Versatile Gold

[Edgy MD]

In what may or may not some day be called the Luis Guillorme Rule, Rawlings announced yesterday that a https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/rawlings-gold-glove-award-utility-players10th Gold Glove Award has been added to each league to honor the outstanding defensive utility player in the circuit.





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[MFS62]

Where do we sign a petition for Luis?

I'm all in on that.

Later

[Centerfield]

Pretty sure they've already engraved his trophy.

[whippoorwill]

I like this idea!

[metsmarathon]

wonder what the qualifications will be... and if luis will have enough games to qualify.



i'm expecting it should come down to a player playing no more than some percentage of his games at one position, and possibly playing at least some number of games at three positions.



which will of course be interesting, as guillorme has 67.5% of his defensive games at 2b, with more than 10 at SS & 3b.

Mcsquirrel, on the other hand, has 71.5% of his defensive games at 2b, with 31 in LF and 6 in RF.



both are excellent defenders. mcneil might be better, and may be more versatile.

[Edgy MD]

Buck seems to think so.



I'm not sure the award goes to a utility infielder per se, or if utility outfielders and or catcher/position-player hybrids are eligible. I hope so.



It's really interesting to see him trumpeted as a top candidate almost as if this ruling was made for him. A lot of players praised for the defense build their reputations around their athleticism — speed, strength, and leaping ability that shines in highlight reels, often in slo mo. Guillorme's got a bit of a gummy bear build and may well be below average in overall athleticism by MLB standards, but his defensive game is like 75% in his dexterity, maybe 15% in his footwork, and just 10% in his creativity and fast thinking — which sometimes works against him when he tries to do too much.



It ruins the 100% thing, but obviously his traditional athletic skills like speed and arm strength play into that also, as does confidence and aggressiveness, but he's definitely shining in a different way from a lot of other defensive stars.



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A lot of long-lost 2022 friends in that highlight reel: Collin Holderman, J.D. Davis, Nick Plummer ... .