To all the Nick Punto fans and to those who bemoan the loss of Jason Bartlett:

You're not going to be disappointed with J.J. Hardy. Defensively, the Minnesota Twins' new shortstop is going to be all of what Punto (who some fans want to see as a regular shortstop) and Bartlett (who came to the Twins in a bargain basement trade and earned far too many accolades for his adequately consistent play before being traded to Tampa Bay) had been to the hometown club.

Offensively, Hardy had a difficult time last season, but like Punto, when he slumps he never loses his defensive prowess. 

The big-city media outlets say Hardy is a potential Gold Glove winner, and the numbers bear that out. Fielding percentage is the main statistic in determining who wins a Gold Glove. Here is a little comparison of Bartlett, Hardy, Punto, and past Gold Glove winners:

Bartlett

.962 with Tampa Bay in 2009 (20 errors in 529 total chances during 134 games at shortstop)

.970 with Tampa Bay in 2008 (16 errors in 529 total chances during 125 games at shortstop)

.960 with Minnesota in 2007 (26 errors in 646 total chances during 138 games at shortstop)

Hardy

.983 with Milwaukee in 2009 (eight errors in 472 total chances during 112 games at shortstop)

.977 with Milwaukee in 2008 (15 errors in 647 total chances during 145 games at shortstop)

.978 with Milwaukee in 2007 (13 errors in 578 total chances during 149 games at shortstop)

Punto

.973 with Minnesota in 2009 (seven errors in 260 total chances during 58 games at shortstop) 

.973 with Minnesota in 2008 (eight errors in 298 total chances during 61 games at shortstop)

.974 with Minnesota in 2007 (three errors in 117 total chances during 27 games at shortstop)

Recent American League Gold Glove winners

Derek Jeter, .986 with New York in 2009 (eight errors in 554 total chances during 150 games at shortstop)

Michael Young, .984 with Texas in 2008 (11 errors in 669 total chances during 151 games at shortstop)

Orlando Cabrera, .983 with Los Angeles (Anaheim) in 2007 (11 errors in 665 total chances during 153 games at shortstop)

Hardy's career .979 fielding percentage is only .001 shy of Young's. Hardy also has taken part in a lot of double plays -- 61 in 2009, 86 in 2008, and 83 in 2007. The most recent Gold Glove winners at shortstop have turned 75 (Jeter in 2009), 113 (Young in 2008), and 104 (Cabrera in 2007).

Hardy's numbers put him among the elite defensive shortstops in the game. Now, if only his 2007-2008 batting form comes around again.