In a move that I think surprised nobody, Mark Teixeira won the 2006 AL Gold Glove award (link). That was pretty much expected.
Gary Matthews not getting the CF award was a little more of an eye raiser. However, that too is not completely shocking to me. I think a lot of the local campaigning for him, while valid, was a bit of the “homer vote”. Don’t get me wrong, he had a great year, but it’s always hard for a guy to get it on a career breakout year when there’s others who are entrenched in outfield (the 06 winners were Ichiro, Vernon Wells, & Torii Hunter).
Still, Matthews had a great year. Just hope it’s not his last like a lot of reports are saying.
Congrats to Mark Teixeira. Very well deserved. Also the former Texas battery of Kenny Rogers & Pudge won their respective positions’ gold gloves too.