Three-time winner Mauer named Gold Glove finalist
MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer could be adding a fourth Gold Glove Award to his trophy collection.
The catcher was one of three American League backstops named a finalist for the 2013 Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Friday. The winners are set to be revealed on Tuesday on "Baseball Tonight" on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. CT.
Mauer, who was the AL's starting catcher in the 2013 All-Star Game, was named a finalist along with Orioles catcher Matt Wieters and Royals backstop Salvador Perez.
Mauer was the recipient of the Gold Glove Award from 2008-10, but the voting has changed since then.
Since its inception in 1957, the Rawlings Gold Glove has relied solely on Major League managers and coaches votes to determine the best defensive players. Managers and coaches got an assist this year from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR). For the first time, Rawlings collaborated with SABR to formally incorporate sabermetrics as a component of the Gold Glove Award.
A committee of experts in baseball analytics and defensive measurement devised the SABR Defensive Index (SDI), which draws on and aggregates two types of existing defensive metrics: those derived from batted ball, location-based data and those collected from play-by-play accounts.
The three metrics representing batted ball data include defensive runs saved (from Baseball Info Solutions), Ultimate Zone Rating (developed by sabermetician Mitchel Lichtman), and runs effectively defended (created by SABR's Chris Dial).
The two metrics included in the SDI from play-by-play data are defensive regression analysis, created by committee member Michael Humphreys, and total zone rating.
The plan, according to Rawlings and SABR, is to have the SDI complement the judgment by the managers and coaches. The SABR Defensive Index will account for 30 total votes -- or approximately 25 percent -- of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award selection process, and will be added to the votes from the managers and coaches.
Ballots were distributed to managers and coaches in September, and they received a revamped statistical resource guide as well.
Mauer, 30, had a strong season defensively, as he committed just two errors in 75 games behind the plate. He also led the AL by throwing out 43 percent of would-be basestealers.
Among advanced defensive statistics, Mauer also ranked third in the AL in defensive runs saved behind Perez and Indians catcher Yan Gomes.
But Mauer also suffered a concussion on a foul tip on Aug. 19, and missed the rest of the season, putting his future behind the plate in doubt.
Mauer, though, has maintained that he wants to remain at catcher moving forward, and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said in a recent radio interview that Mauer is past his concussion symptoms.
Mauer was the lone Twins player to be named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award, as second baseman Brian Dozier and shortstop Pedro Florimon, who both had solid seasons defensively, were not named finalists.
The complete list of finalists:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Pitcher
Mark Buehrle, Blue Jays
R.A. Dickey, Blue Jays
Doug Fister, Tigers
Catcher
Joe Mauer, Twins
Salvador Perez, Royals
Matt Wieters, Orioles
First base
Chris Davis, Orioles
Eric Hosmer, Royals
James Loney, Rays
Second base
Robinson Cano, Yankees
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Ben Zobrist, Rays
Third base
Adrian Beltre, Rangers
Evan Longoria, Rays
Manny Machado, Orioles
Shortstop
Alcides Escobar, Royals
Yunel Escobar, Rays
J.J. Hardy, Orioles
Left field
Yoenis Cespedes, A's
Andy Dirks, Tigers
Alex Gordon, Royals
Center field
Lorenzo Cain, Royals
Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox
Adam Jones, Orioles
Right field
Nick Markakis, Orioles
Shane Victorino, Red Sox
Josh Reddick, A's
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pitcher
Patrick Corbin, D-backs
Zack Greinke, Dodgers
Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
Catcher
A.J. Ellis, Dodgers
Russell Martin, Pirates
Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First base
Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second base
Darwin Barney, Cubs
Brandon Phillips, Reds
Mark Ellis, Dodgers
Third base
Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Juan Uribe, Dodgers
David Wright, Mets
Shortstop
Ian Desmond, Nationals
Andrelton Simmons, Braves
Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
Left field
Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
Starling Marte, Pirates
Eric Young Jr., Mets
Center field
Carlos Gomez, Brewers
Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
Denard Span, Nationals
Right field
Jay Bruce, Reds
Jason Heyward, Braves
Gerardo Parra, D-backs