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Yadier Molina’s Gold Glove Streak Ends as Buster Posey Wins Award

By Patrick Karraker

Jul 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; (From left to right) National League pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) of the Pittsburg Pirates, pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) of the San Francisco Giants, catcher Buster Posey (28) of the San Francisco Giants, and catcher Yadier Molina (4) of the St. Louis Cardinals look on during the 2015 Home Run Derby the day before the MLB All Star Game at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; (From left to right) National League pitcher A.J. Burnett (34) of the Pittsburg Pirates, pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) of the San Francisco Giants, catcher Buster Posey (28) of the San Francisco Giants, and catcher Yadier Molina (4) of the St. Louis Cardinals look on during the 2015 Home Run Derby the day before the MLB All Star Game at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Yadier Molina‘s streak of consecutive Gold Gloves won has ended at eight, as Buster Posey won the 2016 award for National League catchers.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who has at times been called the best defensive catcher in major-league history, is a reigning Gold Glover no more.

Molina, who had won eight straight Rawlings Gold Glove awards from 2008-15, saw his streak of consecutive victories end on Tuesday night, as San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey was announced as the 2016 winner. While there was some thought that Molina’s reputation might win him a ninth consecutive award, Posey was widely regarded as the most deserving recipient this year.

The SABR Defensive Index, which now plays a role in determining the Gold Glove winners, overwhelmingly indicated that Posey was the best defensive catcher in the NL this season. Posey had a 15.2 rating, while the next-best player in that category was Dodgers backstop Yasmani Grandal, who was rated at 5.9. Molina received a 0.7 rating, good for eighth-best in the National League.

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Many attributed Molina’s regression behind the plate this season to his advancing age (34), his career-high 142 starts behind the plate, and a thumb injury that required two surgeries over the offseason and limited him in spring training. Meanwhile, Posey has continued to improve as a backstop after originally breaking into the majors as a bat-first catcher.

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