High fives all around
Here’s something that might help avenge the travesty of Derek Jeter winning a Gold Glove: Aaron Hill and Adam Lind were named Silver Slugger Award winners yesterday. The awards, voted on by coaches around the league, are handed out to the players with the best “overall offensive value” at each position.
Of course, this also leaves me feeling slightly better about an otherwise horrible Jays season, though still not too optimistic about the one we’re about to embark on next April. At least we have our two mashers, though — Lind, who hit .305/.370/.562 (AVG/OBP/SLG) with 35 homers and 114 RBIs in 2009, may be in for a move to first base if Alex Anthopolous is able to move Lyle Overbay, while Hill (.286/.330/.499, 36 and 108) will keep doing his thing at second base.
Anyway, here’s the full list of Silver Sluggers:
American League: Joe Mauer (C), Mark Texeira (1B), Hill (2B), Evan Longoria (3B), Jeter (SS), Jason Bay (OF), Torii Hunter (OF), Ichiro Suzuki (OF) and Lind (DH). (Note how six of the nine were Gold Glovers, further supporting the assumed theory that the awards are given out to the best fielders that can hit. Does this mean Lind automatically becomes a Gold Glove contender?)
National League: Brian McCann (C), Albert Pujols (1B), Chase Utley (2B), Ryan Zimmerman (3B), Hanley Ramirez (SS), Ryan Braun (OF), Andre Ethier (OF), Matt Kemp (OF) and Carlos Zambrano (P).
