The 2010 MLB postseason has been defined by a few old faces and a whole lot of new ones. The regular season awards voting should follow the same trend.
Veterans like Roy Halladay, C.C. Sabathia, and Albert Pujols are sure to garner the attention of some voters, but a yet-unheralded group of youngsters is likely to steal many of the accolades the way they stole the show in the regular season.
One of those youngsters is Peter Bourjos.
The 23-year-old outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim is one of the brightest young stars the game had to offer this season and is in every way deserving of his first Gold Glove award.
How good is he? In his major league debut, Bourjos replaced Torii Hunter, the reigning nine-time Gold Glove center fielder, forcing him to permanently shift to right field.
Bourjos’ defense was nothing short of outstanding, and much of it came as a direct result of his incredible speed. His lone error in 51 games at the big league level came when he overran a ball most outfielders would never have reached in the first place.
Carl Crawford, Brett Gardener, Juan Pierre – none have anything on Bourjos’ fleet feet.
And speed is just the beginning. Bourjos also displayed an arm that is as strong as it is accurate.
The Angels as a team lead the majors in outfield assists with 16. Bourjos had 10 of those, throwing out more base runners by himself than 18 of the 30 teams in baseball. Again, in just 51 games.
However, there are those who will see Bourjos’ limited playing time as a vice rather than the virtue it should be. With fewer opportunities to prove his worth, players like Crawford, Ichiro Suzuki, Josh Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz will get more attention from voters.
But games played isn’t always a determining factor in handing out awards, least of all the Gold Glove. Let’s not forget Rafael Palmeiro, who’s Midas mitt in 1999 came after appearing in just 28 games at first base.
As is the case with so many Gold Gloves handed out, Palmeiro’s defensive award was more likely a result of his offensive statistics. And it is here that Bourjos is lacking.
A .204 average in 181 big league at-bats won’t jump out at any voters, no matter the award.
Perhaps, though, we are on the cusp of major changes in major league award voting. Just look at the American League Cy Young debate.
Zack Greinke tied the record for fewest wins from a Cy Young winner (16) in 2009 and this year, Felix Hernandez could set a new all-time low. Despite winning 12 games, there is an enormous groundswell of support for the Mariners ace who finished second in strikeouts and lead in nearly every other major pitching category.
If the honor of best pitcher can be bestowed on a man who headed up a last place team and lost nearly as many games as he won, surely Bourjos can overcome the “mid-season call-up” label and earn his rightful place among the game’s best fielders.
Ichiro is a lock to repeat as a Gold Glove winner, but the other two spots are still up for grabs at this point.
By virtue of Bourjos replacing him, Hunter will certainly be left out for the first time in a decade, leaving the remaining gloves to be spread between Hamilton, Crawford, Gardener, possibly B.J. Upton, and, with a little luck, Bourjos himself.
A new era is dawning in baseball. The stars of old are starting to fade and new ones have begun to shine in their place. Elvis Andrus is better than Derek Jeter. Matt Cain can outduel Roy Oswalt.
And Peter Bourjos is faster, stronger, and more accurate than nearly every one of his peers.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com