MLB Roundup 11/4: Gold Gloves handed out

Gold Gloves were handed out on Sunday

We already know how the Gold Gloves went for the Red Sox on Sunday. Boston had four players named as finalists for the award, including their entire outfield, but only Mookie Betts in right field finished in first. Andrew Benintendi in left, Jackie Bradley Jr. in center and Christian Vázquez at catcher all finished either second or third. Let’s take a look at the full list of winners, though. Parenthetical is number of Gold Gloves won in their career.

American League

C: Roberto Pérez, CLE (1)

1B: Matt Olson, OAK (2)

2B: Yolmer Sánchez, CHW (1)

3B: Matt Chapman, OAK (2)

SS: Francisco Lindor, CLE (2)

LF: Alex Gordon, KC (7)

CF: Kevin Kiermaier, TB (3)

RF: Mookie Betts, BOS (4)

P: Mike Leake, SEA/ARI (2)

National League

C: J.T. Realmuto, PHI (1)

1B: Anthony Rizzo, CHC (3)

2B: Kolten Wong, STL (1)

3B: Nolan Arenado, COL (7)

SS: Nick Ahmed, ARI (2)

LF: David Peralta, ARI (1)

CF: Lorenzo Cain, MIL (1)

RF: Cody Bellinger, LAD (1)

P: Zack Greinke, ARI/HOU (6)

So, there’s a few takeaways here. For one thing, Arenado is just incredible. I’ve said before that he is my favorite non-Red Sox player in the game, and I stand by that. Chapman is probably better, but there is something about the way Arenado plays in the field that just makes me gravitate towards him more. I can’t really put into words what it is. Watching his highlights always just ends with my jaw on the floor. He has now won a Gold Glove in each of his seven seasons in the majors, which is wild when you consider how loaded this base has been for years now.

Other than that, the big story here is Cain finally winning his first Gold Glove. He has a (deserved) reputation for being one of the very best defensive outfielders in the game but has had some bad luck playing most of his career in the American League along with guys like Kiermaier, Bradley and Byron Buxton, so he never got the recognition he deserved. It’s nice to finally see him get that. Also, a fun little quirk with both of the pitchers actually finishing the season in the opposite league of the won for which they were given the award.

Sox Spin: We covered the Red Sox stuff in a separate post, but two more points to make here. For one, former Red Sox prospect Anthony Rizzo won his third career Gold Glove. He has developed into one of the best all-around first basemen in the game. Additionally, East Longmeadow native Nick Ahmed has quietly turned into an elite defensive shortstop and has now won two of these in a row. He was one of four Diamondbacks to win the award, the most of any team in baseball. (That includes both Leake and Greinke, who spent partial seasons in Arizona.)