Mets Shut Out Of NL Gold Glove Honors
NEW YORK (AP) — Cincinnati third baseman Scott Rolen won his eighth Gold Glove, one of three Reds players to be honored following the team's first Major League Baseball playoff appearance in 15 years.
Second baseman Brandon Phillips and pitcher Bronson Arroyo also were among the National League recipients announced by Rawlings on Wednesday.
It's the first time Cincinnati has had more than one winner in a season since the days of the Big Red Machine, when catcher Johnny Bench, second baseman Joe Morgan, shortstop Dave Concepcion and center fielder Cesar Geronimo won for four straight years from 1974-77.
"I think our defense won a lot of games this year," Rolen said.
No Mets have won the award since 2008, when David Wright and Carlos Beltran were awarded the honor.
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino each garnered their third Gold Glove in a row. Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez joined Arroyo as first-time winners.
"It was definitely a shock," Arroyo said. "Honestly, it never even crossed my mind once throughout my entire career."
Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols won for the second time (2006), and speedy Houston Astros center fielder Michael Bourn was a repeat winner.
Rolen was selected for the first time since 2006. His eight Gold Gloves rank third at his position behind Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson (16) and Mike Schmidt (10).
On a conference call with all three Reds winners, the 35-year-old Rolen joked that he and general manager Walt Jocketty had already discussed a six-to-eight-year contract extension for "unlimited dollars" so he could chase Schmidt and Robinson.
Cincinnati tied for the major league lead with a club-record .988 fielding percentage, a big reason the resurgent Reds won the NL Central division before losing to Philadelphia in a first-round playoff sweep. They committed only 72 errors, 17 fewer than the previous team record set last year.
"Having a great defensive infield is such a bonus," Arroyo said. "To have the year that we had defensively definitely contributed to us making the playoffs."
Phillips also won in 2008 before Orlando Hudson took the NL award at second base last year.
By winning, Phillips receives a $250,000 increase in his salary next year to $11.25 million. Molina, Pujols, Rolen and Victorino each get $50,000 bonuses, and Bourn and Tulowitzki receive $25,000 apiece.
Rawlings has awarded Gold Gloves since 1957. Managers and coaches vote for players in their leagues before the end of the regular season, but they can't choose members of their own teams.
The AL awards were announced Tuesday, with three New York Yankees infielders honored.
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AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
