Well, look. I understand the hometeam's broadcast will tilt toward PR for the hometeam. There are a number of reasons, including the one Frank White has mentioned a few times: "We have to get on the plane with these guys."
But are we really to the point where we're going to push David DeJesus for a Gold Glove?
There are any number of reasons this is silly, starting with the fact left fielders don't win Gold Gloves, and especially not left fielders who are moved there because they're not good enough to play center field.
Also, there's the fact that DeJesus -- while a fine defensive player -- isn't even close to being the best left fielder in the American League.
We can do this by looking at the rest of the league: Carl Crawford is the best left fielder in the game, has been for a really long time, and has NEVER won a Gold Glove.
We can do this by UZR: he is eighth in UZR/150 among AL outfielders, and third (behind Crawford and Juan Rivera) among six qualifying left fielders.
We can do this by Plus/Minus*: he is not among the top 11 left fielders (Crawford leads at +28, while four players, including Josh Anderson, are tied for 8th with +8).
* Among my favorite numbers: Coco Crisp, who last played June 12, and even then severely injured, STILL grades out as the game's sixth-best center fielder. I pointed this out to Coco not too long ago, he was a bit surprised, thought about it for a second, then said, "And I was terrible."
We can do this by a scout's eye: "He's solid there, nothing spectacular," said one scout who sees the Royals often.
Hopefully this doesn't come across as picking on the broadcast. That's not how it's intended. We're set for game No. 133 in a miserable season, and that's a lot of air to fill, and there's only so much you can make fun of Oakland.
This could be context. When you're watching the worst defensive team in the American League, even a slightly above average defensive player can look like Ozzie Smith. When you're eating bologna every day, even a ham sandwich can taste pretty good.
I could be guilty of that when judging Billy Butler.
But, you know, maybe the problem's entirely on my end.
Because despite everything you just read, and everything else that's in my head, at last check DeJesus had more than 50 percent of the vote on last night's telecast as the Royals' best defensive outfielder in the last decade.
The Gold Glove is supposed to go to the best defender but time after time the guys that win it had a huge year at the plate. Otherwise they tend to just give it to the same guys over and over. Palmeiro won the Gold Glove for first base despite DHing almost the whole season. Greg Maddux won like 16 in a row. That pretty much tells you how legitamate the award is.