Biggest snubs of 2017
First off, I want to say that I know it’s a difficult decision when voting for top-notch awards. There will always be a player or two who fall short of a Gold Glove award or other accolades.
But, there were a handful of MLB players who not only were snubbed from winning the Gold Glove award, but not even selected as a finalist.
Tommy Pham
St. Louis Cardinals rising star Tommy Pham had a dream season, which ended in a nightmare with his Redbirds falling short of the playoffs and with the outfielder left off of the Gold Glove award ballot.
To me, this was the most glaring, with Pham being a bright spot in a below average outfield in the Arch City. His SABR Defensive metrics ranked second only to Ozuna, so he should have at least been a nominee.
Not that Pham needed another reason for to have a chip on his shoulder but here is another.
New York Yankees: Aaron Judge and Brett Gardner
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How could left fielder Brett Gardner not win for the second year in a row? I agree with the NJ.com that both Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge are snubs for a Gold Glove award in their respective outfield positions.
Gardner had no blemishes, committing zero errors to go along with his 12 outfield assists. Let’s not forget about his familiar presence on the Sportscenter Top 10.
Next, we have New Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. More than just a one-trick pony, Judge flashed leather that would make Willie Mays proud. He did commit five errors, but using the eye test, you know that many players would not have gotten to those balls in the first place.
To rub salt deep into the wound, hated division rival Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox snagged the right field honors instead, a trendy pick but the wrong one.
Next: MLB Free Agency 2017-18: Biggest Holes for Every Team
Well, there you have it, your 2017 Gold Glove award winners and snubs. What will 2018 have to offer us? Will the likes of Yadier Molina reclaim his platinum glove status and return after a two-year absence for the NL catcher’s position?
Speaking of the Platinum Gloves, those are the announcement tomorrow, so stay tuned for the juicy details on those selections.