Atlanta Braves Ender Inciarte, R.A. Dickey are finalists for 2017 Gold Glove Awards
By Jeff Schafer
Braves have two in line to win Gold Gloves
Rawlings Sports announced on Thursday their Gold Glove finalists for each position in the American League and National League. Believe it or not, after a 72-90 season, the Atlanta Braves have two finalists for the 2017 Gold Gloves.
The winners of the 2017 Gold Gloves will be announced on November 7th on ESPN at 9pm ET.
Braves Ender Inciarte joins the center fielder group of Reds Billy Hamilton and Nationals Michael Taylor.
Braves R.A. Dickey joins the NL pitchers Zack Greinke and Brewers Zach Davies.
Both have really good shots at bringing home the trophy. Inciarte won his first Gold Glove following the 2016 season. Dickey won a Gold Glove in 2013 when he was a part of the Toronto Blue Jays organization. The previous season, in 2012, Dickey won the Cy Young and went to the NL All-Star game.
Inciarte had quite the season in 2017 and to cap it off with a Gold Glove would be icing on the sunday. Ender went to his first All-Star game as well as became the fourth player in Braves history to record 200 hits in a single season.
This could be Dickey’s final chance to win any MLB awards — while as a player. The 42-year-old’s (will turn 43 on Saturday) team option of $8M was declined by the Braves on Monday and it’s very possible he retires.
Here’s a pretty cool stat that Fox Sports Braves tweeted out this afternoon…
One reason @enderinciartem could repeat as NL Gold Glove winner: Per @statcast, only Byron Buxton logged more OF outs above average in 2017. pic.twitter.com/nFSty4i5Hl
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) October 26, 2017
So let’s look at the entire list of players on the Gold Glove finalist. The names that are bold are my guesses on who the winner will be. And of course I’m going with Ender and R.A.!
National League Right Field
Yasiel Puig – Dodgers
Giancarlo Stanton – Marlins
Jason Heyward – Cubs
American League Right Field
Kole Calhoun – Angles
Mookie Betts – Red Sox
Aaron Judge – Yankees
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National League Center Field
Billy Hamilton – Reds
Michael Taylor – Nationals
Ender Inciarte – Braves
American League Center Field
Lorenzo Cain – Royals
Kevin Pillar – Blue Jays
Byron Buxton – Twins
National League Left Field
Gerardo Parra – Diamondbacks
Adam Duvall – Reds
Marcell Ozuna – Marlins
American League Left Field
Brett Gardner – Yankees
Alex Gordon – Royals
Justin Upton – Angels
National League Third Base
Nolan Arenado – Rockies
Anthony Rendon – Nationals
David Freese – Pirates
American League Third Base
Manny Machado – Orioles
Jose Ramirez – Indians
Evan Longoria – Rays
National League Shortstop
Freddy Galvis – Phillies
Brandon Crawford – Giants
Corey Seager – Dodgers
American League Shortstop
Elvis Andrus – Rangers
Andrelton Simmons – Angels
Francisco Lindor – Indians
National League Second Base
DJ LeMahieu – Rockies
Dee Gordon – Marlins
Ben Zobrist – Cubs
American League Second Base
Brian Dozier – Twins
Ian Kinsler – Tigers
Dustin Pedroia – Red Sox
National League First Base
Joey Votte – Reds
Paul Goldschmidt – Diamondbacks
Anthony Rizzo – Cubs
American League First Base
Carlos Santana – Indians
Eric Hosmer – Royals
Mitch Moreland – Red Sox
National League Catcher
Buster Posey – Giants
Yadier Molina – Cardinals
Tucker Barnhart – Reds
American League Catcher
Yan Gomes – Indians
Martin Maldonado – Angels
Salvador Perez – Royals
National League Pitchers
R.A. Dickey – Braves
Zack Greinke – Diamondbacks
Zach Davies – Brewers
American League Pitchers
Chris Sale – Red Sox
Marcus Stroman – Blue Jays
Alex Cobb – Rays
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What do you think? What’s your predictions? Do you think I got it right, or which spot would you choose differently?
One thing I will say before I publish this post…I think Nick Markakis got snubbed here for the NL right field Gold Glove finalist. Markakis played in 156 games and had only one error, with a fielding percentage of .997 in 2017. The 33-year-old ranked first among all NL right fielder in fielding percentage, innings played, and had the fewest errors.
I think Rawlings overlooked Markakis and gave the nod to four-time — and winner of the past three NL RF Gold Gloves —right fielder Jason Heyward. Love JHey, but come on!