With sky falling, Yankees praised for doing something right

It’s been nonstop criticism for the Yankees since their season ended in early October when the Tampa Bay Rays swept them in a best-of-five Division Series.A bunch of their star alums, including Hall of Famers Goose Gossage, Derek Jeter and CC Sabathia, have taken shots at the club’s clubhouse culture, fielding, fundamentals and leadership. Alex Rodriguez, Paul O’Neill and Joe Girardi have also have chimed in. Even Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who has no ties to the Yankees, roasted them from the field last week while he was hugging a player during the World Series celebration.In the wake of all that organizational bashing, there was some uplifting Yankees news Sunday night when Cody Bellinger was named the American League Gold Glove winner in left field over fellow finalists Wyatt Langford (Texas Rangers) and Chandler Simpson (Rays).The Yankees’ two other Gold Glove finalists did not win — catcher Austin Wells and utility player Jose Caballero.Bellinger had three errors, recorded eight assists and started two double plays in 248 chances playing 123 games in left field in 2026, his second season with the Yankees and first on a five-year, $162.5 million contract.In FanGraphs’ metrics, Bellinger led MLB left fielders in Defensive Runs Saved with a plus-21 rating. The Brewers’ Jackson Chourio, who was the National League Gold Glove left fielder, finished second at plus-13.In Baseball Savant’s Outs Above Average rankings, Bellinger’s plus-6 rating was third among MLB left fielders behind Chourio (plus-9) and Simpson (plus-7).“As a defender, he’s just so good,” Yankees first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said last August. “As a defender, he’s just so good. I think it’s almost underrated. He goes to get balls that guys aren’t even getting and he’s catching them standing up. He gets such good reads out there.“And his arm, you kind of forget about it. He’s got one of the strongest arms in baseball. It’s so accurate.”AL GOLD GLOVE WINNERSFirst Base: Christian Walker, Houston AstrosSecond Base: Cole Young, Seattle MarinersThird Base: Caleb Durbin, Boston Red SoxShortstop: Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay RaysLeft Field: Cody Bellinger, New York YankeesCenter Field: Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red SoxRight Field: Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red SoxCatcher: Dillon Dingler, Detroit TigersUtility: Ezequiel Duran, Texas RangersPitcher: Tanner Bibee, Cleveland GuardiansNL GOLD GLOVE WINNERSFirst Base: Matt Olson, Atlanta BravesSecond Base: Brice Turang, Milwaukee BrewersThird Base: Alex Bregman, Chicago CubsShortstop: Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona DiamondbacksLeft Field: Jackson Chourio, Milwaukee BrewersCenter Field: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago CubsRight Field: Corbin Carroll, Arizona DiamondbacksCatcher: Gabriel Moreno, Arizona DiamondbacksUtility: Mauricio Dubón, Atlanta BravesPitcher: Nolan McLean, New York MetsRead the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.