2013 MLB All Star Game: American League Snubs
Jul 4, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour (50) pitches the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland Athletics are like the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield as they just aren’t getting any respect.
With the release of the ’13 American League All-Star team, a game that counts towards home field advantage of the World Series, there were some questions left to be answered.
There was the fact the Athletics got very little respect in the voting process, as they had just one player in Bartolo Colon given a ticket to New York City. Entering Sunday, the Athletics had the second most wins in the AL with 51, so the guess is they have more than one player who is all star caliber.
The biggest problem with the AL this year was the log jam at third base, and since the exhibition game does count for something, I see the point of trying to get the backup position players in spots needed.
Though my argument is if the fans, players and managers are going to select the team as they see fit, and if this game does truly mean “something,” those involved should not only select the teams in such a way, but play the game like it as well.
Do we really need every team represented for an exhibition game that secures home field for the World Series? I don’t think so, but that’s another discussion for another day.
This discussion is about the snubs or a least potential snubs for the AL, and here’s my list of AL players who could’ve, would’ve or should’ve been in the ’13 All-Star game in Citi Field.
Evan Longoria, third base, Tampa Bay Rays
Jul 6, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (3) throws the ball to first for an out during the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Evan Longoria should be an all-star, no question about it. Longoria has a batting average of .292, an on-base percentage of .390, a slugging percentage of .531 and his OPS is .901.
To further his credentials as an all-star selection, Longoria has 93 hits (21 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs) and 49 RBIs. He’s also walked 41 times (four intentional), as he was Player of the Week for May 13.
Still, the question remains, where do you put Longoria? Both Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles and AL starting third baseman Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers are both more than deserving to be selected to the all-star game
Josh Donaldson, third base, Oakland Athletics
Jul 4, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a single to advance a runner against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of the log jam at third base, and the lack of respect for the Athletics, Josh Donaldson also deserves to be an all-star. Donaldson’s stats speak for themselves.
For the first-place Athletics, he has 101 hits (22 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs) with 57 RBIs and 37 walks.
Donaldson has less than one strikeout per game thus far, while batting .317 with an OBP of .385. He also has an SLG of .533 and OPS of .918.
The Athletics’ third baseman ranks in the Top 9 in BA, RBIs, SLG and OPS in the AL, as he’s sixth in BA entering Sunday, which merits an all-star selection.
Donaldson wasn’t selected to the final five fan vote by Tigers manager Jim Leyland, which might be the biggest snub of all.
Though, again, I ask the question, where on the roster can Donaldson be placed at for the AL?
Adrian Beltre, third base, Texas Rangers
Jul 4, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre (29) hits his second home run of the game during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Again, take your pick at third base in the AL.
As started earlier, the third basemen selected for the AL team are deserving picks, but there is just a lot of talent this season in the AL at third, so there are going to be multiple players snubbed at this position.
Adrian Beltre is another on who just lost in the talented pool of third basemen this year. His stats are very respectable with a .309 BA, along with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs.
He’s also collected 49 runs, with an OBP of .351 and a .519 slugging percentage. Beltre’s OPS is .870, but again, where do you put him at on the roster?
Grant Balfour, pitcher, Oakland Athletics
Jul 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Grant Balfour (50) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning at O.Co Coliseum. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
How does a pitcher who is 22-for-22 in save opportunities for a first-place team not selected to not only the all-star team?
The same pitcher wasn’t even selected to be on the final five vote for the fans to decide.
Welcome to the world of Athletics closer Grant Balfour.
Balfour is fourth in the AL in saves with 22, but he’s not only perfect entering Sunday’s games in save opportunities this year, but has a streak of 40 consecutive saves dating back to last season. By the way … he’s to only AL reliever who hasn’t blown a save this season.
In my humble opinion, this is the biggest snub of any player in the AL.
His ERA is 1.82 in 34.2 innings pitched. He’s allowed just seven runs and 13 walks in 36 games played this season. He’s struck out 35 and held opponents to a .198 batting average.
Balfour should be an all star, no doubt about it.
Howie Kendrick, second base, Los Angeles Angels
July 5, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels second baseman Howie Kendrick (47) fields a hit during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Of the remaining second basemen not selected to the AL team, Los Angeles’ Howie Kendrick tops my list.
Kendrick, in 86 games this season, has 105 hits with 13 doubles and four triples. He’s batting .315 with 40 RBIs and 11 home runs.
The second baseman has compiled an OBP of .358 and a .477 slugging percentage, along with an OPS of .835.
Getting selected at second base is tough in the AL, so the case has to be made he’s better than second base reserves Jason Kipnis of the Cleveland Indians, Dustin Peroria of the Boston Red Sox or Ben Zobrist of the Tampa Bay Rays.
That’s a tough group to compete with.
Again, it comes down to a numbers game for Kendrick, though he still deserves high consideration if a roster spot becomes available.
Matt Moore, pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
Jul 1, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore (55) pitches against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Moore is 13th in ERA in the AL (3.42), is second in the league with 12 wins (12-3) on a team that has 48 total in the tough AL East.
Some folks don’t see wins as important as others, but I still see value in the stat. Moore has pitched 100 innings, and has held his opponents to a .220 BA. Moore has struck out 98 batters, still good enough for 14th in the AL before Sunday’s games, and I can;t overlook having 12 wins at this point of the season, especially with an ERA of under 4.00.
If wins still mean something in MLB, than that’s argument enough for Moore’s placement on the AL roster.
James Loney, first base, Tampa Bay Rays
Jul 3, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman James Loney (21) gets a hit during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
This is a feel-good story of the season type of snub. Having three Rays listed on list is a lot to have, but James Loney should if nothing else be in the conversation of the all star team as a respect for the quiet season he’s having.
Loney has respectable numbers with a .320 BA, good enough for fourth in the AL, along with 95 hits (20 doubles, nine home runs) and 43 RBIs.
As Lew Freedman wrote earlier this week, “Loney has been a very valuable resource … by the time the season ends Loney may be looked at as the best bargain free-agent acquisition in the league.”