Pitcher Felix Hernandez, second baseman Robinson Cano and third baseman Kyle Seager have been selected as finalists for 2014 Rawlings Gold Glove awards. Major league managers and coaches, voting only within their own league and unable to vote for their own players, account for 75 percent of the selection process with 25 percent reserved for sabermetricians.
The winners will be announced Nov. 4 at 4 p.m., PT, on ESPN2.
Hernandez, named The Sporting News American League Pitcher of the Year Thursday, has never won a Gold Glove. Neither has Seager. Cano won in 2010 and 2012 while playing for the New York Yankees.
Hernandez, who won 15 games and led the AL in ERA (2.14) last season and is a Cy Young candidate, committed one error in 236 innings. If Hernandez wins, he would be Seattle’s first Gold Glove pitcher since Mark Langston in 1988.
Cano posted a .987 fielding percentage and made nine errors in 150 games, 149 of them starts. Bret Boone is the last Seattle second baseman to win a Gold Glove, that in 2004, his third award as a Mariner.
Seager had a .981 fielding percentage with eight errors in 157 games. He turned 36 double plays. Seattle has not had a Gold Glove winner at third base since Adrian Beltre in 2007. Beltre is also a finalist this year.
The Mariners have not had a Gold Glove winner since 2010 when outfielders Ichiro and Franklin Gutierrez won awards. They also have not had three Gold Glove winners in the same season since 2003 when four players — 2B Bret Boone, OF Mike Cameron, 1B John Olerud and OF Ichiro — all won.
The following are the finalists for AL Gold Glove awards:
PITCHER: Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays; Felix Hernandez, Mariners; Dallas Keuchel, Astros.
CATCHER: Alex Avila, Tigers; Yan Gomes, Indians; Salvador Perez, Royals.
FIRST BASE: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers; Eric Hosmer, Royals; Albert Pujols, Angels.
SECOND BASE: Robinson Cano, Mariners; Ian Kinsler, Tigers; Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox.
THIRD BASE: Josh Donaldson, A’s; Adrian Beltre, Rangers; Kyle Seager, Mariners.
SHORTSTOP: Alcides Escobar, Royals; J.J. Hardy, Orioles; Alexei Ramirez, White Sox.
LEFT FIELD: Michael Brantley, Indians; Yoenis Cespedes, Red Sox; Alex Gordon, Royals.
CENTER FIELD: Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox; Adam Eaton, White Sox; Adam Jones, Orioles.
RIGHT FIELD: Kole Calhoun, Angels; Kevin Kiermaier, Rays; Nick Markakis, Orioles.
1 Comment
The club needs to solidify 1B and SS. Then the infield defense will be sound. I think Jones shows more skills than Jackson as far as fielding. If he continues to develop he could push him to RF. Along with Ackley that would give the M’s an outfield that can cover some ground, something that’s a must at Safeco Field. I can still see the M’s trading Ackley if they can upgrade another position though.