In my opinion, the gold glove is a joke. I don't want to linger on this (it leaves a bad taste in my mouth), so I'll keep this to a few short paragraphs.
Number one: Who decides this? Not the fans, not the players, the managers. In all rights, the players should vote. It would mean a lot more for it to come from their peers. But the game has changed, and what might have been great defense when the managers played isn't any more.
Number two: Who gets picked. Once a person is picked, they keep on getting it...and getting it...and getting it. Notice how so many players have recieved four or five straight Gold Gloves? That never happens with awards based on the numbers. I mean, nothing against Bernie, but he was out for part of the season, no wonder he made less errors. I haven't seen the sparkling defensive plays from him I saw last year.
I mean, what about Scott Brosius? He made less errors than anyone else this year, and most of them were during a one month span where he was trying to break in a new glove. Once he ditched the glove, his defense was back. Don't tell me he didn't deserve the Gold Glove. Or Paul O'Neill. Once, in '92, I think, when he was playing with the Reds, he had a season where he didn't make a single error. None. Zip. Zero. And he didn't get the Gold Glove.
For all you Derek Jeter fans out there...sure, he excels at defense. But, for now, Omar Visquel is better. He won't be for long...maybe a couple of years. But look for him to get the Gold Glove years after his prime.
I'm tired of people saying, "wow, he won four Gold Gloves!" In truth, the player they're speaking of probably only REALLY won one.