Hardy, Jones and Markakis win Gold Glove Awards
By Roch Kubatko
Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy maintained his streak of winning Rawlings Gold Gloves, capturing the award tonight for the third consecutive season. The announcement was made on ESPN2.
Hardy finished ahead of the Royals' Alcides Escobar and the White Sox's Alexei Ramirez.
The ceremony will be held on Nov. 7 in New York.
As you probably know, the selection process is approximately 75 percent votes submitted by managers and coaches - up to seven total votes per team - and 25 percent from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR).
Managers and coaches only cast votes in their own league and couldn't vote for players on their own team.
The Orioles had six nominees last year, but settled for half that total in 2014. Center fielder Adam Jones and right fielder Nick Markakis will attempt to give the Orioles a clean sweep. The winners in their categories will be announced later tonight.
Third baseman Manny Machado wasn't named a finalist after winning Gold and Platinum Gloves last season. Catcher Matt Wieters, a two-time recipient, didn't make the cut after an elbow injury ended his season on May 10. Chris Davis, a finalist in 2013, also was excluded this year.
Hardy committed 13 errors in 594 chances for a .978 fielding percentage, with five coming during a four-game span in June. Lots of defensive metrics, including total fielding runs above average, defensive runs saved above average and range factor per nine innings also were used to determine the winners.
Hardy led American League shortstops in total zone runs with 14.
Hardy signed a three-year, $40 million extension on Oct. 9, with a vesting option for the fourth year. He could have become a free agent following the season.
"This is a special award for me because of the fact that the opposing managers and coaches are the voters, and obviously I have a lot of respect for them and their knowledge of the game," Hardy said in a statement released by the Orioles. "A lot of the credit goes to Bobby Dickerson, who puts in a lot of time and effort with us and puts us in a position to be successful."
Hardy is the first Oriole to win three straight Gold Gloves since pitcher Mike Mussina won four in a row from 1996-99.
The Orioles have won 68 Gold Gloves, the most by any AL team. They're hoping to increase that total to 70 with Jones and Markakis.
Update Jones and Markakis also won Gold Gloves tonight, as the Orioles matched the Royals for the most in the majors this season.
Jones was awarded his fourth Gold Glove, tying for third-most in Orioles history.
Third baseman Brooks Robinson won 16, center fielder Paul Blair and shortstop Mark Belanger each won eight, and pitchers Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina and second baseman Bobby Grich each won four.
Jones made six errors in 387 chances (.984 percent) and totaled 374 putouts, seven assists and three double plays in 155 games. He won the award over the Red Sox's Jackie Bradley Jr. and the White Sox's Adam Eaton.
Bradley had 13 assists, one error and eight double plays, but he appeared in only 113 games in center field.
Jones also won a Gold Glove in 2009, 2012 and 2013.
Blair (1969 to 1975) is the only Orioles outfielder to win a Gold Glove in more consecutive seasons than Jones.
Jones and Hardy are the first set of AL teammates to win three consecutive Gold Gloves since the Mariners' Bret Boone and Ichiro Suzuki in 2002-04.
"I'm very honored to receive the Gold Glove Award," Jones said in a statement. "It means a lot to me because it is voted on by the opposing managers and coaches and it shows that they appreciate the way I play the game. I also want to acknowledge the efforts and dedication of Wayne Kirby and Bobby Dickerson. Their tireless and diligent efforts to help me and all of our players on the defensive side of the game cannot be overlooked or underestimated."
Markakis won his second Gold Glove, the first coming in 2011. He beat out first-timers Kole Calhoun of the Angels and Kevin Kiermaier of the Rays.
Markakis didn't commit an error in 306 chances and registered 295 putouts and 11 assists in 147 games. He also didn't commit an error in 2011 and 2013.
Markakis ended the season with 328 consecutive errorless games as an outfielder, just eight shy of Rich Amaral's AL record of 336 (1995-2000) and 64 games shy of Darren Lewis' major league record of 392 (1990-94).
"It's a great honor to win the Gold Glove," Markakis said in a statement. "It is an individual award, but a lot of people contribute to it. Wayne Kirby is a great influence on the outfielders and does a great job preparing us and putting us in the right position to make plays."
The Orioles continue to negotiate with Markakis' agent on a four-year deal. Markakis became a free agent on Friday after the Orioles declined his $17.5 million option.
Hardy becomes the second Orioles shortstop to win three consecutive Gold Gloves, joining Mark Belanger, who won six in a row from 1973-78.
Hardy ranked seventh among all American Leaguers in Defensive WAR (2.1) in 2014. He also led AL shortstops in Total Zone Runs (14), was second in Range Factor/Game (4.12) and double plays turned (99), third in fielding percentage (.978) and assists (394), and fifth in putouts (187).
Hardy's three career Gold Gloves are second-most among active shortstops, trailing only Jimmy Rollins (four).
