Arenado just has it, and it’s not even close. Much like Machado, when you watch him, you know you are watching something special. No bunt is safe near Arenado. Make it a four-peat for Nolan. It is nice to see Rendon find a home after bouncing around the infield, he’s insanely fun to watch.
Left Field- Adam Duvall (Cincinnati), Starling Marte (Pittsburgh), Christian Yelich (Miami)
Newcomer, Adam Duvall came out of nowhere to have a good season in left. I didn’t know who he was coming into the year, but we all learned quickly. Duvall had 16 runs saved this season, but did have 8 errors. Yelich and Marte have both won a Gold Glove in their career, and it’s no surprise why they are in the running again. Marte has one of the strongest arms in the league, and had 19 runs saved, while Chrisian Yelich has slowly turned into one of my favorite players to watch. Not the most athletic, or best guy, but he makes some great plays, and showed off his arm a bit this season. Marte and his 17 assists take this one home.
Center Field- Billy Hamilton (Cincinnati), Odubel Herrera (Philadelphia), Ender Inciarte (Atlanta)
These guys were all top three in defensive runs saved, with Hamilton leading the way with 13. We know about Billy’s speed, and we really saw it this season. Running literally all over to get balls you thought he had no chance at. StatCast was made for Billy Hamilton. Herrera likes to show off his arm with 11 assists, but the 9 errors don’t look too good. Inciarte had a great year, and seems like no one is talking about him, but that is what happens when you play in Atlanta. He quietly may be the best centerfielder in the NL, and his 13 runs saved show that. Get ready to learn his name, because I think he wins the Gold Glove.
Right Field- Jason Hayward (Chicago), Nick Markakis (Atlanta), Carlos Gonzalez (Colorado)
For how bad Hayward has been at the plate, he’s been that good in the field. His arm is one of the best, covers a lot of ground for a guy his size. He’s won two Gold Gloves in a row, and three of four. Nick Markakis was a god damn treasure in Baltimore, and the rumors when he left was his neck injury would limit him, doesn’t seem to be true. Markakis found the fountain of youth in Atlanta, good for him. He ranked second in the NL in runs saved with 10 and only had 4 errors in over 1,300 innings. Carlos Gonzales just continues to have good seasons in the field. We talk about his bat a lot, but his glove needs love too. Unfortunately this season it won’t be Gonzo’s time, I think Hayward makes up for his miserable bat with a Gold Glove.
Pitcher- Jake Arrieta (Chicago), Zach Greinke (Arizona), Adam Wainwright (St.Louis)
Just like with the AL, I’m not too sure how to judge pitchers and their defense. Greinke has won it the last two seasons, but I think Wainwright wins it this season. Only 5 stolen bases off of him, and no errors by Waino, good enough for me!
Head on over to the Twitter and let me know what you think of my picks, and if you think anyone got robbed.