With the lowest total of errors at the 3B position and the highest fielding percentage in the AL at the position, Joe Crede has obviously been effective at third base for the Twins in 2009. There's a new metric that's taken more seriously, though, and this is called the UZR.
Crede has been very valuable to this team, not only because he has provided some power at 3B (something lacking in the Twins lineup since the days ofCorey Koskie), but because he has beengoldenat 3B (possibly a career year at 3B).
As far as the UZR is concerned, there's a more telling stat called the UZR 150. This essentially tells you how many runs a player has either saved or cost his team over the course of his last 150 games played at that position. Crede's UZR is unbelievable, somewhere between 25 and 30. This means he's saving the team a run once every 5 or 6 games. No one else comes close to this defensively in the AL, only Adrian Beltre, whose UZR is 10 less, between 15 and 20.
This raises the question: Are we, as bloggers, taking Crede's defense for granted? Do we realize just how valuable Joe Crede is to this team?
Crede is one of those players who is often overlooked. Since his hitting numbers don't stand out and players are credited for their offense more than their defense, Crede gets little due for what he does.
There's no question that Crede should win the gold glove at third base this season, in my opinion. Looking at the stats, he dominates his competition in UZR, fielding percentage, and errors. I don't see why he wouldn't.
Unfortunately, the Twins get little respect when it comes down to voting. Look at snubs like Luis Castillo, Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer, all of whom deserved Gold Gloves and never got them.
The Gold Glove voters are biased, as are the All-Star voters. This would also explain whyCarlos Gomezdid not win a Gold Glove last year, despite being the best defensive CF in the Major League Baseball - along withGrady Sizemore.
Crede has been very valuable to this team, not only because he has provided some power at 3B (something lacking in the Twins lineup since the days ofCorey Koskie), but because he has beengoldenat 3B (possibly a career year at 3B).
As far as the UZR is concerned, there's a more telling stat called the UZR 150. This essentially tells you how many runs a player has either saved or cost his team over the course of his last 150 games played at that position. Crede's UZR is unbelievable, somewhere between 25 and 30. This means he's saving the team a run once every 5 or 6 games. No one else comes close to this defensively in the AL, only Adrian Beltre, whose UZR is 10 less, between 15 and 20.
This raises the question: Are we, as bloggers, taking Crede's defense for granted? Do we realize just how valuable Joe Crede is to this team?
Crede is one of those players who is often overlooked. Since his hitting numbers don't stand out and players are credited for their offense more than their defense, Crede gets little due for what he does.
There's no question that Crede should win the gold glove at third base this season, in my opinion. Looking at the stats, he dominates his competition in UZR, fielding percentage, and errors. I don't see why he wouldn't.
Unfortunately, the Twins get little respect when it comes down to voting. Look at snubs like Luis Castillo, Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer, all of whom deserved Gold Gloves and never got them.
The Gold Glove voters are biased, as are the All-Star voters. This would also explain whyCarlos Gomezdid not win a Gold Glove last year, despite being the best defensive CF in the Major League Baseball - along withGrady Sizemore.
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