OC Register: Angels’ Joe Maddon believes David Fletcher should win a Gold Glove, despite the metrics

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — Joe Maddon would like to see David Fletcher awarded for his defensive excellence with a Gold Glove this season.

To be more precise, he expects it.

“It’s just so obvious,” the Angels manager said of his second baseman. “You can’t even a say another second baseman that you could say in the same breath. Both leagues. I’m going both leagues. That’s platinum.”

Gold Gloves are awarded based on voting by managers and coaches, who can’t vote for their own players.

The winner is calculated based on a combination of those votes and the Society of American Baseball Research Defensive Index (SDI). The SDI, which accounts for about 25 percent of the calculation, uses a formula that combines several other defensive metrics into one number.

The latest SDI figures released were through Aug. 22, and Fletcher ranked seventh of the 14 second basemen listed.

Marcus Semien of the Toronto Blue Jays was the leader.

Last year the Gold Gloves were determined solely on the SDI, with no voting by managers and coaches, because teams did not all face each other in the condensed season. In 2019, six of the nine American League Gold Gloves went to the player who led the SDI. The biggest discrepancy was at shortstop; Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor finished fourth in the SDI but won the Gold Glove.

FanGraphs has an overall defensive rating that also combines several other metrics, and Fletcher is currently ranked 11th of 12 American League second basemen who have played at least 500 innings.

Semien is also leading the FanGraphs metrics.

REMEMBER HIM?

While the Angels have called up new pitchers often, plucking just about anyone from Triple-A or Double-A who had even a good week, Felix Peña has continued to languish at Triple-A.

It’s been a surprising decline for Peña, who has had stints with the Angels as a successful starter in 2019 and one of their best relievers in 2020.

He missed the start of this season with an injury and was never able to rediscover the form he had before the injury. He gave up seven runs in 1-2/3 innings in two games and was sent back to Triple-A. He has a 7.92 ERA at Salt Lake.

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Maddon had no explanation for what’s happened to Peña.

“Things weren’t going as well for him,” Maddon said. “I don’t get involved in that stuff because I’m not there. There weren’t the glowing reports like there had been in the past. Every time his name comes up, he’s just doing OK.”

NOTES

Reliever Austin Warren rejoined the Angels after being quarantined on the East Coast following his placement on the COVID-related injured list. Left-hander Reid Detmers and right-hander José Marte returned a couple of days earlier. Maddon said all three are now “ramping up,” but he has no timeline for when any of them will be able to pitch again. …

The Angels still aren’t sure who is pitching on Wednesday in San Diego. It will not be Shohei Ohtani, whose next start is likely to be on Friday or Saturday in Houston.

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Packy Naughton, 0-1, 4.00 ERA) at Padres (LHP Blake Snell, 7-5, 4.31), Tuesday, 7:10 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

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[AngelsLakersFan]

Fletcher has been a real disappointment this season. Maybe this is Maddon's way of saying, "don't blame him, it's my fault."

[Blarg]

Not stepping on second base for the force out was Fletcher's fault tonight. 

[ukyah]

he's not going to win a gold glove this year. there you go, debate over.

[jsnpritchett]

I believe that I should be given 5 million dollars for the work that I do, despite the metrics suggesting I don't deserve that much.  Let's see if I get it.

[eligrba]

His offensive numbers aren’t good enough for a gold glove.

[Angelsjunky]

I'm sure Fletcher's mom agrees.

[Angelsjunky]

On 9/6/2021 at 9:44 PM, AngelsLakersFan said:

Fletcher has been a real disappointment this season. Maybe this is Maddon's way of saying, "don't blame him, it's my fault."

I agree. He had a 3.3 WAR in 2019 and 1.5 in in 49 games in 2020, which made him look like a bonafide 4 WAR player - a surprise to everyone. But he's at 1.1 now, which makes him a fringe regular - sort of what we expected him to be. He's pretty much fallen in every aspect of his game: lower BA, half the walk rate of last year, fewer extra base hits, and worse defense. The only part of his game that has improved is baserunning.

Anyhow, hopefully he'll bounce back next year. Even if not, he's a very useful player to have around and is affordable.

[tdawg87]

3 minutes ago, Angelsjunky said:

I agree. He had a 3.3 WAR in 2019 and 1.5 in in 49 games in 2020, which made him look like a bonafide 4 WAR player - a surprise to everyone. But he's at 1.1 now, which makes him a fringe regular - sort of what we expected him to be. He's pretty much fallen in every aspect of his game: lower BA, half the walk rate of last year, fewer extra base hits, and worse defense. The only part of his game that has improved is baserunning.

Anyhow, hopefully he'll bounce back next year. Even if not, he's a very useful player to have around and is affordable.

This is where I use bWAR to fit my narrative.

[jsnpritchett]

Semien won the GG for 2nd base.  Gurriel won for 1st base.  Fletcher and Walsh were finalists.