Gold Gloves can be fool's gold

Baseball's Gold Glove winners, honoring the top fielders in the game, are always going to have a tendency to be flawed, because defense can be subjective. The sabermetrics folks have fielding stats, too, and they scoff at the Gold Gloves because the managers and coaches select them.

The new stat used to measure fielding is the UZR (ultimate zone rating). It factors in range, arm, and fielding percentage in a form of  runs saved or cost, in comparison to an average fielder. (Click here for a more detailed explanation.)

How well do the managers and coaches do compared to the stats? Not well at all. Just two players, Placido Polanco (2B) and Evan Longoria (3B), were the leaders in UZR at their positions. And in the NL? Three: Ryan Zimmerman (3B), Yadier Molina (C) and Jimmy Rollins (SS).

Why is this flawed? A lot of times, it's a popularity contest. Derek Jeter won a Gold Glove this week, but is he really the best fielder? He's a solid one who is popular within the game and outside the game. But he's 35 and doesn't have great range. In fact, his range might be the worst at shortstop in the majors.

Some snickered when Jeter won his first Gold Glove in 2004. Now he has four, thanks to only committing eight errors in 2009. He makes all the routine plays - does that constitute a Gold Glove winner?

Jeter became the oldest to win a Gold Glove at shortstop since Luis Aparicio, who was 36 when awarded the last of his nine Gold Gloves in 1970. He had a very good year.

That doesn't mean Jeter really deserves a Gold Glove.

List: 2009 Gold Glove winners.