Ryan Zimmerman succeeded boyhood
friend David Wright as the National League’s Gold Glove third baseman
on Wednesday. In high school, when Zimmerman was a shortstop, the two
played together on a youth team.
“Hopefully if we’re lucky enough to
continue doing what we’re doing, this will be a yearly thing,”
Zimmerman said. “It’s fun for us.”
A college teammate from the
University of Virginia, Arizona’s Mark Reynolds, is competing with
Zimmerman for a Silver Slugger award, to be announced Thursday.
“We all push each other to work harder,” said Zimmerman, who had 33 homers and 106 RBIs.
Zimmerman led major league third
basemen with 325 assists and became only the second Washington player
to win the award, joining catcher Earl Battey of the original Senators
in 1960. He also became the second infielder to win a Gold Glove from a
team with the worst fielding percentage in the majors, following Texas
shortstop Michael Young last year.
The Nationals led the major leagues with 143 errors.
“Our team as a whole needs to realize
that if we want to win we’ve got to play defense,” Zimmerman said. “We
need to take more responsibility on the defensive side of the ball and
realize that if we want to start winning that, you know, that’s just as
much a part of winning as hitting and scoring runs.”
Philadelphia shortstop Jimmy Rollins
earned his third consecutive Gold Glove and Phillies center fielder
Shane Victorino won for the second straight time.
“Defense is a very important part of
my game, and it truly is an honor to be recognized as one of the best
defensive players in the league,” Rollins said in a statement.
Of course, the Gold Gloves were far
more rewarding last year, when the Phillies won the World Series for
the first time since 1980. Philadelphia failed in its attempt to
repeat, losing to the New York Yankees in six games last week.
“I take a lot of pride in fielding my position,” Victorino, nicknamed the Flyin’ Hawaiian for his speed, said in a statement.
Rollins became the Phillies fifth
three-time winner, joining Mike Schmidt (10), Garry Maddox (eight),
Manny Trillo and Scott Rolen (three each).
St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina and San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez also were second-time winners announced Wednesday.
“I don’t think I made as many plays
as I made the year before. That’s because teams were more reluctant to
bunt my way,” Gonzalez said. “You need a couple of years of doing
things over and over before coaches say there’s a guy I could vote
for.”
Adam Wainwright became the first
Cardinals pitcher to win since Joaquin Andujar in 1984 and succeeded
Greg Maddux, who won his record 18th Gold Glove last year. Wainwright
also is a favorite for the NL Cy Young Award after going 19-8 with a
2.63 ERA.
“I would have thought if there was
one award that I would never win, or never have a chance to win, that
would be a Gold Glove Award,” Wainwright said. “There’s probably a ton
of guys that are better fielders than me.”
Dodgers second baseman Orlando
Hudson overcame a broken left wrist sustained in August 2008 and won
for the fourth time, taking over for Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips
even though Hudson lost playing time by September to teammate Ronnie
Belliard. Hudson didn’t make a single postseason start for Los Angeles,
then became a free agent.
“I had a good season,” he said. “I would be interested in coming back.”
Houston outfielder Michael Bourn and
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp also were first-time winners — and gave
the NL three center fielders in the Gold Glove outfield.
Kemp had 14 assists, up from two in 2007.
“Now you’re supposed to win a Gold Glove every year,” he said.
Bourn concentrated on fielding during winter ball.
“When I went to the Dominican, I
didn’t just try to work on my offense. I tried to work on my defense as
well,” he said. “It helps me a little bit more over there because the
ground’s a little bit rough and you have harder bounces and so you’ve
got to get used to playing those tough bounces. When it comes to a
regular field it made it seem a little easier for me.”
Wright and his New York Mets
teammate, center fielder Carlos Beltran, were dropped from the Gold
Glove team. Beltran was sidelined for much of the season. Outfielder
Nate McLouth, traded from Pittsburgh to Atlanta in June, also missed
out.
Gonzalez, Molina, Rollins and
Wainwright each earned $50,000 bonuses, and the price of Gonzalez’s
2011 club option increased by $100,000 to $5.7 million. Bourn and
Victorino each earned $25,000 bonuses. Hudson and Kemp didn’t have
bonus provisions in their contracts.
Rawlings began presenting Gold
Gloves in 1957. Managers and coaches voted on players in their own
leagues before the regular season ended but couldn’t select members of
their own teams.
American League winners were announced Tuesday.