Zimmer... We Don't Need No Stink'in Zimmer!
(Lopez and Alatas turning quality over quantity.)
We're a couple of weeks away from finding out the winners of the Yogi Zimmer Diamond Glove Award. A trophy that recognizes the best defender at each position. Well, that is what the award is supposed to represent. But really the award goes to the best fielder among a select group of individuals that qualify for the batting title.
The Brooklyn Robins will not win a Zimmer at 2B nor SS. In fact they are not represented on the ballot. So while the league oogles over Brett Compton, laughs at George Lee Anderson V and Paul Backstrom, and wonders why Valentin Colon is even on the ballot when he doesn't play baseball anymore. The Robins will stand in the corner and silently chuckle. Knowing that most of the leagues doesn't know about their slick fielding middle infield. Perhaps the best one in the league.
No, We are not talking about Chris Workman and William Belcham. Brooklyn has been known to play matchups. The team favors offense early in the game, but will put in defensive subs earlier then anyone in the league once they get a lead. That's the main reason why you've probably never heard of their dynamic duo. Arief Alatas and Jose Lopez will never gain enough plate appearance to qualify for a fielding award. Wait, does that even make sense? Why do you need x amount of at bats to prove you are a good fielder?
The Brooklyn way has always been about putting players in a position to succeed. Neither Lopez nor Alatas are great hitters. They can be OK with limited exposure and placed in the right spot. Alatas was a prime example of that. He had a .928 OPS VS LHP. In 103 games this season he only had 213 at bats. He is what he is. And that's an amazing fielder with an OK bat VS LHP.
These players will never be all stars and will never win Zimmers. The archaic stalwarts of the original iteration of moneyball will forever see them as players not good enough to play for their superior teams. They have no eye, they have no power... therefore they are worthless. Alatas and Lopez combined for 2.4 WAR in just 500 plate appearances. Most of what they bring to the table can't be measured properly because of short sample size. But it's that same short sample that allows them to thrive and be a terrific end game double play combo.
