Brewers Lucroy and Parra Named as Gold Glove Finalists

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy and right fielder Gerardo Parra were named as one of three finalists at their respective positions for the 2014 version of the Rawlings Gold Glove awards.

Rawlings, the glove manufacturer, announced the finalists today.

Jonathan Lucroy (Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports)

Voting will consist of two parts:

• 75% Managers and coaches input
• 25% Statistical data

The winners will be announced November 4.

The following table compares the three finalists: Lucroy, Russell Martin (Pittsburgh) and Yadier Molina (St. Louis):

The range/9 stat is not really relevant for catchers, but the defensive runs saved (DRS) is and shows Russell Martin as a clear leader in that category.

Truth be told, Molina should win his seventh Gold Glove despite missing several weeks to injury. The caught stealing percentage (CS%) is the deciding factor for me.

As much as I’d like to see ‘Luc’ win the award, he’s not quite ready for prime time this year defensively, but I predict he will win at least one Gold Glove before he retires.

As for Parra, here is how here compares with fellow finalists Jason Heyward (Atlanta) and Giancarlo Stanton (Miami):

Gerardo Parra (Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports)

Being an old-timer, I don’t pretend to know all of the ‘new’ stats like the modern-day sabermetricians do, but based on what I do know, Heyward should be presented with his second gold mitt two weeks from now.

It is great that the Brewers have a pair of finalists for Gold Glove consideration, but in all honesty, the stats do not agree with either of them winning this year.

But everyone has an opinion, based on reputation, friendships, or stats, so who knows what will happen.