What do you look for when voting on the Gold Glove Award?

[jpeters1734]

Defensive stats are largely a mystery so I tend to skip voting on gold glove. I do know that what's important differs from position to position and also that fielding percentage is a pretty poor metric overall. Would someone mind listing all positions and adding a couple of stats to highly consider for each position?

P -
C -
1B -
2B -
3B -
SS -
LF -
CF -
RF -

[Syd Thrift]

Generally speaking, I first look to see if there’s an incumbent and I by default put them in first. Then it comes down to…

C - RTO% in conjunction (this year) with FRA, and also checking to see if the guy I want to appoint doesn’t have crazy numbers of passed balls allowed (which in this game would be reflected by a low FRA anyway but just in case)

1B - ZR, maybe a small look at FA
2B - ZR, maybe a peek at double plays if someone’s are stupid high
3B - ZR, but I weigh FA more heavily than other IF positions
SS - Just, almost straight ZR
LF, CF - I usually treat these as both CF spots unless there’s only one really good CF or the top LF is amazing. Also mostly ZR but with a little bit of an edge to baserunner kills (OF assists) if it’s close
RF - Here I tend to go really hard on baserunner kills. If there’s someone with crazy range I might look at them too but it’d have to be a big, big difference

Like I said, if I have an incumbent at the position and it’s at all close, I’ll give the award to the incumbent. “Close” is variable but usually it takes a pretty big differential, like 10 points or the incumbent having a negative rating to go to someone else.

[jpeters1734]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

Generally speaking, I first look to see if there’s an incumbent and I by default put them in first. Then it comes down to…

C - RTO% in conjunction (this year) with FRA, and also checking to see if the guy I want to appoint doesn’t have crazy numbers of passed balls allowed (which in this game would be reflected by a low FRA anyway but just in case)

1B - ZR, maybe a small look at FA
2B - ZR, maybe a peek at double plays if someone’s are stupid high
3B - ZR, but I weigh FA more heavily than other IF positions
SS - Just, almost straight ZR
LF, CF - I usually treat these as both CF spots unless there’s only one really good CF or the top LF is amazing. Also mostly ZR but with a little bit of an edge to baserunner kills (OF assists) if it’s close
RF - Here I tend to go really hard on baserunner kills. If there’s someone with crazy range I might look at them too but it’d have to be a big, big difference

Like I said, if I have an incumbent at the position and it’s at all close, I’ll give the award to the incumbent. “Close” is variable but usually it takes a pretty big differential, like 10 points or the incumbent having a negative rating to go to someone else.

Base runner kills is interesting. I would be fascinated to see a stat that measures base runner holds. It would measure the number of times a runner did not round second for third due to a killer arm in RF. Thanks a lot for the response

[Pelican]

Originally Posted by jpeters1734

Base runner kills is interesting. I would be fascinated to see a stat that measures base runner holds. It would measure the number of times a runner did not round second for third due to a killer arm in RF. Thanks a lot for the response

Yes. This would be the Clemente Rule. His arm (and quickness) was (were) so astounding, word got around and no one would run on him. The 3B coach would have his arms in the air, pointing to 2B. As a kid I was a huge fan of Johnny Callison, who also had a cannon arm in RF. I pointed out to my Dad that Callison had as many OF assists as Clemente. My Dad smiled and said they don’t challenge Clemente and run on his arm. He ought to get credit for that. “Holds” is a good concept.

[Anteater]

Great comment about Clemente!

[Syd Thrift]

There is the ARM stat in the game this year (in fact it's only able to be applied starting with 23; I transitioned my save in late June so I'll only have half a season to look at) which supposedly does that. I'm not sure whether to use it or to just keep with OF assists.

[Ktulu]

Mostly ZR, but also weight player popularity, past winners and their actual defensive rating (especially for P) depending on how close the ZR is. Cs are a combination of things.