"Redd" is Golden

It had been 27 years since Dwayne Murphy was a Gold Glove outfielder for the Green and Gold. Josh Reddick got in on the Au action for the Athletics when he was named the American League's Gold Glove right fielder Tuesday. No, it wasn't a World Series ring, and no Gold Glove pennant will fly at the Coliseum in 2013. But it was a nice sign of respect for a franchise that at least from a local standpoint gets snubbed by the national media. Of course, the American League's managers and coaches voted Reddick over other RF finalists Jeff Francoeur and Shin-Soo Choo, so continue your "East Coast Media" tantrums directed at the ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Gotham area journalists who seemingly have their own favorites. This was a nice bit of street cred for Reddick and the A's, who also placed third baseman Brandon Inge as a finalist at third base (Texas' Adrian Beltre won the award, and Inge will test free agency). Fans can also vote Reddick for the best of the best Platinum Glove award here.

Reddick needs to work on getting more productive at-bats with situational hitting, particularly with runners in scoring position (.206; .203 with two outs) and cutting down on his 156 strikeouts in 611 at-bats. But for his legitimate season as an everyday player, Reddick's defense more than made up for his occasional struggles at the plate (and he still smacked 32 homers with 85 RBI). The A's look very solid on defense in the outfield if Chris Young ultimately ends up as the center fielder, and Yoenis Cespedes got more and comfortable in left as the season dragged on.

The other significant news Thursday was far more bittersweet: pitchers Joey Devine and Dallas Braden elected elected to become free agents after they cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento. Neither Braden nor Devine has found much good fortune lately.  Devine underwent his second Tommy John surgery in 2012 after the same operation cost him the 2009 and 2010 seasons. It's a shame since the hard-throwing right-hander has been an effective reliever when healthy. 

As for Braden, A's fans will never forget his Mother's Day 2010 perfect game with his grandmother in the stands and Braden's late mother looking on from a higher place.  It was one of the most special days in Oakland since the 2002 20-game winning streak, and if Braden signs elsewhere he endeared himself to the fans for a lot more than just throwing what was at the time the 19th perfecto in Major-League history, and Section 209 at the Coliseum will always be a special corner with a Stockton flavor. Braden was a YouTube sensation again this season, but it had more to do with Stockton's crime problems and his disappointment with his beloved hometown than baseball. 

Here's wishing good health and a 2013 spring training success story for both Devine and Braden.