Who’s getting screwed out of a Gold Glove this year?

John Dewan handicaps the Gold Glove awards:

At second base, it has been all Darwin Barney this season. After a couple of neutral defensive seasons in 2010 and 2011, Barney exploded in 2012 with 27 Defensive Runs Saved for the Cubs, behind only Brendan Ryan at all positions. In particular, he has really improved his range on ground balls to both his left and right.

Barney is a heavy favorite for the Fielding Bible Award, but he may struggle to beat out three-time Gold Glove winner Brandon Phillips for the NL Gold Glove.

Barney might actually win the Gold Glove, not because he leads the league in Defensive Runs Saved or Ultimate Zone Rating, but because of his errorless streak. On the other hand, he’s never won a Gold Glove before, and he’s hitting .260 with no power, both of which make him anathema to Gold Glove voters.

The difference between Darwin Barney and the second-best second baseman, according to Defensive Runs Saved, is the same as the difference between the second-best and the fourteenth-best. I’m not saying that should be dispositive, but it’s pretty impressive.