Gold Glove

Adam Kennedy admits he's a little envious of the two Gold Glove awards teammates Darin Erstad and Bengie Molina have each won, but the Angel second baseman may not harbor those feelings much longer. "No disrespect to Bret Boone," Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said of the Seattle second baseman, who has won the last two American League Gold Glove awards, "but Adam Kennedy, for me, is the Gold Glove second baseman this season."

SEATTLE -- When Howie Kendrick broke into the big leagues in 2006 after hitting .362 in four minor league seasons, many predicted the Angels second baseman would win a batting title one day. No one ever thought he'd win a Gold Glove Award. But the perception of Kendrick as a mostly hit, OK-fielding second baseman has changed over the years. He may not wrest the Gold Glove from New York's Robinson Cano and Boston's Dustin Pedroia , who have won four of the last five awards at the position in the American League, but he could force his way into the conversation.

Padre right fielder Tony Gwynn added to his collection of Gold Gloves when he was awarded his fifth last night in a ceremony in New York. Gwynn was the only Padre awarded a Gold Glove. In the American League, Cal Ripken finally got the one award that had eluded him his entire career. "It feels pretty good to win one of these," Ripken said. "I've been after it for quite awhile."

CLEVELAND - If this isn't rock bottom, the Angels can definitely see it from here. A team that can't hit and is stocked with relievers who can't get anyone out found another way to lose Sunday when nine-time Gold Glove-winning right fielder Torii Hunter lost a routine fly ball in the sun, the key play in a 4-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians in Progressive Field. Right-hander Derek Lowe went through the Angels like a chainsaw through kindling, giving up three hits in 72/3 innings, and reliever Vinnie Pestano struck out Howie Kendrick with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to snuff out the Angels' only real threat.

The World Series champion Angels won two American League Gold Gloves, with catcher Bengie Molina breaking the 10-year winning streak of Texas' Ivan Rodriguez and Darin Erstad replacing Seattle's Mike Cameron in the outfield. Erstad, who also was honored in 2000, became the eighth Angel to win multiple fielding awards. Molina led all major league catchers in caught stealing percentage (42.7%) and joined Bob Boone as the only Angel catchers to win the Gold Glove.

St. Louis shortstop Ozzie Smith was awarded his 10th consecutive Gold Glove in the National League, becoming the only major leaguer to receive the award ea c h year of the 1980s. Devon White of the Angels shared American League outfield honors with Kirby Puckett of Minnesota and Gary Pettis of Detroit.

Angel first baseman J.T. Snow won his second consecutive American League Gold Glove Award. Snow was among seven AL repeat winners, including Seattle center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who won for the seventh consecutive time, and Baltimore second baseman Roberto Alomar, who won for the sixth. "I didn't expect it," Snow said. "It's nice. It's an honor. But I think I'd trade it for a winning season or a playoff berth."

Texas Ranger catcher Ivan Rodriguez won his 10th consecutive Gold Glove award Tuesday, tying his idol Johnny Bench for the most by a catcher. "I can see him winning 12, 13, maybe as many as 14," said Bench, the former Cincinnati star and Hall of Famer. "I don't see why he would stop. He wants to be behind the plate. He thrives on it." The only thing that might stop Rodriguez's streak is a position change.

Center fielder Gary Pettis Tuesday became the 10th player in Angels history to win a Gold Glove award for fielding excellence. Pettis, 27, in his second full major league season, committed only four errors in 385 chances, a .990 fielding percentage. He was the leading vote-getter among American League outfielders, edging the New York Yankees' Dave Winfield, 42-41. Boston's Dwight Evans and Oakland's Dwayne Murphy tied for the other outfield position with 21 points apiece.

Pitcher Mark Langston of the Angels won his sixth Gold Glove, his fourth in a row, on Tuesday and dedicated the award to Jimmie Reese, the longtime Angel coach who died this year at age 92. Langston started 18 games and had 27 putouts. "(Reese) had a great deal to do with my fielding success, as well as the defensive skills of my teammates," Langston said.

The Angels on Thursday officially signed shortstop Erick Aybar to a four-year, $35-million contract extension, a move that provides stability and Gold Glove-caliber defense at a key position through 2016. Aybar's deal, which includes a $1-million signing bonus but does not include a no-trade provision, will pay him annual salaries of $8.5 million in each of the next four years. The switch-hitter is playing under a one-year, $5.075-million contract this season. The Angels held an informal luncheon at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney to announce the signing.

The Angels locked up another core player Thursday, signing shortstop Erick Aybar to a four-year, $35-million extension, a move that provides stability and Gold Glove-caliber defense at a key position but adds another hefty contract. The Angels have a $151-million payroll this season — the fourth-highest in baseball — and if they pick up 2013 options on pitchers Dan Haren and Ervin Santana and catcher Chris Iannetta , they'll have $121 million committed to 10 players for next season.

A day after being named the National League's top defensive player at his position, Matt Kemp earned a Silver Slugger Award as one of the league's top three offensive outfielders. This marks the second time Kemp earned the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards in the same season. The first time was in 2009. Kemp was a late-season triple crown threat and was one home run short of becoming the fifth player in major league history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season.

Clayton Kershaw said he was surprised. Andre Ethier said he was shocked. Kershaw and Ethier were awarded their first Gold Gloves on Tuesday, joining center fielder Matt Kemp to form the only trio of Dodgers to be recognized by managers and coaches as the league's best defensive players at their position in the same season. Angels shortstop Erick Aybar also won his first Gold Glove, unseating Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, who won five of the last seven awards. Aybar had a .980 fielding percentage and 13 errors.

Reporting from Toronto — For the first time in 50 years, voters for the Gold Glove awards will be required to vote for two corner outfielders in each league. That could boost the candidacy of the Angels' Torii Hunter , who won nine Gold Gloves as a center fielder and is having a solid season in right field. "Torii's made a switch, which could have been difficult, seamless," Manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's played terrific right field for us. " Hunter has a career-high 15 assists this season while turning in a number of highlight-reel catches.

It was, perhaps, more than a baseball that leaped out of an Angel's leathery grasp and disappeared into a late-summer glare. Don't look now, but it might have been a season. One moment Peter Bourjos was standing under a soaring fly that would not have directly affected the Angels' championship chase. The next moment he was looking with panic at an empty glove that might have ended it. The Angel in the outfield blew it. The Gold Glove hopeful turned to stone. On the first Sunday of football season, the kid kicked it. Bourjos dropped a seventh-inning sacrifice fly by the Yankees' Mark Teixeira that turned one run into two, leading to a 6-5 loss to New York at Angel Stadium, and it was big. Big enough to push the Angels back to 21/2 games behind the winning and first-place Texas Rangers with 16 games to play.

Juan Castro makes his living with his glove, and the defensive specialist is performing well on the job. Castro has been outstanding in place of injured shortstop Jose Vizcaino, making spectacular plays daily. Understandably, his presence is especially comforting to Dodger pitchers. "It makes me feel good that the team trusts me, and that I can help the team now," Castro said. "Jose is hurt, and the team needs me. I just want to do whatever the team needs me to do."

The best pitching staff or the most potent offense can be undone by a defense that can't catch the ball. But teams that don't stand out on the mound or at the plate can be competitive if they are stout in the field. Staff writer Kevin Baxter ranks the 10 best and worst defensive teams in the major leagues this season. (Statistics through Friday's games.) All you need is glove 1. Philadelphia; Phillies have the fewest errors (61) and have given up the fewest unearned runs (25)