Know your periodic elements.
Anyway, The Phillies announced that Jimmy Rollins and Aaron Rowand were awarded Rawlings Gold Gloves.
Congratulations Jimmy and Aaron, now you are just as good defensively as Bobby Abreu.
Sorry, that's more of a shot at the degree to which the Gold Glove awards identify good defenders than the skills of Rollins and Rowand. As a matter of fact, in the case of Rollins and Rowand, it looks as if the awards were at least somewhat justified.
Baseball Info Solutions' Plus/Minus statistic is one of the best for evaluating defense, and Jimmy ranked among the leaders at shortstop. During the course of the season, according to Plus/Minus, Jimmy made 7 more plays than the average shortstop in 2007. While Rowand was not among the leaders at center field in 2007, he is one of the better center fielders in the last few years. Plus/Minus ranks Rowand among the leaders from 2005-2007.
[Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for David Pinto's PMR ratings. Published at Baseball Musings, it is one of the most comprehensive statistics we have and, what's more, it's free to you and me. PMR will help us better understand where Rowand, Rollins, and the rest of the Phillies rank.]
Rollins is not the only Phillie to appear on the Plus/Mins rankings in 2007. Chase Utley tied for first among second basemen and Shane Victorino was one of the better right fielders. On the other hand, for kicks, Plus/Minus "trailers" are also published. Pat Burrell was one of the worst left fielders.
By the way, Bobby was one of the worst right fielders.
