With Eric Chavez having an injury-plagued 2007 and only playing 88 games at third base, it was no surprise that he was unseated as the six-years-running Gold Glove third baseman in the American Leaugue.

I also expected Mark Ellis to be snubbed yet again, this time by Placido “No Errors” Polanco. This was not as big of a snub as last year, when Mark Grudzielanek won it, but still a snub.

Yes, Placido Polanco didn’t make an error all season. That sure looks good on paper, doesn’t it? But the fact of the matter is this:

2007 AL 2B Range Factor

Kinsler 5.69
Ellis 5.45
Cano 5.22
Lopez 5.14
Hill 5.13
Polanco 5.08

2007 AL 2B Zone Rating

Ellis .887
Hill .849
Cano .846
Lopez .837
Pedroia .833
Polanco .828

As you can see, Ellis is #2 and #1 in Range Factor and Zone Rating, while Polanco is #6 in both. Ellis makes more plays on balls that get by Polanco, and in playing 113 more innings than Polanco, Ellis still made only 5 errors - second in the AL to Polanco.

So I guess if you make fewer plays, you’re going to make fewer errors. But give me the guy who covers more ground and makes more plays - and still only commits an error every 162 chances - any day.

I guess there’s always next year.