With the lowest total of errors at the 3B position and the highest fielding percentage in the AL at the position, Joe Crede has obviously been effective at third base for the Twins in 2009. There’s a new metric that’s taken more seriously, though, and this is called the UZR.

Crede has been very valuable to this team, not only because he has provided some power at 3B (something lacking in the Twins lineup since the days ofCorey Koskie), but because he has beengoldenat 3B (possibly a career year at 3B).

To build on the UZR, there’s a stat called the UZR 150, which goes to show how many runs a player has cost or saved his team over the span of 150 games played at a certain position. Crede’s UZR is about 27 runs per 150 games at 3B. To put it into perspective, the next best in the AL after Crede there is Adrian Beltre, at around 17.

This raises the question: Are we, as bloggers, taking Crede’s defense for granted? Do we realize just how valuable Joe Crede is to this team?

Crede is one of those players who is often overlooked. Since his hitting numbers don’t stand out and players are credited for their offense more than their defense, Crede gets little due for what he does.

Crede should be the hands down favorite for the Gold Glove, and I’m going to predict that he won’t win it. It’s the nature of the beast when it comes to these things.

The Twins seemed to get snubbed for these awards every year. Save for Morneau’s recent MVP award, there have been quite a few worthy fielders in recent years who haven’t won the award. Castillo, Morneau, and Mauer, to name a few.

The Gold Glove voters are biased, as are the All-Star voters. This would also explain whyCarlos Gomezdid not win a Gold Glove last year, despite being the best defensive CF in the Major League Baseball – along withGrady Sizemore.

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