Jay Bruce :The Cincinnati Reds Believe He Is Gold Glove Material

Tuesday night Major League Baseball announced the 2011 winners of the Rawlings Gold Glove awards.

Jay Bruce, the Cincinnati Reds right fielder, was missing from the awards list.

Gold Gloves are handed out annually to the best defensive player at each position in the American and National leagues. The winners are determined by the votes of managers and coaches.

The Cincinnati Reds were fortunate enough to see two of their players honored. First baseman Joey Votto received his first award and second baseman Brandon Phillips was honored for the third time.

During Tuesday's edition of "Reds Hot Stove League," Reds hall fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman expressed very strongly that he felt Jay Bruce is the National League's best defensive outfielder.

"(Jay Bruce) Should have won it last year," Brennaman said. "There is no better right fielder defensively in this league than Jay Bruce."

While Bruce is an outstanding right fielder, Andre Ethier, this year's National League Gold Glove winner in right field, is very deserving and did enjoy a more successful season than Bruce as evidenced in the chart below:

Player             Fielding %     Errors      Assists      Total Chances       Games

Ethier              1.000               -0-               8               251                  126

Bruce                .988                4              10               320                  155

For now, the Reds will have to live with the fact that they have a very good right fielder who is not yet reached the top echelon of defensive prowess.