SEATTLE –- Sonny Gray’s defense doesn’t generate all that much attention, but A’s manager Bob Melvin thinks his ace is worthy of serious Gold Glove consideration.
“I don’t know why he wouldn’t be at the forefront of that conversation,” Melvin said before Friday’s series opener against the Mariners. “Has he had an error? Sonny is like having another infielder out on the field. At times he’ll tell the first baseman or third baseman to back up, ‘I have the bunt.’ And he does every time. So if he’s not in that conversation, people aren’t reading that right. He’s definitely a terrific defender.”
To answer the manager’s question, no, Gray did not commit an error this season. And in a year where the A’s, as a team, did not perform strong defensively, Gray did have another excellent season in that department. Oakland hasn’t had a Gold Glove winner since right fielder Josh Reddick in 2012. And just one A’s pitcher has ever won the Gold Glove. Mike Norris took the honor in both 1980 and 1981.
Melvin mentioned Houston’s Dallas Keuchel as another strong candidate among AL pitchers. Keuchel, who also is a strong Cy Young contender, won last year’s Gold Glove, and that could work in his advantage simply because his defense already is at the forefront in the minds of many AL coaches, who vote for the award. Sabermetric data also is taken into account as part of the selection process.
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Melvin announced that Chris Bassitt will start Sunday’s season finale. That didn’t come as much of a surprise, since Bassitt will be on his regular four days’ rest.
He’s surrendered nine earned runs in two starts (6 2/3 IP) since returning from a shoulder ailment.
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The A’s have yet to get any information or medical results on reliever Drew Pomeranz’s sore left shoulder.
