How a Game-Changing Rule Adjustment Since 2013 Has Elevated the Gold Glove Awards, Especially Among Rookies

Few things are as honorary for a fielder as receiving a Gold Glove nomination. Fewer, even, is to win one. The Rawlings Gold Glove Award celebrates a fielder’s outstanding performance on the diamond throughout the games held in the National and American League. People consider it to be the epitome of recognizing superior defense displayed on the field to date. However, the transformative rule adjustment implemented since 2013 has enhanced the significance of the Gold Glove Awards, particularly among rookie players.

The MLB committee tied up with Rawlings Sporting Goods to introduce the Gold Glove Award to the diamond in 1957. For the past sixty years, they have bestowed the award on deserving candidates. In 2013, a new, game-changing rule elevated the decisional procedure for selecting the nominees.

Gold Glove Award: Before 2013

Secret player ballots and the votes of the national media decided the winners of the MLB Gold Glove during the years following its inception in 1957. At present, the winners are typically decided upon by a board consisting of managers and coaches. Point to be noted: They do not have the power to select a player from their team.

It was believed that those who stayed close to the game, watching it with meticulous attention to the details, would be able to select worthy contenders for the award. However, that rule has slightly changed since 2013. The run for the Rawlings introduced a new voting component—one that has over a 25% stake in deciding who wins and who doesn’t.

What has changed since then, its impact on the selection?

The Rawlings Sporting Goods Board, the primary presenter of the award, joined forces with the Society for American Baseball Research, AKA SABR, in 2013. Their collaboration brought forth an independent voting committee that formulated the SABR Defensive Index. It is a new analytical system that depends on sabermetrics (Moneyball, anyone?) to account for a total of thirty votes; it roughly estimates about 25%–30% of the total votes amongst the number of polls received from the rest of the deciding committee.

The sabermetrics applied in the process use a derivative calculation based on five separate metrics reflected in a player’s form. It uses the data derived from the aggregate of Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), Runs Effectively Defended (RED), Defensive Regression Analysis (DRA), and Total Zone Rating (TZ).

Read More: Which Team Has Won the Most Gold Glove Awards? Surprisingly, It’s Not the New York Yankees

Since 2022, the Rawlings committee has introduced a utility player awards section to the race. They have given exclusive rights to their utility player selection to the SDI. Bleacher Reports tagged the implemented rule as “several years overdue and very much welcome.”. According to the report, the Rawlings committee took a pre-existing MLB process and made it even better.

Since the new rule’s implementation, more focus is being given to up-and-coming players based purely on their performance. The old techniques were effective, but not as much. Most veterans and popular players were selected due to their pre-existing recognition in the sport. Now, the field has been leveled.

Is it all about the rookies now?

No, it certainly isn’t. The SABR method used in the present Gold Glove judgments depends solely on statistics, giving both rookies and veterans the chance to not get overlooked under the pressure of popularity and old performances.

The contest has become much more open and, hence, much tougher to win, whereas in the past, only the most notable players leading the team were selected as the awardees. In a way, the 2013 Gold Glove decisions paved a path that prioritizes equity over equality, keeping the scales balanced on both sides.

Are the changes good or bad? The final take

Old-world traditions are good, but amalgamating the same traditions with new-world analytics performs better in any era. The MLB, along with the Gold Glove Board, decided to do just that. From recent rookie wins like Anthony Volpe to wins by legendary sluggers like Willie Mays, a recognition such as this demands to be respected for the ultimate judgment that it serves on the fielders.

With 2024 already dawning upon us, one can expect to see many more rookies like Volpe bloom on the diamond. Veterans like Cody Bellinger have already made huge comebacks this season. Let’s see what the next MLB season brings to the fans. As discussed before, a change in the narrative isn’t necessarily a bad one. Will the upcoming playoffs prove it further? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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