Dodgers lead National League with five Gold Glove nominees

Maybe you didn’t think of the Dodgers as some great defensive team last season. Solid, maybe, but great?

The Dodgers committed 109 errors, and only the Milwaukee Brewers (corrected) finished with more in the National League.

Individually, however, the Dodgers don’t look so bad. In fact, they apparently look pretty good. Particularly after five Dodgers were named finalists at their positions for 2013 Gold Gloves -- the highest number of any club in the NL.

Pitcher Zack Greinke, catcher A.J. Ellis, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, second baseman Mark Ellis and third baseman Juan Uribe were named as one of three finalists at their prospective positions.

Baltimore led all teams with six nominees, the Dodgers tying Kansas City for second overall with five.

This is the third year that Rawlings has named finalists for its annual awards, apparently in an effort to build some drama for the Tuesday night announcement on ESPN2.

Despite the five nominations, the Dodgers could come away without any winners.

Mark Ellis and Gonzalez, by their standards, had slightly down years defensively. A.J. Ellis has the unenviable task of beating out five-time winner Yadier Molina.

Uribe is the one player the Dodgers have pushed for the award, and probably is their strongest candidate. He’s up against Colorado’s Nolan Arenado and New York’s David Wright. Uribe committed five errors on the season and had a .983 fielding percentage, while Arenado was at 11 and .973, and Wright at nine and .973.

Greinke is also a strong candidate, and like St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright, did not commit an error last season. Wainwright did start six more games, however, and had more total chances (61) than any pitcher in baseball.

Managers and coaches vote for Gold Gloves, and much of the annual results seem based on reputation, so it’s not like they always get it right.

Gonzalez has three previous Gold Gloves, the other four are looking for their first.