Shortstop FWS FWAA Hardy 6.6 0.7 Tejada 6.5 1.3 Rollins 5.6 0.3 H.Ramirez 5.3 -0.3 Guzman 5.1 0.3 Theriot 5.0 -0.3 Reyes 4.9 -0.4
Last year's winner, Troy Tulowitzki, missed a huge chunk of the year, as did the second place finisher Rafael Furcal. The only solid returner on this list from last year's list is J.J. Hardy. All three young guns are here (Reyes, Rollins and Ramirez). Should we be talking about Hardy in the same breath?
Using the composite method with 4.8 as the average WS for a shortstop, Miguel Tejada wins this in a giant comeback reminiscent of his former glory. Hardy is a close second. No third place award, as there's nothing special about the rest of them on defense.
So will Tulowitzki blow everyone away again next year. Not sure. He had a fairly pedestrian WS number (projected to a full season) and was only average in FWAA. I don't think 2007 was a fluke. I think Troy lost his focus in 2008. If he gets it back, I expect him to win it again.
Eckstein got the Iron last year, but he switched leagues to avoid the same fate. The NL doesn't have any horrible shortstops...no one on the magnitude of Yuniesky Betancourt. Choices are Stephen Drew or Yunel Escobar. They are literally tied, even if I also factor in last year. I'll give it to Drew, because at least Escobar had the courtesy to play 72 fewer games at the position over the last two years.
