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Skokie, IL, October 30—The 2007 FIELDING BIBLE AWARDS have been officially announced and eight of the nine winners are different from last year. Through extensive fielding research over the past few years, we’re finding that—just like hitters or pitchers—fielders have good seasons and bad seasons. Any concern that THE FIELDING BIBLE AWARDS would turn into a mirror image of the Gold Glove Awards—where once a player wins he keeps winning until retirement, injury, trade or a position change—has been alleviated with a second year of voting now in the books. A panel of ten experts, listed below—including John Dewan and Bill James—examined the 2007 seasons of every defensive player in Major League Baseball and then used the same voting technique as the Major League Baseball MVP voting. First place votes receive 10 points, second place 9 points, third place 8 points, etc. A perfect score was 100. A complete record of their votes can be found in The Bill James Handbook 2008. One important distinction that differentiates The Fielding Bible Awards from most other baseball awards, such as the Gold Gloves, is that there is only one winner at each position, instead of separate winners for each league. The goal of THE FIELDING BIBLE AWARDS is to stand up and say: “Here is the best fielder at this position in Major League Baseball last season.” Another key feature of the system is that it also recognizes the runners-up for each position, instead of just focusing on the winners. |
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