The Orioles also had three Gold Glove winners in 2012 and 2013.
Seventeen different Orioles have earned a total of 70 Gold Gloves since the award was created in 1957, the second-highest total for any team - the Cardinals have 85 - and the most in the American League.
Managers and coaches only cast votes in their own league and couldn't vote for players on their own team.
The Orioles had six nominees last year, but settled for half that total in 2014. Center fielder Adam Jones and right fielder Nick Markakis will attempt to give the Orioles a clean sweep. The winners in their categories will be announced later tonight.
Third baseman Manny Machado wasn't named a finalist after winning Gold and Platinum Gloves last season. Catcher Matt Wieters, a two-time recipient, didn't make the cut after an elbow injury ended his season on May 10. Chris Davis, a finalist in 2013, also was excluded this year.
Hardy committed 13 errors in 594 chances for a .978 fielding percentage, with five coming during a four-game span in June. Lots of defensive metrics, including total fielding runs above average, defensive runs saved above average and range factor per nine innings also were used to determine the winners.
Hardy led American League shortstops in total zone runs with 14.
Hardy signed a three-year, $40 million extension on Oct. 9, with a vesting option for the fourth year. He could have become a free agent following the season.
"This is a special award for me because of the fact that the opposing managers and coaches are the voters, and obviously I have a lot of respect for them and their knowledge of the game," Hardy said in a statement released by the Orioles. "A lot of the credit goes to Bobby Dickerson, who puts in a lot of time and effort with us and puts us in a position to be successful."
Hardy is the first Oriole to win three straight Gold Gloves since pitcher Mike Mussina won four in a row from 1996-99.
The Orioles have won 68 Gold Gloves, the most by any AL team. They're hoping to increase that total to 70 with Jones and Markakis.
Update Jones and Markakis also won Gold Gloves tonight, as the Orioles matched the Royals for the most in the majors this season.
Jones was awarded his fourth Gold Glove, tying for third-most in Orioles history.
Third baseman Brooks Robinson won 16, center fielder Paul Blair and shortstop Mark Belanger each won eight, and pitchers Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina and second baseman Bobby Grich each won four.
Jones made six errors in 387 chances (.984 percent) and totaled 374 putouts, seven assists and three double plays in 155 games. He won the award over the Red Sox's Jackie Bradley Jr. and the White Sox's Adam Eaton.
Bradley had 13 assists, one error and eight double plays, but he appeared in only 113 games in center field.
Jones also won a Gold Glove in 2009, 2012 and 2013.
Blair (1969 to 1975) is the only Orioles outfielder to win a Gold Glove in more consecutive seasons than Jones.
Jones and Hardy are the first set of AL teammates to win three consecutive Gold Gloves since the Mariners' Bret Boone and Ichiro Suzuki in 2002-04.
"I'm very honored to receive the Gold Glove Award," Jones said in a statement. "It means a lot to me because it is voted on by the opposing managers and coaches and it shows that they appreciate the way I play the game. I also want to acknowledge the efforts and dedication of Wayne Kirby and Bobby Dickerson. Their tireless and diligent efforts to help me and all of our players on the defensive side of the game cannot be overlooked or underestimated."
Markakis won his second Gold Glove, the first coming in 2011. He beat out first-timers Kole Calhoun of the Angels and Kevin Kiermaier of the Rays.
Markakis didn't commit an error in 306 chances and registered 295 putouts and 11 assists in 147 games. He also didn't commit an error in 2011 and 2013.
Markakis ended the season with 328 consecutive errorless games as an outfielder, just eight shy of Rich Amaral's AL record of 336 (1995-2000) and 64 games shy of Darren Lewis' major league record of 392 (1990-94).
"It's a great honor to win the Gold Glove," Markakis said in a statement. "It is an individual award, but a lot of people contribute to it. Wayne Kirby is a great influence on the outfielders and does a great job preparing us and putting us in the right position to make plays."
The Orioles continue to negotiate with Markakis' agent on a four-year deal. Markakis became a free agent on Friday after the Orioles declined his $17.5 million option.
Hardy becomes the second Orioles shortstop to win three consecutive Gold Gloves, joining Mark Belanger, who won six in a row from 1973-78.
Hardy ranked seventh among all American Leaguers in Defensive WAR (2.1) in 2014. He also led AL shortstops in Total Zone Runs (14), was second in Range Factor/Game (4.12) and double plays turned (99), third in fielding percentage (.978) and assists (394), and fifth in putouts (187).
Hardy's three career Gold Gloves are second-most among active shortstops, trailing only Jimmy Rollins (four).
The Orioles also had three Gold Glove winners in 2012 and 2013.
Seventeen different Orioles have earned a total of 70 Gold Gloves since the award was created in 1957, the second-highest total for any team - the Cardinals have 85 - and the most in the American League.
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