After all those errors in the World Series, a Detroit Tigers pitcher won a Gold Glove.
Kenny Rogers, whose smudged left hand created a lot of suspicion during the World Series, won his fourth straight Gold Glove yesterday and fifth overall.
Detroit pitchers made five errors during the Tigers' five-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, four on bad throws and another on a botched come-backer. No other pitching staff had made more than three errors during a Series.
Rogers did not have any fielding fumbles, but he did have a brownish smudge on his pitching hand in the first inning of Game 2. Whether it was dirt, pine tar or something else may never be known – St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa never urged umpires to check Rogers' hand and instead merely asked them to make sure whatever it was went away.
Tigers teammate Ivan Rodriguez won his 12th Gold Glove, extending his record for catchers. Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, Minnesota center fielder Torii Hunter and Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez won the awards for the sixth straight season.
“This was the best year I've played defensively. That's why I felt comfortable,” said Chavez, who played through injuries and hit just .241 with 22 homers and 72 RBI. “I knew I could impact the game defensively. I knew I had to because offensively I was not able to produce.”
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells won for the third time in a row, Texas first baseman Mark Teixeira won for the second consecutive season and Kansas City second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was a first-time winner.
Chavez and Rodriguez each earned $100,000 bonuses for winning Gold Gloves, while Rogers gets $75,000. Grudzielanek, Suzuki and Wells get $50,000 apiece and Hunter receives $25,000.
Around the majors
ASTROS: GM Tim Purpura was given a one-year contract extension that runs through the 2008 season.
CARDINALS: Center fielder Jim Edmonds filed provisionally for free agency, awaiting a decision by the team on his $10 million option for 2007. St. Louis has until Nov. 11 to decide on the option. If the Cardinals decline, Edmonds would receive a $3 million buyout.
CUBS: Third baseman Aramis Ramirez hopes to stay with the team but said he declined to exercise player options worth $11.5 million next year and $11 million in 2008 and filed for free agency to keep his options open.
GIANTS: Free-agent outfielder Moises Alou plans to play next season, but not with the Giants, in part because the team did not renew the contract of his father as manager.
MARINERS: The team has decided against bidding for Japanese starter Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Seibu Lions.
ROCKIES: Exercised their $2.5 million option for next season on right-hander Byung-Hyun Kim.
TIGERS: GM Dave Dombrowski was given a four-year contract extension that runs through 2011.
TWINS: Left-hander Francisco Liriano is going to see another doctor, Los Angeles Angels orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum, about his ailing elbow.
