masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgA dip in defensive metrics may have denied Manny Machado a third Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
Machado lost out to the Rays’ Evan Longoria tonight among American League third basemen, with the announcement coming via ESPN. The Indians’ José Ramírez also was a finalist.
Gold Gloves were delivered to Machado in 2013 – the same year that he won the Platinum Glove as best overall defensive player – and 2015. The pattern of winning every other year, as brief as it was, ended tonight.
Machado…

A dip in defensive metrics may have denied Manny Machado a third Rawlings Gold Glove Award.

Machado lost out to the Rays’ Evan Longoria tonight among American League third basemen, with the announcement coming via ESPN. The Indians’ José Ramírez also was a finalist.

Gold Gloves were delivered to Machado in 2013 – the same year that he won the Platinum Glove as best overall defensive player – and 2015. The pattern of winning every other year, as brief as it was, ended tonight.

Machado-Throws-Gray-Sidebar.jpgMachado committed 14 errors in 156 games, doubling his total in 114 games last season, and registered a .967 fielding percentage in 425 chances. He also had a 4.7 ultimate zone rating (UZR) that ranked third in the league, one spot ahead of Longoria (3.2), according to FanGraphs.com, and six defensive runs saved (DRS) that also ranked third.

Longoria was first with 11 DRS. His 5.1 UZR/150 was third, with Machado (4.9) placing fourth.

The winners are selected by a vote of major league managers and coaches, which accounts for 75 percent, and the SABR Defensive Index that’s been used for the last five years.

When Machado won the award in 2015, he led all American League third basemen in double plays with 38, was second in DRS with 14 and third with an 8.4 UZR.

The Orioles also were shut out in Gold Glove voting last year.

Brooks Robinson is the only other Orioles third baseman to win a Gold Glove. He collected 16 in a row from 1960-1975.

Longoria has won three Gold Gloves, the most in Rays history.

Here are the winners at each position:

First base

American League: Eric Hosmer (Royals)

National League: Paul Goldschmidt (Diamondbacks)

Second base

American League: Brian Dozier (Twins)

National League: D.J. LeMahieu (Rockies)

Shortstop

American League: Andrelton Simmons (Angels)

National League: Brandon Crawford (Giants)

Third base

American League: Evan Longoria (Rays)

National League: Nolan Arenado (Rockies)

Left field

American League: Alex Gordon (Royals)

National League: Marcell Ozuna (Marlins)

Center field

American League: Byron Buxton (Twins

National League: Ender Inciarte (Braves)

Right field

American League: Mookie Betts (Red Sox)

National League: Jason Heyward (Cubs)

Catcher

American League: Martin Maldonado (Angels)

National League: Tucker Barnhart (Reds)

Pitcher

American League: Marcus Stroman (Blue Jays)

National League: Zack Greinke (Diamondbacks)