and when you account for defense, it more than evens out.
15.5 dWAR vs -4.7 dWAR
4 Gold Gloves to 1
58 WAR vs 52 WAR is basically the same player. Especially since they both have 12 seasons and 1,500 games
I guess I'm just taking issue with your misuse of "same player" and WAR to show that.
They might have the same value, but that doesn't mean they are the same player. WAR does adjust for position and the scarcity of very good 2nd basemen, in relation to other positions, drives his WAR higher than Votto playing a position where a lot of very good players reside.
Ozzie Smith and Joe DiMaggio are separated by about 1 WAR, are they basically the same player? No. Are their total contributions to their team basically the same? Yes. DiMaggio was a better all around player while Ozzie could field and swipe bags at elite levels. DiMaggio is clearly a better player.
I'd be more accepting of using a straight WAR to WAR comparison between players who played the same positions, but comparing across positions needs to have some adjustment/context, not 1-to-1.
Also saying Pedroia was a head and shoulders better fielder just by Gold Gloves alone is lazy. Mainly because Gold Gloves historically have been given out to some average fielders (Hello Nate McLouth). Also because someone has 4 to someone else's one doesn't mean the player with one is terrible. He very well could have finished in 2nd place for all the other seasons he played. Not to mention comparing fielding of a 2B to a 1B is not a productive thing to do.
