Atlanta Braves Afternoon Chop: Golden… Together
For all the strangeness of the Rawlings Gold Glove awards, it’s still always nice when one of your own Braves’ standouts is recognized for excellent.
Centerfielder Ender Inciarte of the Atlanta Braves won his first Gold Glove yesterday! Here’s the story from SI.COM
MLB ANNOUNCES 2016 GOLD GLOVE WINNERS / SI WIRE
"Major League Baseball’s award season got underway with the presentation of the Rawlings Gold Glove Awards on Tuesday night. The winners were selected by MLB managers, coaches and statistical analysis from the Society for American Baseball Research. Managers and coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players. The Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers had four finalists each. Pitcher Jake Arrieta, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, shortstop Addison Russell and right fielder Jason Heyward are the representatives from the World Series champions."
Inciarte beat out the Reds’ Billy Hamilton. Voting results were not released, but this was expected to be a close race – and the metrics tended to favor Hamilton. Reds’ watchers were speculating on the reason the contest tipped to Inciarte:
If I had to guess ... Hamilton was hurt by not playing any games after Sept. 4. #reds
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) November 9, 2016
Hamilton is great, but Inciarte is so, so good. Braves helped themselves long-term and short-term by getting him in big trade. https://t.co/IkGk9S3sqj
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) November 9, 2016
Inciarte missed time early in the season, but then voters on awards like this tend to like strong finishes, and Hamilton didn’t have one – he was out for the rest of the year after September 4th.
Meanwhile, Inciarte staked his claim with one of the most spectacular plays of the year on September 21st… perfect timing for his voters.