News
Jones, Mora try to attract TYIB attention
Both players vying for defensive recognition in awards
By Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com
11/25/09 5:00 PM EST
One is coming off a breakout year that saw him capture a Rawlings Gold Glove Award, and he looks primed to be one of the faces of the franchise soon enough. The other just completed one of his worst offensive campaigns, but he was undervalued for his solid defense at the hot corner and seems to be done with his tenure in Baltimore.
Together, Adam Jones and Melvin Mora make up the ballot in hopes of one of them being named the best Defensive Player of the Year by the fans on MLB.com.
For the eighth consecutive year, fans will decide the top hitters, pitchers and moments from the big league season during the 2009 This Year In Baseball Awards. The ballot boxes will close at 7:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 11. In 2008, a record 12 million votes were cast for the TYIB Awards, and that figure could be surpassed this time around as fans weigh in on the year's top hitter, pitcher, moments and more. The results of the voting will be revealed during the week of Dec. 14-18.
For the TYIB Defensive Player of the Year Award, Mora and Jones will be going up against three center fielders -- the Astros' Michael Bourn, the Angels' Torii Hunter and the Red Sox's Jacoby Ellsbury -- along with Astros second baseman Kazuo Matsui, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.
During its first year in 2002, Hunter won the TYIB Award for defense, and Jim Edmonds proceeded with wins in back-to-back years. He was then followed by Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco and then-White Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera in '05, '06, '07 and '08, respectively.
In 2009, Jones posted career highs in batting average (.277), home runs (19) and RBIs (70).
But he was even more impressive with his glove.
The dynamic 24-year-old placed first among American League center fielders with a range factor of 3.21, was second in the league with nine assists and posted a .986 fielding percentage that ranked seventh among his counterparts.
Not to mention an assortment of head-turning highlight-reel catches -- like when he robbed a grand slam on Aug. 16 -- en route to being the first Orioles Gold Glover since Mike Mussina in 1999.
"I've compared him to a younger version of Torii Hunter, and obviously, Torii Hunter is one of the best in the business," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said recently. "I see Adam as a similar type of guy, but I don't think he's done growing."
Mora, meanwhile, had a down year at the plate, seeing dramatic drop-offs in batting average, home runs and RBIs.
But the veteran's glove is still true, as Mora led all AL third basemen in range factor (3.14) and fielding percentage (.971). Also, his error count of 11 was the third-fewest among third basemen who qualified.
Mora is now a free agent, and the 2009 season was likely his last with the Orioles. So he'll probably finish his 9 1/2-year run in Baltimore with a .280 batting average, 158 home runs, 662 RBIs, two All-Star appearances and a Silver Slugger Award.
"Sometimes, you need to realize that this is a business," Mora said at the end of the regular season. "If you have to go, you have to go."
Perhaps he exits with a consolation prize.
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
