Tigers Defensive Gem Overlooked for Gold Glove Honors

The Detroit Tigers have one Gold Glove finalist. Jake Rogers is a finalist at catcher along with Freddy Fermin of the Kansas City Royals and Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners. Where the Tigers might have been robbed was in left field. The three American League left fielders who were chosen were Cleveland Guardians Steven Kwan (nine defensive runs saved), New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo (five defensive runs saved) and Baltimore Orioles Colton Cowser (three defensive runs saved). Riley Greene led all left fielders with 14 defensive runs saved.

Riley Greene’s Glove Work Goes Unrecognized

For Rogers at catcher, he was worth 13 DRS, per Sports Info Solutions. That ranked third in baseball behind both Fermin and Raleigh (16 DRS). Rogers even ranked in the top five percentile in defensive runs value by Statcats, top 11 percentile in block and top 9 percentile in frame pitching.

But back to Greene, aside from leading his peers in DRS, he was also a plus-3 outs above average, per Statcast, and had three outfield assists. Greene’s absence from the list of Gold Glove Award finalists left many scratching their heads. A deeper dive into the statistics reveals a complex picture that both supports and challenges Greene’s case.

On one hand, Greene’s impressive 5.4 bWAR surpasses Kwan (3.9), Cowser (3.1) and Verdugo (0.7). This suggests that Greene’s overall performance on the field made an impact on the Tigers’ success. However, defensive metrics tell a different story. Greene’s three Outs Above Average pale in comparison to Cowser’s eight and Kwan’s four. Verdugo, despite a lower WAR, matched Cowser’s .997 fielding percentage while Greene’s .986 field percentage was the lowest among the group. Furthermore, Greene’s three errors led the pack, doubling that of the finalists, who each committed only one.

Breaking Down Defensive Skills

A more detailed look at defensive metrics provides insight:

Range (OAA Percentile):

• Greene: 72nd percentile

• Kwan: 85th percentile

• Cowser: 96th percentile

• Verdugo: 59th percentile

Arm Value:

• Greene: 48th percentile (0)

• Kwan: 99th percentile (4)

• Cowser: 50th percentile (0)

• Verdugo: 96th percentile (3)

Arm Strength

• Greene: 52nd percentile (85.3 mph)

• Kwan: 60th percentile (86.3 mph)

• Cowser: 96th percentile (93.1 mph)

• Verdugo: 94th percentile (92.1 mph)

While Greene’s range and arm strength are respectable, his arm value and error count raise concerns. Cowser’s exceptional range and arm strength, combined with Kwan’s impressive arm value, make strong cases for their Gold Glove consideration. Verdugo’s arm value and strength also outweigh Greene’s. While Greene’s range and arm strength are respectable, his arm value and error count raise concerns. Despite Greene’s shortcomings in certain areas, his impressive Wins Above Replacement and overall performance make a strong case for his recognition. Notably, his significant contributions to the Detroit team’s success should not be disregarded. However, the Gold Glove Award specifically honours exceptional defensive prowess, emphasizing the importance of precision and excellence in this aspect of the game. Greene’s omission from the Gold Glove nominees underscores the intricacies and challenges inherent in evaluating defensive performance. The discrepancies in defensive metrics highlight the complexity of comparing players across different statistical frameworks. This snub sparks essential discussions about the weighting of various defensive components and the need for a more comprehensive assessment of defensive excellence in baseball. Main Photo: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images